When Our Worlds Collide (Our Worlds #1)(16)
I know it’s going to happen before I can do anything to stop it. My books fall out of my hands as the crutches slide down the blue lockers causing a loud crash. It isn’t even 8AM and I want to crawl into a deep, dark hole.
“Damn it,” I whisper under my breath hoping no one hears me curse. The word felt dirty passing through my lips. I’m too aggravated to care. I bend down the best that I can on one leg to pick up the books I dropped. It appears that no one is willing to help me. Violet, where are you when I need you? I see another set of hands gathering up my books and papers that I can’t quite reach.
“Are you okay?” a deep voice asks startling me. I don’t notice who the helpful stranger is until I look up and see that everyone in the hallway has stopped what they are doing. The noise level is eerily silent. Loudly silent, if that’s even a thing. They are all looking at me even more than they were before. Once my brain registers who’s standing in front of me, I know that they aren’t looking at me after all. They are watching him with curious eyes, waiting to see what he is planning to do.
“I’m fine,” I whisper snatching the stack of books from his outstretched hands. “Thanks.” I wasn’t trying to hide the venomous tone in my voice. Graham throws his hands in front of him in obvious retreat.
A whole nine days went by before Graham had the nerve to ask me anything and his first thing he chooses to say is “Are you okay?” Of course I’m not okay. I was ran over by a boy I went to high school with who has never spoken more than twenty words to me since freshman year and I was na?ve enough to think that he owed me something.
Like I said before…pathetic!
Chapter Ten
-Graham-
I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone as infuriated as Kennedy in this moment. Anyone who was close enough to see her face the moment she realized that I was the one who was helping her could see the fury in her eyes. She would have been happier if the devil himself assisted her in her time of need. It was that look in her eyes. They are usually this crazy shade of blue, but when she glared up at me from beneath those long eyelashes they turned a dark smoldering grey. You could see the storm brewing. I have never seen someone’s eyes change color like hers did. Add that to the long list of things that I don’t understand about this girl.
I hand her the books and she yanks them from my grasp. She claims she is fine, but I can tell she is lying. “Kennedy, I think we should talk,” I whisper to ensure no one hears what I’m saying. It appears that we have drawn an audience.
She stands up as I hand her the crutches that have fallen to the floor next to her feet. She gladly takes them with an enthusiasm that is slightly insulting. They are her only way away from me after all, like she’d refuse them. “You know what? I don’t think we do. Forget it ever happened. You don’t owe me anything, Graham,” Kennedy snaps. I see the roll of her eyes and I have to stop myself from laughing. Her reaction to me is adorable.
Why won’t she talk to me? If she hates me this badly then why did she do what she did? Kennedy could have easily told the cops everything about the events of that night. I couldn’t help but be more curious about her because of her silence. I have never done anything for her. I’m not this nice guy who walks around holier than thou. I’m a dick and everyone knows it. They all just choose to excuse my behavior because of who my family is and how well I play ball. It aggravates me how she blatantly is disgusted by me. She is the one that told me to leave her there on the side of the road that night. I was ready to seal my fate before she had to step in and change it all.
“Whatever Kennedy, if you don’t want to talk to me that is perfectly fine with me,” I snap back at her a little too loudly. I know right away that the rumors are already rearing their ugly heads. Kennedy’s eyes are wide as she looks up at me. A group of girls that Amanda’s always hanging around with have their beady eyes narrowed in on us. Clearly confused as to why Kennedy and I are having a heated conversation in a rather dull whisper. We have no reason to be talking according to the order of things around here. They are wrong. Kennedy and I have plenty to talk about. At some point Kennedy would have to believe that as much as I do.
Kennedy’s eyes gloss over when she looks up at me. Her eyes are welling up with unshed tears and I reach out to wipe them away, but jolt back when I realize what I am doing. I shook my head trying to forget what just about happened. This isn’t something I would do with any other girl. I’ve caused plenty of tears in the past, but none that I was willing to try to stop. There is this protectiveness I feel with Kennedy. She just watches me, opening her mouth to say something before shaking her head as if that would have the capability to erase her thoughts.
Turning away from Kennedy makes me uneasy. Without looking back, I know everyone’s eyes are pointed behind me. I need to get away from her. Putting distance would surely right the wrongs of the situation. I try to reassure myself that it will. I can go on with my life, not giving a shit about anyone except myself now.
Walking into the cafeteria after second block is awkward. Amanda is waiting for me right inside the doors. She usually sits with a few other girl at our table. I’m not in the mood to deal with anything she has for me today. I don’t have the energy to argue with her which is where our conversation will go today. Deciding I’d amuse her for a little bit longer until it got to be too much work is the simplest of solutions.