When Our Worlds Collide (Our Worlds #1)(25)
“Aren’t you funny? I fell asleep as soon as you left, but I think I got the gist of it when I scanned through it this morning,” she explains. Of course Kennedy read through it this morning. She’s just that type. I can’t keep up with this girl. I don’t know what to anticipate. I’m off my game with her.
I reach out to touch her hand, but retract before I make any contact. She notices and immediately tenses up in front of me. “Kennedy, we need to talk,” I beg running my hands down my face. I can feel her slipping away before I even have a full grasp.
“I’m really getting sick of hearing those words come out of your mouth. You made your choices, but that doesn’t mean I need to listen to your reasons, Graham.” She whispers to insure no one overhears. I’m not sure anymore if that small gesture is for her benefit or mine. She’s still avoiding me. I need to see her eyes. They’ll give her away.
I think about the situation for a minute until I speak again. “I screwed up, but in my defense I warned you that this was going to happen. I’m not who you think I am.”
Kennedy looks down at her hands that are folded into each other on her lap. Her knuckles are turning white from the tight grip she has on them. “Mr. Stevenson, can I have a hall pass please?” she requests grabbing her crutches. As she reaches out to grab the pass from his hand that he offered out without question, I make my decision.
I sit in my chair watching her walk out of the room clearly irritated with me once again. I don’t know what comes over me. My feet are moving before my mouth has a chance to catch up.
“Mr. Black where do you think you are going?” Mr. Stevenson hollers to me before I hit the door.
“I forgot my notes in my locker. Just gonna grab them,” I lie walking out before he has the chance to oppose.
Kennedy’s leaning up against the lockers just a few steps down the hallway. You can always tell when you are in trouble by the look on the other persons face and I promise you that I’m in deep shit.
Chapter Fifteen
-Kennedy-
“Seriously, I am not in the mood right now Graham,” I yell to him as he approaches me in the hallway. I want to bang my head against the locker in frustration. I don’t understand Graham’s insistence with me. He’s clearly never worked this hard at anything off of the baseball field, so why the sudden interest?
“I know, but hear me out,” he pleads. “Please.” I should say no or walk away or slap him across his perfect face. The problem is when Graham looks at me the way he is now I find it hard remembering why I am upset in the first place.
I don’t say anything and I suppose that is my way of saying “go for it”. He looks nervous, fidgeting from foot to foot trying to decide if he should keep his hands in his pockets or take them out. With no words coming, I interrupt him.
“Graham spit it out because I’m dying to hear how you’ll talk your way out of this one,” my voice harsh and impatient. I had meant for it to be. I’m not going to be that girl that falls at every word he utters. This is one spell I’m not willing to be under if I have any control over it.
“I’m not trying to talk my way out of anything. Trying to explain it is going to take longer than what we have right now.”
“How about you at least try?” I peer into his eyes searching for any ounce of honesty.
“I’m an ass. There’s a list full of reasons why I behave like I do. None of them excuse my behavior towards you earlier though.”
“I’m listening…” I leave it open for him to continue watching him become more unsure with every breath he takes. A flustered Graham is a sight to see.
“How I made you feel---I’m sorry, but you need to understand something. I’m not used to the type of relationship that I’m attempting to have with you. It sounds incredibly fucking dumb when I say it out loud. Trust me, I know. I’m almost eighteen and have never been friends with a girl. I’m going to make mistakes along the way,” he pauses to think before continuing. “But…if you give me a chance to explain to you then I think you’ll understand. It’s going to take time, but at some point you’ll understand me.”
“Why should I?” I ask with curiousness.
“I don’t have an answer for that.”
“Then I don’t have an answer for you, Graham. I’m not like the girls you hang around. I’m not going to tolerate your bullshit in the hopes that I’ll get my chance to sleep with you. I’m not going to sleep with you, so if that’s all your after then I’m not the girl you want to trial for a “friendship”. You don’t know how to be a friend to me and that’s fine. Just don’t pretend like you do,” I start to walk back to the classroom.
“Kennedy, wait,” Graham tries to stop me.
I don’t bother to turn around as my hand slides over the doorknob. “You don’t owe me anything. Let’s not forget that,” I say without turning to face him. It hurts far too much.
I sit down in my chair as Graham follows in a few steps behind me. We sit across from each other not saying anything. Surprisingly, the hour goes by quick. I can tell he is looking over at me periodically. I quietly read the chapter I hadn’t gotten a chance to read last night and finished off the worksheet Mr. Stevenson passed out in the beginning of class. I sign Graham’s name to the top even though he doesn’t help. He is too busy the entire hour watching my every move to even pretend he is looking for answers in the text. I can feel his eyes all over me, but refuse to give him the satisfaction of looking up to meet them.