When Our Worlds Collide (Our Worlds #1)(32)

The rest of my Sunday went by in a hung over haze. Violet and I spent most of the day watching old movies and eating anything we could get our hands on. This was her normal hangover cure. Something she has claimed to perfect. Her mom and dad had passed by her room a few times simply waving and exchanging minor pleasantries. Neither of them seemed to notice or care where we had been last night. If we were at my house, it would have been a different story. I wasn’t sure if this was a blessing or a curse.

By the time I got home it was already after seven. I greeted my parents and went straight into my room to work on homework. At some point in the night I must have fallen asleep. My textbooks were still sprawled out around me. When I woke it was still dark out. I grabbed for my phone to check the time and saw that it was already three in the morning. The red light was blinking indicating I had a missed text message from a number I didn’t recognize.

It’s Craig. Hope u dont mind Violet gave me ur number. Of course she did. I continued to read the text. I ran into her earlier she said that she couldn’t pick u up in the morning. I’m gonna swing by and get u before school. Of course she can’t. Hope its okay with you. No it’s not.

I wonder if I could skip school tomorrow.





Chapter Eighteen



-Graham-



Okay, I’ll admit it. Kennedy has managed to crawl to the deepest depths of my skin. The way she talks to me surprises the hell out of me. Ever since the accident she has been considerate and forgiving in spite of everything working against me. She lied for me. There was no other way to twist it. Kennedy had lied to everyone and I spent most of my time working the reasons over in my head instead of trying to earn that loyalty. Nothing fit together. It’s an imperfect puzzle that’s missing a few too many pieces causing the big picture to come through distorted.

I also know that while I am busy trying to convince myself that a friendship with Kennedy is so damn important for reasons I still can’t understand I have pushed her directly into the sticky arms of Craig. I saw the way they were acting with each other on Saturday. She went upstairs with him and I let her go. There was nothing written across her forehead that declared her mine to possess. I’m having a jealous reaction and I’m not sure I like it. I’m not even sure if I want there to be anything to be jealous about.

I had dropped Amanda off Sunday morning after she spent the night with me. Luckily my father was out of town and Mom was too oblivious to notice me sneaking her out early in the morning. I had dragged her out of Craig’s in a rush and she obliged by following me with a grin the size of mars plastered on her face. With Amanda things are easy. She knows what I like and what I don’t. She also understands that nothing is going to evolve from our “relationship” no matter how badly she may want it to. She isn’t into asking too many questions, she doesn’t expect much from me and doesn’t have too high of expectations of the type of guy she thinks I am.

Amanda asked for me to pick her up before school on Monday before jumping out of my car Sunday. I make up an excuse why I can’t in a way to push her away trying to put some distance between us until I can figure some things out.

I pull in the parking lot nearly five minutes before the first bell rang Monday morning. My heart begins to race uncontrollably. Why am I nervous? This is my school, where everyone adores me (except maybe one person) and I’m acting like I’m the new kid. I’ve got to pull my shit together. Fuck.

Craig’s truck passenger door swings open and pair of familiar toned legs appears. Kennedy turns to look at Craig who’s teasing her with the pair of crutches that are in the cab of the truck. She throws her head back in a fit of laughter. Although I’m not by her side to hear it I remember what it sounds like. Jealousy roars its ugly head again and I find myself wishing I am the one who drove her to school. What the fuck has gotten into me? I don’t act like this about girls. I hook up with them and that’s it. That is all.

Saturday was the first time I had ever heard Kennedy actually laugh. Her laughter had the ability to stop people in their tracks. It’s something to admire. I don’t want to admit it, but she’s something to admire. Maybe there is a reason why I’m feeling jealous.

Craig makes his way over to my car that’s only a few down from his. “You split out early on Saturday,” he yells. It’s more of a question than a simple fact. I turn my attention towards Kennedy for a fleeting moment before answering. Her expressions impassive, her eyes quickly focus on something else. Anything else, but me.

“I was just tired,” I lie which I seem to be doing a lot of lately. Lying to myself, lying to my friends, and I sure as hell have been lying to Kennedy. I grab my backpack and swing it over my shoulder.

“Sure you were,” Craig enunciates every word. “Someone said you bailed out with Amanda hot on your heels.” This catches Kennedy’s attention. She whips her head up to look right in my eyes. Her expressions full of disappointment. Well, that’s intriguing. It’s more than that though. I refuse to drop my eyes from her and we end up being in our own staring contest as we stand in the parking lot.

“Hey Babe,” Amanda sneaks up behind me and loops an arm around my waist causing me to look away from Kennedy. I instantly regret it when I go to look her way again and her eyes are diverted. She quickly grabs her crutches and starts heading into school.