When Our Worlds Collide (Our Worlds #1)(77)

We walk in silence together. Kennedy is absolutely frigid next to me. I refuse to drop my hand from her back giving me notice that her spine is stiffened beneath my touch. We make it into the hallway where our lockers are when she speaks up.

“Everyone’s watching us, aren’t they?” she asks shyly handing me her crutches giving her access to turn the nob on her lock.

“They’re all probably watching you. You look gorgeous,” I bend down to whisper in her ear. She stops in her tracks to look at me dropping her books back into the bottom of her locker.

“That must be it,” she laughs at my accusation like it’s the most ridiculous thing she’s ever heard. “Or it could have something to do with their star baseball player slumming it in public?”

“I’m hardly slumming for one and I don’t think you quite grasp where you lie in the food chain of this high school.” Kennedy’s constantly saying things like this. If she only knew the way most of the guys in school spoke about her she’d realize that she’s the one who’s slumming.

“I’d love to see that chart. Maybe you can come over once you’re done with practice and lay it out for me?” She winks at me trying to seem relaxed when I know she’s nervous as hell.

“Are you flirting with me, Ms. Conrad?” I sandwich her in between me and her locker placing a hand on each side of her head. She leans forward leaving a few inches between our lips. I can practically feel her against my chest as we forget where we are at and that we have an audience.

Our world is jolted back to reality by an unwanted distraction.

“That didn’t take long, Kennedy. I see you cozied right up to Graham after you were done with me,” Craig shouts loud enough for the others around us to hear. His assault is received with a few snickers from a few people.

His smirk’s filled with menace and he rubs his fingers down Kennedy’s arm. The minute they make contact I feel my teeth clenching. Craig’s asking for a fight and I’m more than ready to start and finish it before he even sees me coming.

“Excuse me?” Kennedy’s voice is immediately in defense of herself. I suppose of me as well. I’m proud of her for speaking up, but I know nothing good will come from this. It’s the look in Craig’s eyes that angers me most. He acts as if Friday night never happened, as if it was just a nightmare for Kennedy and me. The bruises on his face should be a good reminder that it was in fact real.

“You heard me, slut.” Craig’s voice snarls with his insult.

That was all I needed to hear before I made the decision. I turn around punching him landing my fist perfectly across his face. He stumbles back a few steps falling against the bank of lockers across from us. We have the attention of everyone who’s in earshot. A group of girls have to back away from getting in the way of Craig’s fall causing a sort of panicked mania in the small area. Girls are screeching and a few guys are helping Craig up from the floor. I scan the hallway hoping no teachers are around. No one will say anything. My secret is safe with them all.

“If you ever lay a finger on her again,” I point back at a wide eyed Kennedy. “Or utter her name I swear to you I will break your fucking legs to the point where going to play baseball at whatever little league college you plan on attending will no longer want you on their team. Understood?”

I grab Kennedy’s hand leading her down the hallway away from him.

“God, Kennedy,” I shake my head trying to calm my frantic nerves. “I should go back and kill him.”

“His harsh words were worth watching you lay him out,” Kennedy reaches down to grab my hand inspecting it to make sure I didn’t cause any damage. This girl’s fixing me even when she should be a wreck herself.

“Don’t worry about me. Are you okay?” I cup her face in my hands inspecting her eyes for the tears that I expect to see.

“I’m okay. Now give me a kiss and go to class,” she demands. We are still holding an audience in the hallway. I glance at the spying eyes and turn to look at her. “Are you going to kiss me or not?” Kennedy’s grin grows larger. She knows what she’s doing. Kennedy has a way of surprising me every chance she gets.

“I’m going to kiss you. Remember…until you tell me to stop.” My arms wrap around her lifting her off the floor before placing my lips against hers as if kissing her is second nature. It feels like we’ve been doing it for years by the way our bodies mesh together as if they just might’ve been made for this exact reason, if only to be with each other.





Chapter ThirtySeven



-Kennedy-



I feel all of their eyes burning holes into the back of my head. Choosing to ignore them is easy when Graham skims my bottom lip with his tongue with featherlike accuracy. When his lips meet mine nothing else matters. My mind is cloudy and slightly at a loss for any fluid thought. I know once our mouths come up for air that we’ll be met with questions and criticism. I’m oddly at ease with my new found place in this school.

I’m always going to be the girl who worries about what others think of me. That’s why I excel in school. I have a fear of disappointing my parents and teachers. Working my butt off is worth the reward even if it halted any sort of social life I could have. Letting others down makes me break out in hives. Being held to the ridiculous standards of what others think is best for Graham is going to be difficult. They worship him.