When Our Worlds Collide (Our Worlds #1)(78)

Until Graham came along, I cared about everyone’s perception of me. I stuck to what I knew. He’s opened my eyes to a whole different world, a world that I want to scavenge and explore until I see every last square inch that there is to see. He’s somehow ignited my life with a flame. Everything I thought I knew, or believed purely seems obsolete.

I slowly release my lips from his leaving my arms wrapped around his waist with our lips nearly centimeters apart. “You know they’re all watching right?” I say with slight embarrassment.

“It doesn’t matter, Kennedy,” Graham talks into my hair before giving me one last kiss on the forehead. We both turn to go in our own direction when I feel a smack across my butt. I yelp in surprise turning to see Graham grinning from ear to ear backing down the hallway with his hands up in surrender. “I’ll see you at lunch, Ken.”

The first two blocks of school is spent answering questions. It was more like dodging them. Some of the questions are understandable, some of the questions are simple, but most of them sounded more like statements instead of actual questions. I hear everything from “What’s going on with you and Graham?” to “Why’d Graham punch Craig?”---My favorite being “Graham doesn’t have girlfriends”. A constant reminder of that fun fact is annoying. At one point my teachers have to tell everyone to leave me alone. I understand why everyone has this curiosity. Graham is their alpha male, their king. I’m nobody to them.

No one is deserving of the answers to those questions and I don’t give them the satisfaction of answering. Besides it’s no one’s business what’s going on between Graham and I. Except maybe one person and by the look on her face she isn’t happy with me.

Violet face is contorting between rage and confusion as she makes her way down the hallway practically knocking over an entire group of freshman boys who don’t get out of her death path quick enough. I just walked out of my second block when she’s making her way towards me. I clinch my books tight to my chest as if they can protect me from her wrath. I try to smile at her but it feels uncomfortable. I know I’m in trouble.

“You and me need to have a serious chat,” Violet points over another group of freshman who’s separating us. Her face is beat red with anger. I know I owe her a rather good explanation. A lot happened over the span of two days. Clearly the rumor mill isn’t going to disappoint.

“Before you yell at me…” I give her a knowing look. I know what’s going to come out of her mouth next.

“Oh you bet your ass I’m going to yell at you. What the fuck is going on with you two? Because I’ve heard several different versions of what I’d like to assume are lies, but please confirm a few things for me.”

“What all have you heard anyways?” I ask coyly.

“Are you and Graham together?” Violet has always been known for getting to the point.

“Yes, next question.” I smirk at her. Her mouth drops open in surprise.

“Did Graham punch Craig this morning because he called you a slut, whore, or trash? I’ve heard all three versions, sweetie.”

“That happened...yes. I’m pretty sure he called me a slut though.” Violet’s eyes are full of sympathy.

“You’re not a slut. What a fucking asshole,” Violet shouts making the group of boys she nearly took out minutes before stare in her direction. “Why did Craig choose today to be such a colossal dickhead? He pissed that you moved on from him before it even got started?”

I took a deep breath trying to control my emotions. Violet’s my best friend and she has no idea what happened Friday night when she was busy hooking up with Dan in the boat house. I wasn’t her responsibility, but I know her well enough to know she will feel at fault somehow. I know I won’t be able to lie to her about what happened.

“Violet, you have to promise not to say anything. I mean, literally no one can know,” my eyes glare into hers to make sure she understands what I’m asking from her. She nods in response clearly afraid of what I have to tell her. “Friday night something happened. Graham hooked up with Amanda before the baseball game. I was mad. I decided to play a little game with him to try to get under his skin. It was stupid.”

“Okay, so what exactly happened? What does this have to do with Craig?” Violet urges me to continue obviously confused. Her eyebrows are furrowed together waiting for me to say something. She guides me over to a bank of empty lockers. We lean against them just looking at each other.

“After arguing with Graham at the party I thought he had left, but he hadn’t. He stuck around to make sure that I was okay. I was drunk. Craig had been super pushy and at some point we went up to his bedroom. At first it was all fine. We were kissing, but then something switched. There was this look in his eyes, Vi. He was persistent when he refused to listen to me saying no,” I explained refusing to look at her now. I feel embarrassed and recalling what happened only makes me want to run away from all of this.

“Son of a bitch,” Violet screams when she realizes what I’m saying. “I’m going to fucking kill him. I should have been there. I should have seen you go up there. I should have been there to stop him.” I grab Violet’s hand to stop her. As she turns around to face me I can see the gloss over her eyes.

“This isn’t your fault and Graham got to me before it was too late,” I whisper. A set of hands curve around my waist making me jump.