When Our Worlds Collide (Our Worlds #1)(8)

Kennedy takes a deep breath in and exhales. I sit forward in my seat trying to get a better glance into what is about to happen on the stage in front of me. I find myself feeling intrigued by her once again as she begins to move her body across the stage. For a split second, I actually think it is someone else dancing in front of me.

The way Kennedy is moving her body is intoxicating. With every move she makes, you can see everything she is feeling spilling out onto the stage. She leaves herself exposed. I know I am not the only one to notice. The entire room falls silent as she dances. There is a beauty in the way her body moves that you can’t look away from in fear of missing a single second.

I am beginning to think that maybe I’ve been misjudging the type of person she is. Why doesn’t she walk through the hallways with the confidence that she bleeds out onto the stage? I have a feeling that she likes it that way. She likes going unnoticed. By the look on everyone’s face gazing up at her as she finishes and the music faded out, the shy girl isn’t going to be able to hide any longer. She officially has been labeled “noticed” by everyone, even me.

Kennedy stands in the middle of the stage looking out at the audience that she has just left awestruck. Everyone stands up in appreciation. Her cheeks redden as she bends down to bow then exits off the side of the stage as quickly as possible not taking a second glance my way. I don’t understand why I feel disappointment to see her go. That’s a box I’m not willing to open.

Mark catches my attention mouthing, “Damn”.

“No shit,” I say a little too loud. Amanda catches on to our exchange.

“It wasn’t that great,” Amanda rolls her eyes before grabbing for my hand to hold onto. The gesture feels territorial. I’ve never really been one to pepper my steak before I eat it, but if it makes it better for her then so-be it. I’ll play along for now. “We going to Craig’s after this?” she asks with her usual sex filled glint in her eye.

“Yeah, but I’m not staying that long. I have some things to do tomorrow,” I lie. I don’t have anything planned for tomorrow. I’m just not in the mood to party all night again. More times than not it gets out of hand and I’m not in the mood to deal with all that bullshit tonight.

“What do you have to do tomorrow?” Amanda is obviously annoyed that I have no intention of inviting her over to stay. That is our normal routine. She doesn’t like to feel rejected which is exactly where this is heading.

“Just things with my mom…not that big of a deal,” I pull my hand away from hers. I don’t understand a girls need to hold hands. One or both hands end up sweaty. It’s gross and pointless.

“Whatever,” she concedes slumping down in her chair like a child folding her arms over her chest. What am I even doing with this girl? Amanda annoys the shit out of me most of the time. On the other hand she’s always a sure thing. There’s no arguing with that logic.

Amanda doesn’t speak to me through the rest of the talent show. Her silence is more of a gift than a punishment. The rest of the acts were mediocre at best. No one held a torch to Kennedy. There was something about her that’s hard to dismiss, difficult to forget.

What the hell is wrong with me? I don’t even know this girl.





Chapter Five



-Kennedy-



I walk off the stage trying to catch my breath. Shaking the thoughts from my head as I make my way back to my dressing room to gather up my clothes, I have no intentions of staying for the rest of the talent show. The last thing I want to deal with is everyone’s eyes on me. After all, they stood up and clapped. It’s the most attention any of them have given me since starting school freshman year. I start walking towards the back entrance that connects to the farthest parking lot. Against my better judgment, something stops me and I turn back around heading towards the auditorium.

I quietly shut the door behind me not to interrupt the act that is on the stage performing. I instantly regret coming back in here as I make my way slowly down the aisle trying to blend in to the darkness as much as possible. Violet must have been waiting for me to come in. She waves me down to where she is seated. Although I love her, she is way too overzealous when it comes to things that embarrass me.

I can’t just ignore her, so I close the gap between us in hopes of stopping her flailing arms. She sat in the middle aisle which means I will have no option but to walk right past Graham and his army of followers.

“Kennedy, you did amazing. See, it wasn’t that bad,” Violet says loudly catching everyone’s attention which is exactly what I’m trying to avoid by my original plan to sit in the back unnoticed.

“Thank you, but you don’t need to shout,” I force a smile at her as I slouch down in the worn out fabric covered seat.

I don’t know why I do it. Something against my own will has me to look back over to where Graham is sitting. He is pulling his hand away from Amanda’s grasp. A part of me desperately wants him to notice me. He never did bother to turn towards me. I’m still going unnoticed. I’m not even sure why I care.

The rest of the talent show doesn’t last much longer, thankfully. I’m ready to get out of here before anyone says anything to me.

“You want to go to Craig’s with me tonight? Please, please, please,” Violet begs elbowing me in the side to grab my attention as I make my way up the aisle. I hate when she puts me on the spot like this.