Always You(15)

I cringed. Was I seriously sitting here next to my teacher, thinking about Brazilians and pubic hair? What the hell is wrong with me? God, now I was thinking about what he’d like. I bet all the chicks he had been with were smooth and bare down there . . .

Snap out of it, Wrenn!

I blushed furiously, praying to God he wouldn’t look over at me. He didn’t.

***

“Well, I have to admit that was pretty damn good.”

Dalton grinned as he stretched his legs out. “I can’t believe you hadn’t seen that before,” he said, shaking his head.

“I imagine there are quite a few classics I’ve yet to see that I should have,” I replied, running my hand through my hair. I sat forward and closed the empty pizza box. “Thanks for staying. This was fun.”

“It was,” he agreed, his gaze lingering on me, a tiny smile threatening to invade his mouth. “There aren’t too many people here that I’ve been able to be myself around,” he admitted. He sat forward, his arms resting casually on his legs. “I knew moving away from my friends and family would be hard, but it’s harder than I thought.”

“I can imagine,” I said softly. My mind flashed back to all my old friends. I hadn’t even heard from them, not since the accident.

“Of course,” he said. “What am I saying? You know exactly how I feel. I suppose you rack up a huge phone bill, too, right? Thank God for Skype is all I can say.”

“I don’t exactly have many people to call,” I replied carefully. Wow this was going downhill fast.

His face fell, and I knew he’d realized he had put his foot in it. I hadn’t planned on explaining my situation to him so quickly, but now I felt like I had to.

“I moved here because . . . because my family was killed in an accident last year. Layna is my only living relative. She had to take me.” I swallowed hard, praying he wouldn’t press me for more details.

“Shit, Wrenn. I’m an idiot. I can’t believe I said that.” He buried his head in his hands.

“You didn’t know,” I said. “Most of the staff know, but only because they were here when I came here, and Layna thought it was best they knew, considering my fragile state. The students don’t know. And I’m glad. They hate me enough as it is.”

“Maybe them knowing would give them a better insight to who you are and what you’ve been though? I’m sure they don’t hate you,” he replied, his voice soft.

I laughed. “Trust me, they do. I’m the niece of the headmistress and I don’t come from a family of big money. Add to that all the ‘special’ attention I used to get from teachers who were just trying to look out for me, and what’s to not like?” I joked. I shrugged. “Not that I care. With the exception of Kass, I’d prefer not to know any of my peers. I focus on my schoolwork and grades. That’s it. Two more months and I’m free. Less than two months. Six weeks. Thank God for extra credit and early graduation.”

He was silent for a moment. “Anyone who chooses not to get to know you is missing out. Not you. You’re unlike anyone I’ve met.” He looked up and met my gaze; those incredible blue eyes were staring right into my soul. It gave me goose bumps. This guy made me feel like I wanted to live. Really live, not just go through the motions of day to day life.

I smiled, not sure how to respond to his comment. “You’re just trying to be nice, and I appreciate that, but I know how little this place matters out there in the real world. What people here think of me, I try not to let it get me down. I just think of the future. A few more months and I’ll be in college. Hell, if it weren’t for the accident, I’d have been in college this year.”

“You would?” he murmured, his brow furrowing at the thought.

“Yes. I’m repeating my senior year because of the accident. That’s how I have enough credits to graduate midyear.”

“Wow, I didn’t realize,” he mumbled, looking up at me and shaking off whatever train of thought had been distracting him. “Anyway, I’d better go. I can only imagine the gossip that would circulate if I was seen here when Layna wasn’t home.” He rolled his eyes and stood up, his phone shooting out of his hands and landing on the floor. We both bent down to retrieve it, almost banging heads in the process. For a second, we looked at each other. I couldn’t read his expression.

He straightened up abruptly, giving me a tight smile. “I’ll see you next week.”





Chapter Ten


––––––––

Dalton

––––––––

If not for her accident, she would be a college student this year.

College. Not high school, but college.

Why did hearing her say that make me want to squirm? The same reason my heart dropped when she thought I was just being nice for telling her she was special. This girl was beginning to have an effect on me.

If Wrenn had been a freshman in college when I was there, would I have . . . ?

It doesn't matter. God, why am I even thinking that? She's not in college, and I'm not back there, either. Besides, even if things were different, god knows I don’t do relationships.

I shouldn't have stayed. My intentions at first were completely innocent, and she'd given me no indication that she wanted anyone but someone to kill time with.