But in reality, all I had was a picture. In reality, all I had were the memories Aunt Tess had given me of them, because I’d been too young to remember them on my own. The only living relative who had wanted me was Aunt Tess, and most days, I wondered if she couldn’t wait to be rid of me.
Well, fine. I didn’t want to be with her any longer than I legally had to anyway, so I had stubbornly remained in my room all weekend while she attempted to make the rickety old house look like a home.
The warning bell rang then, startling me from my glum thoughts. I waved to the girls and headed for my English Lit class. I knew my way around the school well enough on my own now, thanks to my astute observation skills learned from constantly moving. I was about to enter my classroom when I felt eyes on me, which was ridiculous since dozens of students were still in the hallway. Glancing over my shoulder, I searched for the source.
I’d almost given up when the crowd thinned, revealing not just one guy staring at me from across the hall, but two. I didn’t recognize them, but I’d only been at the school a couple of days. Both were tall, one with wavy, caramel-colored hair and the other black. Even from here, I could feel the intensity of their gazes.
But it was the guy on the left—the slightly shorter one with a sleeker build and obsidian hair falling into his dark, hooded eyes—that captured my attention.
I couldn’t help but notice everything about him, from his aloof almost bored expression, to his skin a shade darker than mine. From the effortless way he wore his slim dark jeans and black button-down shirt, to the tattoos snaking out of his rolled-up sleeves. I even noticed the thick leather watch on his left wrist and the large ruby ring on his pinky finger.
He pretty much had “bad boy” stamped all over him with a “do not disturb” sign around his neck.
Still, I continued to stare like a creeper. I should be thoroughly embarrassed but couldn’t seem to look away. Besides, he started staring first.
He suddenly broke eye contact and pushed through the administration office door, snapping me out of my weird stupor. The other guy, the carmel-haired one who looked like a bodybuilder, winked at me and entered the office too. A throat cleared from behind me, and I became all too aware that I was blocking the entrance to my classroom.
Okay, now I was embarrassed.
I quickly filed into the room and took a seat somewhere in the middle. That way, I could observe a good portion of the students without being noticed as often by the teacher. I almost jumped out of my skin when someone tapped my shoulder.
The first period bell rang while I turned in my seat to see Reid Zimmerman directly behind me. More embarrassment flooded my cheeks at how rude I must have looked by sitting down without acknowledging him.
“Good morning, class,” our English teacher said, way too chipperly for this time of day.
Meet me after class, Reid mouthed, and I nodded without thinking before facing forward again.
But now that I had, worry niggled at the back of my mind. Reid’s expression had been somber, and although I’d only known him a short time, the look seemed odd for him. I couldn’t help but remember the argument he had with August before I’d left the party. He’d even shoved him.
My eyes widened. What if . . .
What if Reid had attacked August in the woods Friday night, and was now making sure I hadn’t seen it?
What would he do if I had? Would he . . . would he threaten me so I’d keep silent? And if he was the violent sort, there was no telling what he’d do.
Okay, I was officially freaked out now.
For the duration of class, I could barely concentrate, too busy feeling Reid’s eyes on my back. I fingered and twisted my bracelet over and over. Maybe I was being paranoid, but I didn’t think so. I was pretty good at knowing when someone was staring at me. It was like a sixth sense or something. When the bell rang, I shot out of my seat like a bullet and beelined for the exit.
“Kenna,” Reid called as I reached the door. I pretended not to hear.
Next was my World History class. Crap! Reid was in that class too. Thinking fast, I pushed into the girl’s bathroom, almost knocking someone over.
“Hey!”
“Sorry,” I muttered to the flustered girl and ducked into a stall. Slamming the door shut, I leaned against it and breathed deeply to calm my racing heart.
Hopefully Reid would take the hint that I didn’t want to talk with him. If not, at least I’d be last to arrive in class and could avoid sitting near him.
But now I looked panicked. Like I knew something.
Fates, I shouldn’t have run.
Too late now.
I left the stall a few minutes after the warning bell rang and slowly washed my hands. I looked up and spotted my dilated pupils in the mirror, barely able to see the silver-gray of my irises. “Calm down,” I whispered to my reflection and tucked wayward strands of chestnut hair behind my ears. “Nothing’s going to happen to you.”
Then why did I feel like the next few minutes of my life were going to change everything?
With one last look at my nervous expression, I smoothed a hand down my scarlet paisley dress and exited the bathroom. The hall was eerily empty while I swiftly crossed it to reach my next class, clutching my books tightly to my chest. My heeled ankle boots echoed loudly against the tiles, the sound raising the hair on my arms. I was practically jogging by the
