“Are you alright?” I wonder aloud, shoving a notebook in my bag. “Need something?”
He waited a long moment before responding. His cheeks filled and then he blew out a breath. “Need another ride home?”
The words came out rushed and hurried.
After losing my car, Xander volunteered to drive Hailey and me home. I wasn’t in the mood in the first place to go but after everything, we decided to leave.
Hailey gave him directions to her house and then she drove us back to mine. Keeping where I live a secret like she promised she would.
“Thanks, but I already have a ride.”
His hands tighten on the straps of his bag, jittery. “Anyone special.”
“Just Hailey.”
Why was he being so weird?
“That’s cool.” Shrugging, he downplays the situation. “Another time, then.”
I agree. The corners of his mouth crinkle, saying bye like he couldn’t get out of here fast enough.
Slam!
The cracking sound of metal slapping against itself rings in my ears. Madison standing on the other side of my locker she hurled shut.
Her lips pursed tight in annoyance. “RoryHale.” Saying my last name like a curse.
“What do you want?” I answer, peeved, that my face almost became ground lunch meat with how close she came to shutting it on my nose.
She angles her head like she was studying me. Her eyes crease, red locks falling around her face. Surprised she remembers me at all with the way she and Cole were sucking face.
Her tongue smacks against her teeth. “Why are you here?”
“Because it’s a Monday, and I go to school here?” Sighing, I reopen my locker, grabbing something else.
Madison circles me, face drawn and perceptive.
“No. Why are youhere?” Her polished red fingernail taps at the number plate at the top. “The lockers are in alphabetical order by name.”
I give her a bland expression not following. I was tired and I wanted to leave.
“Lastname.”
My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth, clicking together. This wasn’t good, but like everything else in my life, it always got worse. Finn deciding at that exact moment he needed to use his locker. The onerightnext to mine.
I curse under my breath, swearing my life was a melodrama.
“Must be a coincidence.” Not hinting at any other feeling, even as my palms grew sweaty. I didn’t want people to know who I am related to, and I know Finn was more than okay with that too.
None of them but a big, fat disappointment.
“Finn,” she says in way of greeting.
“Madison, thesecondbiggest pain in my ass.” Responding with the same amount of spunk. Any guesses on who number one was?
Hint, it was me. Finn’s swift side-eye not needed.
“How did you get so lucky?” Madison’s voice carries so much syrupy sweet tenacity she could’ve won an award. “Being locker buddies with Rory.”