* * *
I make it through the morning without issue, and Indi’s been almost glued to my side since I told her about what happened this morning.
Whoever did it didn’t hide their reasoning behind it. The note was crystal fucking clear, but I’m not going anywhere. I do want to know why someone wants me gone so badly, though.
None of it makes any sense.
I’m here for my diploma, and I’ll happily leave once I have it.
Indi meets me after Music, like she has after every lesson so far today. She’s like a snapping turtle, losing it at anyone who so much as looks sideways at me. I love this badass sunshine version of her almost as much as the dancing in the rainbows side.
“Do you mind if I talk to Raleigh for a minute? I’ll meet you in the cafeteria.” I feel bad because I should’ve said something when she got me from Statistics, but I spent my entire period pep talking myself to have this conversation with Raleigh. I hadn’t intended on doing it till after school, but he was overly touchy in class, and I can’t go through the rest of the day without saying something.
She eyes me, making sure I’m okay before nodding. “Sure thing. I’ll grab you a tray so you don’t end up with the dredges of what’s left.”
“You’re the best.”
She squeezes my arm before heading down the hall while I wait for Raleigh to finish talking to Miss Celine. It doesn’t take long, and the slimy smile he gives me when he sees me waiting for him, sends shivers down my spine confirming that I’m making the right decision.
“You waited.” He beams at me and slings his arm over my shoulder.
I pause, extracting myself from his embrace, and he frowns. “We should talk.” I wince a little hearing the words fall from my lips because well, cliché much.
“That doesn’t sound great.” He folds his arms across his chest and leans against the wall. And it occurs to me just how alone we are… how empty the halls are.
I know it’s just my paranoia from this morning rearing its head, so I shake it off. I’m not having this conversation with people around. I won’t do that to him or to myself. “It’s not… I really like you, Raleigh. You’re an awesome guy—”
“But you just want to be friends.” He laughs haughtily after cutting me off. “Of course you do.”
He scrubs a hand down his face, and I shift from one foot to the other. This could go either way, and I really hope it doesn’t go badly. I don’t need another enemy at this school, and he has been a good friend to me. We’re just not a good match otherwise.
“Yeah, pretty much. I wasn’t really feeling it,” I tell him, trying to be as honest as I can.
He shrugs, stuffing his hands in his pockets. “I get it. I don’t like it, but I get it.”
I smile up at him sadly. “I totally don’t want to say it because it’s awful, but I’m really hoping we can still be friends.”
He belts out a laugh, and I wince again. This morning really has left me on edge. “You’re right, that was awful. But yes, we can still be friends. What’s one date between friends? It isn’t like we fucked or I declared my love for you.”
My eyes go wide at his words, making him laugh harder.
“Chill, I don’t love you.” I let out a breath of relief at the clarification. “Now let’s head to lunch, I’m starving.”
* * *
I make it through the rest of the day without issue. In fact, everything was looking up until I started the drive home.
Stupid me didn’t think to check my car after school.
That was my first mistake.
So when I need to stop the car at a traffic light, and my brakes fail, I smash into the car already sitting there. Thankfully therewasa car there, otherwise I’d have hit the kids crossing the road. But fuck my life.
So now I’m sitting in the back of an ambulance getting checked over while the police look over the road.
What an awesome way to finish this day.
My neck’s so fucking stiff, and a bruise is already blooming on my chest from the seatbelt. The pain relievers the paramedic gave me aren’t helping much, but I don’t want to take anything stronger. A police officer approaches the ambulance, and I spot Lincoln’s Porsche pull to a stop behind the cop car.