Broken Hill Hurt (Broken Hill High 3)

I can’t help but look across at Brooke to see nothing but a huge relieved smile across her face. I’ve never been so happy for her. I mean, babies are great, but we’re only seventeen. We are not responsible enough for that.

We get to our class just in time and drop down into our seats. Naturally, Nate isn’t here yet but I wasn’t expecting him to be.

I pull my books out of my bag as I still haven’t managed to make it to my locker and think about what a crazy morning it’s already been. I don’t think I can handle any extra drama for today.

Mr. Miller walks into the room with a beaming smile as his eyes scan over the room. “Happy Monday everyone,” he smiles. “Guess what? We’re starting the week with a surprise pop quiz. Put your books away and get yourselves ready.”

A groan echoes through the room as the door opens. My eyes instantly lift to the perfect specimen walking through and my heart begins to race. What was I thinking coming here today? I’m so not going to make it through this class alive. I’ll probably die of anxiety before the class lets out, but at least we have a test to keep me distracted.

Nate walks forward into the room and his eyes don’t leave mine for even one second. As he passes me, his fingers graze over my shoulder and it’s as though he breathed life into me. How could he have such an effect on me? How could he know how desperately I needed that?

He passes and his fingers fall away, leaving me gasping for breath.

Damn it.

He drops down into the seat behind me and his smell completely envelopes me, reminding me of what is so close but so far away.

I feel Brooke’s impenetrable gaze locked on me and I turn to look at her. ‘You ok?’ she mouths.

I shrug my shoulders because I honestly don’t know. I want to break down into tears while also wanting to throw myself at him. It’s going to be a confusing day.

Mr. Miller hands out our tests and I’ve never been so grateful. I spend the hour focusing solely on my test, even when I finish it twenty minutes early. I then go through it with a fine tooth comb, just to help pass the time. Besides, I can’t afford to be getting a shitty grade on this one.

The end of class finally comes and I fly out of the room like my ass is on fire. I haven’t been able to breathe properly for an hour and all I need is to get away. Getting over Nate Ryder is going to be a lot harder than I ever thought imaginable.

By lunch, I’m dying for freedom. I go into the cafeteria and all I hear are whispers.

“I heard she cheated.”

“She’s brave showing her face around here.”

“If Nate Ryder doesn’t want her then who the hell would?”

“She’s trash.”

“I heard he found out she set the fire.”

“He dumped her like a sack of shit.”

I need to get the hell out of here. I can worry about eating once I get home. I turn on my heel and beeline right out of there. It’s a bit cold outside so there’s hardly anyone out here, meaning, I can actually breathe.

I go out and sit on the hill that overlooks the football field and pull my phone from my back pocket.

Tora – Sitting outside today.

Brooke – Be there in a sec.

I put my phone down and lean back against my hands. It only takes a few minutes for the girls to show and sit down beside me. “How’s it going?” Brooke says as she digs her fork into her salad.

“How do you think it’s going?” I grunt. “I’m the talk of the town… again.”

“Shouldn’t you be used to that shit by now?” Courtney mumbles with her mouth around her sandwich.

I shrug my shoulders. “You’d think.”

The girls get carried away in conversation and I do my best to be a happy participant, but to be honest, I’m a dull loser today. I wouldn’t want to talk to me either.

As lunch goes on, people start wandering out of the cafeteria. The cheerleaders go down to the field following the football players who throw around a ball. Stoners wander off to the very back of the property where they can hide behind a thick row of bushes, bookworms go and sit against random trees and flick through the pages of beloved books, while me and my girls do what we do best; people watch.

I notice Jackson down with the rest of the football team and although sensing my eyes on him, he turns and gives me a beaming smile. He throws the ball in his hands to one of his teammates before breaking into a slight jog towards me.