Seth & Greyson (The Coincidence 7)

As blinding pain shoots through my body, I blink up through the blood and dirt and see a familiar face looking down at me, only it can’t be right. Braiden never looks at me like that, like he hates me so much he can’t stand it.

The look hurts more than the fists and the kicks.

Chapter 7

Seth

The next day I wake up with a pounding headache and an overwhelming urge to skip out on class, so I do. I spend the morning going through my clothes and putting outfits together, working on my homework, and avoiding Greyson’s texts. Deep down, I know he’s not Braiden. He’s already proven that by simply being seen in public with me, but the nightmares make the wounds on my arm feel too fresh.

Around eleven, I’m waiting outside of Callie’s dorm room while she gets dressed so we can go get some breakfast. My phone buzzes from inside my pocket and I tense as I open the message.

Greyson: Hey, haven’t heard from u. Hope everything is okay with Callie. Anyway, call me when you get a chance. Jenna’s making me go to this art show next Friday and she suggested I bring u too so we can double date.

As soon as I finish reading the message, another text buzzes through.

Greyson: Okay, so I totally just reread my message and realized how lame a double date probably sounds. I promise, though, it’ll be fun. There’s free wine and food and we can leave the moment it gets boring.

My finger hovers over the buttons as I deliberate how to reply. He’s asking me out on a date. Like a real date date.

“Hey, man.” Luke strolls up to me, zipping up his jacket. “I was actually heading to your dorm.”

“Why?” I ask, shoving my phone away without replying.

“I actually need a favor.”

“Are we to the favor stage yet?” I joke as I tame my hair with my fingers.

He chuckles then bobs his head from side to side. “I was kind of hoping we were.”

“Okay.” I wait for him to explain.

He huffs out a breath. “I need to borrow your car.”

My brows knit. “Where’s your truck?”

“Kayden borrowed it so he could drive home for prom.” His jaw tightens in annoyance.

“Prom?” I frown. “What the hell?”

He lifts his shoulder and shrugs. “His girlfriend back home is a senior and he promised her he’d take her.”

My lip instinctively curls. “Seriously? He’s still dating that Barbie bitch I met a couple weeks ago?”

Luke barks a laugh. “I really like that description of her.”

I don’t find it funny at all. “I thought Kayden broke up with her.” I glance over my shoulder at Callie’s door, hoping she can’t hear.

“He did, but he promised Daisy he’d go with her before they broke up,” he says with another shrug. “Honestly, I don’t get it, but for some reason, Kayden can’t seem to just tell her no. He’s always been that way, though.”

Suddenly, the door behind me swings open, and Callie walks out, slipping on a hoodie. I try to keep a lock on my expression, but my smile falters when she grins at me.

She immediately stiffens. “What’s wrong?”

Luke has a guilty look on his face as he waves at her. “Hey, Callie, what’s up?”

She self-consciously combs her hands through her hair. “Nothing much. Seth and I are just headed out to get some breakfast.”

“Yeah, we were just talking about that.” Luke backs down the hall, totally bailing out on the situation. “I was asking Seth if I could borrow his car, but I’ll just find someone else.”

I glare at him for leaving me to break the news to her, and he quickens his pace.

“Why? Where’s your truck?” Callie calls out.

“Kayden took it somewhere.” He waves at us, then spins on his heels and jogs down the hallway like a coward. “I’ll catch up with you two later,” he calls over his shoulder.

Callie’s eyes swarm with confusion. “What was that all about?”

I hook my arm through hers, deciding just to rip the band-aid off. “We need to talk.”

We push out the doors at the end of the hallway and step outside beneath the grey sky. Dry leaves gust across the grass and the trees move with the wind.

“Are you going to tell me why you’re looking at me like you’re about to tell me my dog died?” she asks as we head for the parking lot.

I drag out the silence for as long as possible, rummaging to get my keys out. “I have something to tell you and I don’t know how you’re going to take it.” I let go of her arm, unlock the doors, and get in.

I start the engine, crank up the heat, then scroll through my playlists on my iPod. “Kayden borrowed Luke’s truck.” I set the iPod down and internally cringe as I say, “To go back home for a few days... to go to prom.”

She buckles her seatbelt. “Okay, why are you acting weird?”

I shove the shifter into reverse and glance over my shoulder as I back out of the parking spot. “Well, because he didn’t say anything to you. Wait a minute. Did he tell you?”

She shakes her head. “No, but why would he? We barely know each other.”

I don’t like her reaction at all. It shows how little self-esteem she has, and makes me hate the guy that hurt her even more. It also makes me kind of hate Kayden for adding to her pain. “Callie, you made out with him last night and let him feel your boob.”

“Hey,” she protests, crossing her arms over her chest. “I told you that in confidence.”

I steer the car onto the road. “Relax, I’m just pointing out how big a step that was for you. An important step. You wouldn’t just do it with any guy.”

“I like Kayden, but it doesn’t mean he has to tell me everything he does. I’m not his girlfriend. “

“So what.” I turn down the stereo volume. “He should have said something instead of just taking off. He knew you’d probably want to see him. And you know his darkest secret, Callie, which is the hardest part about getting to know someone.”

I glance down at the scars on my arm and think about the secrets connected to them. The only person I’ve ever told was Callie and my mother. My mother refused to acknowledge anything happened. She wouldn’t let me report the assault, said no one would care. In a way, I hate her for it, for not being there for me when I needed her, for making me feel so ashamed.

Chapter 8

Seth

I’m still avoiding Greyson to the point that I cut out on English class again. I never replied to his offer of going to see the art show next Friday and haven’t heard anything from him since. I’m starting to think he’s given up on me and even convince myself I’m grateful. Clearly, I’m not ready for another relationship yet.