Zeke is in the far back corner with Bronwyn turned around in her seat smiling at him like he’s the best thing that has ever walked into her life. He’s surrounded by the football guys, talking and laughing like he’s known these people since kindergarten.
His eyes catch mine for the briefest of moments before I can find a seat. There isn’t an ounce of knowing in his eyes when they meet mine. There aren’t memories of the summer we spent together or the night in the barn. There’s no hatred or anger right now, even though those things were clear on his face in the hallway. Nothing fills his features. He’s cold and indifferent, and that seems to hurt more than anything.
Piper chats with me until the teacher demands our attention at the front of the classroom, but even as she passes out our syllabus, I know that today and every day after will be the longest of my life.
Thankfully, Piper and I have the same schedule, and somehow I lucked out and don’t have Zeke in the next three classes. It doesn’t keep my eyes from searching for him in the halls when we transition, and the knife he stabbed me with when he left me alone in the barn turns a little each time I see him walking with Bronwyn.
By lunchtime, he’s become the hot new thing at Westover Prep, and everyone, girls and guys alike, swarm around him. We don’t get many new students here, and from the looks of it, it’ll be awhile before the novelty wears off of him.
“You didn’t tell me he was positively gorgeous,” Piper whispers as she slides her tray across the lunch table before slipping in beside me. I didn’t bother to grab anything to eat. My stomach has been twisting since I woke up this morning, and discovering Zeke in my school has only made things worse.
“I’m pretty sure I did,” I tell her, keeping my eyes down because it’s just too hard to watch everyone crowd around him like he’s going to do a magic trick or something.
“Absolutely gorge—,” she mutters, halting her words mid-syllable as Dalton begins to walk toward us.
“Hey, beautiful.”
I turn my head, focusing on the empty table beside me as they kiss each other hello.
“Will this ever get any less weird?” I mumble as Dalton takes a seat across from us.
Piper nudges me playfully with her shoulder, but I can’t even gather a smile to offer back.
“Maybe you should just go talk to him,” Dalton offers, and I can’t help but narrow my eyes at him.
“I can accept that you’re different now and dating my best friend, but please excuse me if I don’t take relationship advice from you.”
He shrugs, unbothered by my pissy words as he opens his carton of milk.
“Plus, she’d have to get in line.”
I don’t bother looking in Zeke’s direction at Piper’s words. I know what it looks like in that corner of the cafeteria. He’s being mobbed by the cheerleaders wanting to stake their claim and the football guys begging him to be on their team. Apparently, catching and throwing a ball is all it takes to become an overnight sensation around here.
“I have him in English. He seems like a nice guy,” Dalton adds around a bite of macaroni and cheese as he shrugs his shoulders.
Closing my eyes, I pinch the bridge of my nose, but it does nothing for the headache threatening to invade my already crappy day.
“He needs to be warned about that vampire, though.”
My eyes snap up to Dalton. “What do you know about Bronwyn? I thought you don’t remember anyone.”
“I don’t,” Dalton assures me. “I’ve just seen how she acts. We spent quite a bit of time at the snow cone stand this summer, and I had a party at my house before I knew to stay away from them. It didn’t go very well.”
Dalton reaches across the table to squeeze Piper’s hand in reassurance.
“Seems you have a lot to tell me, too.” I raise an eyebrow at my best friend. She never mentioned any further issues since the accident. Other than fighting what was growing between her and Dalton, she’s been pretty positive about everything recently. If the teasing and hateful behavior has continued, she hasn’t mentioned it.
My mouth snaps shut when a few other people join us at our table. They greet everyone, and even though I recognize them and know a few of their names, I’m struck speechless when Dalton and Piper pick up conversations with them like they’ve been good friends since the beginning of time.
They draw me in to their conversations, but I’m only half paying attention. I can feel Zeke’s eyes on me, but every time I look up, he’s focused on his conversation with those around him.
Maybe I’m making it up. Maybe I just want him to look my direction, to acknowledge me somehow.