Page 5 of I Don't Need Your Love

“Don’t feel bad, kid,” he says as he moves closer and pats my shoulder. For some reason, I feel a spark and I stumble away from him. “You’ll always have a special place in my heart.”

I twist around and glare at him. “Will you quit calling me ‘kid?’ I’mnota little kid.”

The truth is, I technically was never really a “kid” to him because he’s the same age as me. Blake is one year older than me, and he and Ryder hung out all the time. I always wantedto hang out with them, too. That annoyed Ryder, and he would convince my brother to leave me behind. When I complained to my mom, she forced them to include me in their games and adventures.

“You’re wasting my precious time,” I snap at him. “You think I don’t have anything better to do than be your tour guide? I’m sacrificing lunch because of you.”

“You were the one who didn’t show up before classes,” he reminds me. “I waited for you for half an hour.”

“Poor baby.”

He nods. “Poor indeed.” He steps back and studies me. “Hey, you look cute in the uniform.”

I gape at him as my heart nearly shoots out of my chest. “What?”

“Is this the first time I’m seeing you in the school uniform?” he muses. Then he shrugs. “You look really cute.”

What…where…how…What theheckdid he just say?

“Anyway, can we start the tour? My roommate showed me around a bit yesterday, but there’s still a lot I didn’t see. And I got lost, too,” he adds with a laugh.

I just continue to gawk at him like I’ve never seen a human before in my life. What exactly is he getting at? He thinks he can ruffle my feathers and throw me off my game by tossing a compliment my way? The audacity of this guy…

He studies me with a raised brow. “You good, kid?”

I throw my hands up. “What did I say about calling me ‘kid?’”

“It’s a free country. I can call you whatever I want.”

“Jerk,” I mutter.

He laughs softly. “Not as much as you paint me to be, Simmons.”

There are so many things I want to say right now, but I force my lips shut and turn on my heels, storming toward the exit ofthe building. I stop and look over my shoulder. “Are you coming or what?”

For the next half hour, I give him the fastest tour I’ve ever given a student in my life. Partly because I want to have time to eat lunch, but mostly because I want to get this over with. Ryder is purposely being irritating by asking the most ridiculous questions, and the more annoyed I get, the more he seems to enjoy himself.

“I showed you the most important parts of the school,” I tell him. “I’m sure you’re smart enough to figure out the rest on your own. Now if you don’t mind, there’s this yummy pasta dish that’s calling my name.”

I turn to go, but he grabs hold of my arm and yanks me back to him. “Just a minute, tour guide.”

I groan impatiently and look at him. “What?”

“Don’t you want me to thank you for the tour?”

“What’s there to thank? I only gave you the tour because Harrington forced me to.”

His eyes widen in surprise. “Is that the only reason?”

“Duh? I mean, I normally welcome new students to the school, so I’m just doing what I’m supposed to be doing.”

I swear I can see a hint of disappointment pass over his face. But it disappears in a flash. “And here I thought I was so special to have the Queen Kid herself show me around,” he says with a teasing grin.

“There’s nothing special about you, Ryder Bennett.” I yank my arm out of his grasp. “My duty is done. See you…hopefully never.” I narrow my eyes at him and march away.

I run into the dining hall faster than a cheetah and pile as much food from the buffet tables as I can onto my tray. Then I dash to the table my friends and I always sit at and plop down, wasting no time shoving bite after bite into my mouth.

“Slow down, Carly,” Raven says with a laugh. “You’re going to choke.”