Page 82 of I Don't Need Your Love

“What did you say?” I ask.

“Mmm? Oh, nothing at all. Or maybe it’s she falls first, he falls harder?” she mumbles to herself. “I guess time will tell.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about, but I have no time or patience to figure it out.” I try to eat more from my plate, but my stomach feels like it might explode. “I think I ate too much.”

“No such thing when it comes to Harrington Bay Academy’s food,” Raven says.

“Yep. Calories are thrown out the window the second we walk through these doors,” Sophie adds.

“Tell that to the popular girls.” I nod to the table in the center of the room, where Clarissa and her lackeys sit. The table is filled to the max with girls, and even some guys have joined, too. Ugh, how can she still be so popular after what she did to Addie? I guess people like them don’t care about being decent human beings.

“More for us, then,” Raven says with a shrug as she sticks her fork into my pancake. “I’m stealing some of your food.”

“Be my guest.”

Sophie digs into some of my food, too, and we manage to finish most of it by the time the bell rings. I feel like a whale as I get up and slip my backpack onto my shoulders. After throwing out our garbage and discarding our trays, we make our way out of the dining hall.

Ryder is a few feet ahead of us, walking with the football team. Even the back of his head is good-looking. His hair is just the right amount of messy and neat.

The football players slow down to chat with some other jocks, and my friends and I pass by. When Ryder notices us, his face lights up and he hurries to join us. “I think we’re all headed in the same direction,” he says. “Let’s walk together.”

“Actually, Sophie and I need to stop by the office,” Raven says as she grabs Sophie’s arm.

“Et tu, Brute?” I say. Addie also took every opportunity to leave Ryder and me alone.

“See you later, Carly!” They scurry away.

Ryder chuckles. “Are your friends trying to push us together or something?”

“Ignore them,” I say as I continue heading toward my class.

“I’m glad you found a group of friends you’re so close to,” he says softly as he stays at my pace. “I remember you telling me how hard it was for you when you were younger because you didn’t have friends.”

My first reaction is to shut him out. This conversation is way too personal. But I realize I like the idea of being open with him. He’s shown me that he’s nothing like the person I thought he was. He’s much sweeter and more sensitive, and he really tries to make the people around him happy.

I stop outside my classroom and play with my backpack straps. “Yeah, it was hard when I was younger. I was lonely a lot. I’m thankful for Addie, Raven, and Sophie every day.”

He smiles in this sweet way that makes my insides melt. “I’m really so happy for you.” He makes a move like he wants to hug me, but then backs away because he’s not sure I’ll welcome him. “I’ll see you later, Captain.”

Before I have a chance to decide if Idowant to hug him, he waves and walks away.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Ryder

After the rest of the dance team leaves practice on Friday, Carly and I stay behind again with Coach to work on our duet. We practiced a little yesterday, but had to cut it short because Coach had a meeting with Harrington.

“Okay, let’s see what you’ve come up with so far, Carly,” Coach instructs.

Carly stands in the center of the gym. Her hair sticks to the back of her neck due to the tough routine we had today. I can feel my sweat dripping down my chest and back.

“It’s not much,” Carly says. “I was up all night putting it together.” She motions for me to join her. “So you start by standing here, facing me.” She places her hands on my shoulders and turns me so we see eye-to-eye (sort of—she’s shorter than me). “And I face you.”

We’re looking at each other now.

“Um…so I thought we could maybe move closer and, like, press our foreheads together. If you want.”

I shrug. “I’m game.”