Page 100 of I Don't Need Your Protection

A few of his friends, including Clarissa and her minions, chuckle.

“No. I thought we were getting close, but that was my mistake. Why did you even start with me if you had no intention of it going anywhere?”

Is that why he never kissed me? It was all a game?

“Well, you’re the new girl,” he says. “No one touches the new girl before I do. It’s like a rule.”

I just stare at him. “You’re a disgusting pig.”

He shrugs. “Maybe.”

I’m so tempted to take someone’s drink and splash it on his face like I’ve seen many women on TV and in the movies do. But I have a feeling that will get me in trouble. So with a glare, I say, “Don’t ever come near me again.” I spin around on my heels and march out of the dining hall. My friends rush after me.

I make my way to my locker and lean on the door, releasing a heavy breath. “That sucked.”

Sophie and Carly wrap their arms around me while Raven pats my hand. “Will you be okay?” Sophie asks.

I let out another breath. “I’m not even sad about it. I’mangry. Ticked off. What in the world did I see in that guy?”

“We knew he was a player,” Raven says. “But we wanted to give him a chance to prove otherwise because he seemed nice. He had us all fooled.”

Carly makes a face. “He’s the kind of guy who sweet-talks you and then hurts you. Jerk.”

“Mega jerk,” Sophie adds. “I’m so sorry, Addie.”

It’s odd that I don’t feel even a bit of pain. It’s anger, but it’s also relief. I’m glad he showed his true colors before I got hurt. I can’t imagine getting even closer to him and then him hurting me.

Caleb makes his way toward me and my friends. My eyes widen because he’s coming close, but he stops at his locker, which is near mine, and opens the door.

“Are you all right?” he asks, keeping his gaze on his books.

It warms my heart that he cares so much. “I’m fine. I’m good. To heck with him. He’s not the guy I thought he was. There are more decent guys out there. Guys who are sweet and kind and caring, even if they don’t show it often.”

If he knows I’m referring to him, he doesn’t make it obvious. He just nods. “I’m sorry things didn’t work out the way you planned. But now you can put all of this behind you.” He turns to me. “And have fun with your friends.”

“Aren’t you going to tell me ‘I told you so?’ You didn’t trust that guy from the start.”

He pretends to fiddle around with his books to not arouse suspicion. “There was just something about him that rubbed me the wrong way. I thought he was a danger to you, but itturns out it wasn’t in the way I thought.”

Right. Instead of harming me physically, he did so emotionally. Or at least he tried to. I’m totally over him. He’s like a blip in my life.

“I should focus less on boys, right?” I say to Caleb with a crooked smile. That’s what he told me for weeks. I suppose he was right.

His eyes search mine in this intense way that makes me feel like he can read my soul. It’s kind of like he’s sending a message, but I have no clue what it means.

Then he shuts his locker and walks away.

Chapter Thirty-One

Addie

I’ve always thought I’m decent at math, but the way I’m slaving away at these equations is just not normal.

The test is tomorrow and I’m not at all ready. Sophie offered to help me study an hour ago, but I told her it was best I tackle this alone. Because while we do get a lot done when we’re together, we also tend to joke around and spend way too much time doing other things.

“I wish I could transport myself to twenty-four hours from now,” I grumble.

“Struggling?” Caleb asks from where he sits in his usual chair, eyes pasted on me and circling around the room every so often.