Page 5 of I Don't Need Your Romance

“Uh huh.”

“Seriously, Addie! I’ve got my standards when it comes to guys, and bad boys are not on the list.”

She playfully rolls her brown eyes at the others. “Sophie loves every romance trope. That includes the bad boy trope.”

“Lies.”

“Admit it.”

“Lies, Addie!”

The bell rings, thankfully. I’m so not in the mood for Addie’s teasing. She knows I want a boyfriend really badly, but a guy like Damian? Please. I can’t afford to be corrupted, not when I’m on a path to my career. I’m not sure what, exactly, but maybe something in the medical field. A doctor would be great, but I have too much anxiety for that. So maybe a nurse or a physician assistant.

Carly pushes a few wayward blond strands of hair off Ryder’s forehead. “I can’t believe we have to separate again. Can’t you transfer to my math class? I’ll miss you so much I’ll have a stomachache.”

“Tempting, but I doubt Principal Harrington will let.”

Carly rolls her eyes. “Ugh, she knows we’re together, and since she’s not my biggest fan—even though I’ve brought up my grades—she’d sooner send me to another school than let me share more classes with my awesome boyfriend.”

“I can ask my grandfather to put pressure on her,” Addie jokes. Her grandfather is one of the richest people in the world and has a lot of influence.

“Ooh, can you? Pretty please?”

“That feels illegal,” I say.

“Like I care?” Carly snorts.

Raven chuckles. “Or you guys can separate for classes and actually concentrate on your work? It won’t kill you, you know.”

“Brutus,” Carly grumbles.

She lifts her shoulders. “Sometimes it’s good to be separated, isn’t it? It’ll make you miss each other more and appreciate each other.”

“But it feels like my heart bleeds when I’m not with him,” Carly whines.

“Same with me.” Ryder moves closer to nuzzle her nose with his.

“I hate to break this love fest, but we really need to get to class,” I say, getting to my feet. “I don’t want to ruin my perfect attendance.”

Knowing it’ll take the lovebirds a bit to get their butts to their classes, I grab my stuff and high-tail it to the chem lab and take out my book. I’ve finished the merman book and am now reading a contemporary young adult romance. This one is so swoony and so freakin’ cute. I’m sucked into the world and don’t pay attention to anyone around me, but then I feel an odd presence in the room. Kind of like a black cloud. When I tear my gaze from my book, I notice that Damian has walked inside.

He doesn’t look at anyone, just focuses on marching to an empty lab table in the back and dropping down on one of the chairs. I know he feels a lot of kids staring at him and whispering about him, but he concentrates on his phone like they’re invisible.

I don’t know why I have this feeling that he’s not being rude just for the heck of it. Maybe because he took the time to apologize to me? A rude jerk wouldn’t do that. I can’t help but wonder if something sad happened in his life. Sitting alone at the back of the room like that, he seems really lonely.

His eyes suddenly spring up from his phone to me. I startle as my eyes grow huge, and I quickly focus my attention back on mybook, my cheeks flaming. But after a few seconds, I peek at him again. As if he once again senses me watching him, he slowly lifts his eyes to me. I don’t know why I want to smile or wave. Maybe let him know that he and I could be friends if he wants? I mean, we’ll be spending lots of time together.

But from the expression on his face? It seems like he has no plans to make friends with anyone. Like he’s content treating everyone like they don’t exist.

Including me.

Chapter Four

Damian

As I sit in chemistry class, I can’t take my eyes off my tutor. Why was she so shocked when I apologized to her earlier? Has no one ever apologized to her before? Did she think I’m such a heathen that I don’t know the concept?

I guess it’s my fault she felt that way. I might give off that attitude, even though I don’t mean it. I just…I really miss my dad.