“Actually, no. I like to keep to myself most of the time, there is just something about you,” I tell her before wondering. “Are you this open with everyone?”
“I’m trying something new.” She lifts her head to look me square in the eyes. “What do you think?”
“Well, that depends. Is it the real you?” I ask.
“It is. It’s the me my best friend and family see. I usually just hide it from everyone else.”
Why the hell would she ever want to do that? That’s like draining the world of all colour. The world needs more of her vibrant and sassy attitude, not less.
I level her with an incredulous look. “Hate to break it to you, beautiful, but I don’t think that’s possible.”
“Yeah, ok, Casanova.” She snorts at me. Like legit snorts, and it’s fucking adorable. “I’ll have you know I was a nobody in high school. Invisible.”
That’s not even remotely possible. It’s just not. “Then they were blind. That, or they were too scared to approach you.”
She snorts at me again and goes back to her lunch. Everything this girl does just draws me in. I’m completely sunk.
“Your best friend must be someone special if she’s the only one who’s gotten to see the real you aside from family. Is she attending Connerton?” I figure she isn’t because she would most likely be sitting with us now, but it never hurts to ask.
“She’s amazing, and no she isn’t.” She has a longing look on her face that I wish I could erase.
“You miss her, huh?”
She nods. “I do. We grew up together. She’s the sister I never had.” She looks thoughtful for a moment before she lets out a quiet chuckle.
“What was that adorable smile about?” I know I’m nosy, but she is just too cute.
“Addy is different. She’s unique and quirky, and extremely outgoing. I was just thinking about how her first day is probably going. The hell she’s causing in college.”
We both chuckle.
“Ah, so she’s a hellion, is she?” I wink, and she laughs.
“You have no idea. She’s energetic, vivacious and eccentric, and loves to stir shit up. Never a dull moment.”
“Well, if she makes you smile like that then I can’t wait to meet her. And hopefully you will find something here to make you smile just as much.” I grin at her, and she smirks back at me.
“I think I already did.”
Well fuck. “Are you talking about me, beautiful?” I ask, hoping she is. I mean, I think she is, but I also don’t want to seem conceited or some shit.
Harleigh
A group of people approach the table before I can respond. Probably a good thing since flirting isn’t something I’m great at anyway. I was bound to make a fool of myself at the rate we were going.
“Look everyone, new blood,” the guy at the front of the group taunts, getting everyone else to laugh at his lame ass attempt at being funny.
He’s good looking, in a dark and mysterious kind of way. He’s at least six feet tall with blonde hair, and haunting grey eyes that I swear are trying to burn right through my soul.
“I’m Colten Connerton. I just wanted to introduce myself, and make it known that I basically own this place.”
Brian stiffens beside me, looking like he wants to say something but doesn’t. Geez, the last thing I need is for him to make a scene. That almost never ends well with morons like this
“Got something to say, pretty boy?” Colten asks Brian with a glare that, if looks could kill, he would be dead on the floor by now.
If anyone around here is a pretty boy, its him, not Brian. Where Brian is covered in tattoos and piercings, Colten is clean cut, and reeks of pompous rich boy with an undertone of danger.
Serious danger.
“Nope. Not at all,” he says sarcastically as he salutes Colten and his group.
The looks passing between them make them seem like mortal enemies.
This is going to go south fast. I can feel it.
“A smartass angel. Interesting.” He turns to look at me. “What about you, baby? You got anything to say to me?”
Yeah, how about ‘Don’t call me baby’, or even a plain old ‘Fuck off’. But I won’t go there. Not yet, and hopefully not at all.
I roll my eyes at him as I stand and pack up my things. Staying here is the last thing I want to do.
“Nope.” The p makes a popping sound as I draw the word out.
I throw my bag over my shoulder and turn to leave this mess behind because that’s exactly what it is. One hell of a mess that I like to call drama, and I have no use for it in my life.
“Where do you think you’re going? I didn’t say you could leave,” Colten snaps, and the look on his face shows he’s shocked that I would just walk away from him.
Yeah right.
