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And there it is She’s been fed the lies and now I’m left to have to defend ht e?"

"You know," she says, darting her eyes to the floor

I take a step toward her and place ainst the locker beside her head "I don’t know, because you’re skirting around whatever issue it is you have with me like you’re too afraid to say it Just say it"

Her eyes groide and I i so harsh with her It just frustrates me no end that she would feed into their bullshit The same bullshit that surrounds her

"I heard about what you did," she blurts out "I know about the guy you beat up I know about you being sent to juvi I know that in the two days I’ve known you, you’ve scared the shit out ofhonest, I also know that if you’ve been asking around about me, then you’ve probably heard about my reputation, which isan effort withyou I don’t want you thinking anything will happen between us besides what’s already happening We run together That’s it"

Wow

I was expecting her to hear the ru her to think I believe the ruuard is up? Because she thinks I heard the ru to screw her?

I ht hasn’t crossed my mind But Jesus, not like that The fact that she even feels this way only ht of anyone intentionally trying to get close to her for that sole reason pissesnext to her now

Where the hell did he come from? And why the hell does he have his arm around her like he owns her?

"Holder," Grayson says "Didn’t know you were co back"

They’re the first words he’s spoken directly to ht before Les died I’m afraid if I look at him I’ll lose it, so I keep my eyes trained hard on Sky’s Unfortunately, ripping her waist The hand that Sky hasn’t slapped away The hand that has obviously been around that same waist before The same hand that used to be around Les

This entire situation is too ironic So hten up and keep my eyes locked on the hand around Sky’s waist "Well, I’m back," I say I can’t watch this for another second That fa hand off has returned tenfold

I walk away and make it a few feet down the hall before I turn around and face Sky again "Track tryouts are Thursday after school Go"

I don’t wait for her response I walk to e books, then head to h I’ back tomorrow

"Hey, dickweed What’s this sudden infatuation with Sky?" Daniel asks as we ," I say, atte to brush it off "I met her yesterday and was just curious about her But apparently she’s with Grayson, sowhatever"

Daniel raises an eyebrow, but says nothing about the Grayson coh the cafeteria doors and alk to our table I take a seat and scan the crowd, searching for her

"You gonna eat today?" he asks

I shake my head "Nah I don’t really feel like it" I lostas soon as Grayson’s ars and walks away to get hier and finally spot her a few tables down, sitting with a guy He’s not Grayson, though I scan the crowd for Grayson and find him seated at a table on the opposite end of the cafeteria They’re not sitting together Why wouldn’t they sit together if they’re dating? And if they’re not dating, ould he be touching her like he was?

"I got you a water," Daniel says, sliding it across the table to me

"Thanks"

He sets his tray down and takes a seat across froet?"

Water spews out ofet?"

He nods and pops the lid on his soda "Soirl the entire ti about her You’ve been on edge since you got here thisto do with the fact that it’s your first day back at school sincewellsince your last day at school And you haven’t even coive a shit that you’re even here today Aren’t you a little excited everyone has stopped with the gossip?"

I would be excited if I was convinced the gossip had stopped But it hasn’t stopped, it’s just been shifted in a different direction I heard Sky’s nale class I’ve had today Not to mention the shit I’ve seen slapped on her locker in the forossip, Daniel They just found soet"

Daniel starts to reply, but he’s cut off by several trays dropping down onto the table Guys slide into seats and several of theht in time for football season That leads into a conversation about practices and Coach Riley, but none of it can hold nore everyone around ure her out