Bryan could tell his words hit me hard and didn’t push.He just shouldered the door for me, letting me step through like he always did.I had never understood chivalry until meeting the guys.
The hum of voices filled homeroom when we finally got there.A few kids were slouched over their desks, earbuds in, while others clustered near the back, laughing.
I took my usual seat near the windows with Bryan taking the desk to the right of me.He stretched out his long legs as he dropped his bag onto the desk with a soft thud.
Shortly after, Mr.Barlow came in, droning through names for roll call.I tried to focus, tried to let the steady routine of school lull me into something that felt normal.But my thoughts kept drifting back to grey eyes.I felt too much like I teetered on the edge of something as it broke and didn’t know how to stop it.
My pen tapped against the desk.Once.Twice.I forced it still.
There was a sharp knock on the classroom door.
The teacher paused and looked over at the open door.A student stood there and held out a slip of paper, handing it over to Mr.Barlow.He looked down at it before turning to the class with a slight frown, scanning the room and then stopping on me.
“Cadence Wiles,” he said.
My stomach dropped.
Mr.Barlow nodded toward the door.“Principal’s office.Take your things.”
Whispers rippled through the room as heat crept up my neck.I shoved my notebook into my bag and stood.
Bryan raised his brows at me, his expression halfway between curiosity and concern.
I forced a shrug, though my chest tightened.“Guess I’m in trouble.”
“You’ll be fine,” he said simply, though I caught him reaching for his glasses to clean them.His telltale sign that he was nervous.
I gave him a small smile and turned toward the door.
The hallway stretched ahead, suddenly too quiet, too long.
Whatever the principal wanted, it couldn’t be good.
Chapter Three
Ihugged my bag tighterto my side as I walked down the hallway.A few stragglers slipped into classrooms as I passed, their voices fading behind closing doors until all I could hear was the echo of my own footsteps and the soft murmurs of some of the teachers.
