The tour guide of their group brought her hands to her hips. “Students, it is imperative that you pay attention to the signs and stay out of the restricted areas.”
She tried to choke back her sobs—it wasn’t like she’d done it on purpose. She walked around the rest of the day in her socks while she carried her paint-stained shoes in her hands.
Later, as they boarded the bus to return to school, she noticed a “CAUTION: WET FLOOR” sign taped to her assigned seat. The same sign that she’d failed to see when she stepped onto the wet floor. She snatched it down, wadded it up, and stuffed it down between the seats.
Colton did his best not to snicker as he walked down the aisle. Judging from the smirk on his face, no doubt, he’d been the one responsible for the sign.
It was never ending, the things that boy did to her.
Tenth Grade
Chemistry Class
Blayze felt nauseous as the teacher went down the list, calling the names that were paired to work together.
Jason and Mary Beth
Eric and Tommy
Denise and Todd
Blayze and Colton
Why? The two of them loathed each other.
She immediately raised her hand. “Mrs. Clark, can I please speak with you?”
“Blayze, if it’s about the assignment arrangements, I’m sorry, but you’re just going to have to deal with it. Colton is actually someone you should be proud to work with.”
“But Mrs. Clark—”
“Blayze, if I make exceptions for you, it’s only fair that I allow the whole class to change partners. The answer is no. I can’t and won’t allow it. If you continue to have a problem with it, then I can gladly give you a zero for the assignment.”
Zero? Seriously? She hadn’t done anything wrong. She simply couldn’t work with Colton.
She startled as soon as she felt the cold water in her lap and immediately reached for her towel. The kids running and playing around the pool had gotten a little close and one of them had tossed a bucket of water. She’d somehow been caught in the middle of their chase and the result was a wet seat and wet bathing suit.
“Oh, my God,” one of the girls cried out. “We’re really sorry.”
“We were aiming it at him,” the other one pointed to the tall, lanky young boy who had ran towards the trash receptacle over in the corner.
“It’s okay. Looks like he was a little too quick for you.” Blayze knew the girls didn’t mean any harm so there was no need to get upset with them. The boy had probably been taunting them and he’d managed to get away in time before they’d tossed the water. Hopefully he wasn’t anything like Colton had been at that age.
Speaking of Colton, she couldn’t believe her mind had drifted back to the days when they were in school. Talk about a trip down memory lane! She never would’ve guessed she’d be able to have a civil conversation with him, not after the way he’d treated her.
She said goodbye to the young girls and collected her things. On her way back to her room, she tried to mentally prepare herself for later that evening. She’d give him a chance, but that was it. One screw up and she’d kindly show him the door.
Chapter Seven
Colton arrived right on time, a boxed pizza in one hand and a shopping bag with a six-pack of beer clenched tightly in the other. She wasn’t sure what was appropriate to wear, since all they were doing was just hanging out together, so she settled on a pair of skinny jeans and a loose, flowing top. Nothing too clingy or revealing, just comfortable and relaxing.
The table in the room wasn’t very big, so they climbed up on the bed with the pizza box between them. She wasn’t nearly as nervous as she’d been earlier, but the flashbacks she’d had down at the pool still weighed heavily on her mind.
She considered mentioning them to him—if for no other reason than to get them off her chest—but she brushed off the idea. He’d most likely laugh and think she was being petty for bringing up something that had happened so long ago.
When they were finished with their pizza and had consumed two beers apiece, they decided to go down to the pool area for some fresh air. Despite the hiccups that had plagued their youth, their time together had gotten off to a good start. So far, no one had said anything out of line and no one had thrown pizza crusts across the room.
He reached for the door knob the same time as she did and their fingers somehow intertwined. She was afraid to admit it, but something was happening between the two of them and she couldn’t explain what.
