I look away, sarcasm lacing my voice. “Because life is boring and every day on this earth is hell.”
“You’re drowning your problems,” he says, bursting right through my bubble.
“Better than to pretend they don’t exist.” I take another swig.
He sucks in a breath through his nostrils and glances at a table on the far end of the room, where a group of students with the most extravagant outfits and hairstyles has gathered, including Melody King. I can see why he hasn’t stopped staring in her general direction. She looks absolutely ethereal in that light, flowy dress … delicate … soft like a feather. And oh, so damn breakable.
“I’m just saying,” he mutters. “I think I know a thing or two about pining.”
Melody’s eyes veer toward a guy who’s playing a guitar a few feet away, River Landon, and I can’t help but notice the way she has this dreamy look in her eyes.
“Guess we’re both stuck in the same loop.” I take another swig of my drink, then get up from my seat.
“Where are you going?” Atlas asks.
I’ve mustered up enough courage now. Time to prove to myself that I can do this. “To do something about ‘this situation.’” I make air quotes with my fingers. “See you in another life.”
“So dramatic,” he says, rolling his eyes.
“That’s what I strive for,” I say, winking before I stroll away in my salmon khakis.
I pull open my notebook and take out the one page I kept hidden in the back, the one I’ve been carrying for so long it makes my heart drop at the thought of someone reading it. But I must try. I simply must.
I hover through the hallways until I finally find Sunny stomping toward her girl group, pausing only to show everyone something on her phone. The group engages in a talk, laughter filling the air, and I inch closer in the hopes that she and her posse won’t notice my presence.
I park myself not far from her on a small bench in the hallway and open my notebook, so I can scribble away. My pen is eager to write the words that flow from my mind onto the page, ink bleeding into the page, but the moment my eyes lift to look at my muse, her dark eyes connect with mine.
Oh fuck.
“Why is that guy looking at you like that?” one of her girls, Vivian, mutters.
My eyes widen, and I swiftly tuck away the pen.
“Oh my God, is that Orion Navarro?” Delilah asks.
“In the flesh,” I reply, trying to appear aloof.
“Flesh… hmmmm…” Another girl eyes me up and down, and I feel like I have to spray myself down with disinfectant. I know I’m chiseled and my slutty body is known among these halls, but this feast is only for certain eyes, not hers.
Sunny scowls and marches up to me, looking at me like I just stabbed her in the back in public.
I don’t think I’m getting out of this one alive.
And maybe that’s a good thing.
CHAPTER 7
Sunny
What was he writing,and why was he looking at me while doing it?
Could he be the guy who left me that note?
I lean over and bark, “What were you doing?”
“Nothing,” he replies, trying to tuck the notebook away too.
I fold my arms. “Were you writing about me?”
