Breathe(66)

“I miss you,” he said softly.

“I miss you too.”

“I have a concert Thursday night, and then one on Saturday, but after that, I am coming home to you for Sunday at least.”

“I’ll be waiting.”

“Have fun at school today for me, please. Remember, you’re experiencing high school for both of us.”

I sighed. “I’ll keep that in mind when I am being picked on in the halls and eating bad cafeteria food.”

He chuckled, and then his voice got very serious. “If anyone picks on you threaten them with me.”

This time I laughed. “Sure thing, that will help me fit in real nicely.”

“I love you, Sadie.”

My heart still raced when he said those words. “I love you too.”

“I am going to let you go because Kane should be pulling up at school.”

I glanced outside the window and realized he was right. “Yes, he just stopped. Bye, have a good day.”

“You, too, bye.”

I pressed end on the phone and sighed. I reached for my backpack as Kane opened my door.

Smiling at him, I said, “Thank you, Kane.”

He nodded, and I could have sworn I saw him smile. I headed for my locker. I was going to have tons of makeup work. I needed to empty my book bag so it could hold it all.

“Sadie, I’m glad you’re back at school. Bum thing that happened.” Dylan McCovey had come up beside me. He glanced back at Kane leaving and grinned. “You sure got a sweeter set of wheels now.”

I had to try hard not to roll my eyes. Instead, I nodded. “I can’t ride my bike for a while.”

Dylan laughed. “Yeah, well, I doubt you’re going to be riding your bike again ever. The whole town’s talking about the way Jax Stone sat in your hospital room and sang to you until you came out of your coma. Then he apparently wouldn’t leave you alone for a minute. The boy sounds hooked.”

I smiled at Dylan’s words, but I didn’t respond. We stepped inside the school building.

“I have to get to class. See ya later, Dylan,” I called over my shoulder as I walked away from him. I didn’t want to talk about my private life to anyone.

The moment I stepped into the hallway, people stopped and stared. I wanted to turn around and run back outside. Instead, I forced my feet to walk to my locker. I didn’t make eye contact with anyone, but it didn’t seem to matter. Before

I got five steps, people began to attack.

“I’m so glad you’re better, Sadie.”

“Sadie, is it true Jax Stone was with you in the hospital?”

“Was that Jax’s Hummer that brought you to school?”

“Are you living with him?”

“Is Jax Stone going to move here?”

I wanted to put my hands over my ears and scream for them all to go away. More voices joined in, and people kept asking questions that I didn’t want to answer since it was none of their business.

“Move! You all have classes to be at, so I suggest you get to them,” Principal Farmer called over the vultures.