Gravity - By Abigail Boyd Page 0,43

drama with Henry, I was achingly glad when the bell rang and the weekend arrived.

Chapter 11

On Tuesday of the next week, Henry caught up to me in between classes. I hadn't spoken to him since I heard about him asking Lainey out. I went back and forth from feeling like an idiot to feeling betrayed. Either I was na茂ve or I had been tricked. Or both.

"Why have you been avoiding me?" he asked. I didn't want to bring it up. I was still too hurt, and too vulnerable. I kept my eyes forward, hoping he would get the hint.

"I've been busy," I said curtly.

"Are we still on for studying tonight?" he asked. Lockers slammed around us, people chattering loudly, so he'd turned up the volume. "I made sure to clear my empty schedule for you."

I had completely forgotten we had agreed to continue the tutoring sessions.

"I don't know," I said, but then a thought occurred to me. I had my first big Geometry test coming up on Friday, and I could not flunk. "I mean, if Lainey says it's alright." I muttered.

"If Lainey says..." he repeated, frowning. "What does Lainey have to do with it?"

School was not the place to talk about it. I squeezed my eyes shut, pushing my feelings deep down.

"You know what? I need to be going," I said. "Just meet up with me after class."

The last thing I needed was to get upset and then have to sit in class and stew in it. I started walking as quickly as my legs would carry me, away from him. My daily sprint to school had given me more stamina.

After school, Henry followed me outside. This time it was much more awkward, with neither of us speaking. For once, he couldn't think of a thing to say. He always seemed like such a chatterbox in school. He didn't seem to be trying to get me to talk anymore, either. Finally, when we turned onto my street, he spoke.

"You're being distant with me again. Did I do something wrong?"

I looked at him, unsure of what to say. He seemed wrought with confusion, as though he had no idea why I would want to avoid him. I bent over and picked up a dry red leaf on the sidewalk, twirling it by the stem.

"If I did, I'll apologize a hundred times until you talk to me. I'm sorry," he said, walking around so he blocked my path and I had to look at him. I tried to concentrate on the space between his eyebrows. Looking into his eyes right now seemed too intense. If I did that, he would know exactly how I felt about him. I didn't even know that myself yet.

"You didn't do anything to me," I said. I held my breath for a moment. "I just wish you would have told me you were dating Lainey." The words sounded all wrong, like I was attempting a foreign tongue.

His reaction surprised me. He stared at me like I had grown another head, and then burst out laughing. Doubling over at the waist and clutching his ribs, he couldn't stop himself. I had no idea what he found so uproarious. Irritation filled me.

When he could finally breathe again, he stood up. His face was flushed, the corners of his full mouth turned up. Like he'd just been running around the block, or having sex. I blushed and looked away, hating my brain for its automatic thoughts. Why did he have to be so attractive?

"What?" he asked. Where did you hear that Lainey and I were dating? Is that why you've been avoiding me like the plague for days?"

"A bunch of people have been talking about it in school," I said defensively, holding on to my elbows with both hands for support. "It's common knowledge."

"It's not common knowledge to me," he protested. He bowed his head, getting me to look straight into his eyes. "I am not dating Lainey," he said. "I don't know if she passed the rumor on or what, but it's not happening. She is...vapid. And phony." He stopped, appraising me for a moment.

"Why didn't you just ask me?" he asked softly.

"I don't know," I offered. My eyes kept shifting all over his face, not being able to take him in properly. "It just seemed too good to be true that you would actually want to be...my friend."

"That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard," he jeered. "I expected more from you."

I glared at him, the harsh