like he hung the fucking moon, and Conner is smiling back at her.
Jealousy zips through me as I watch them, coiling around my heart and turning my blood to acid. I can’t hear them from where I’m standing, but I don’t need to. Their expressions tell me everything I need to know.
Spinning on my heel, I hurry away from the cafeteria and don’t stop until I’m out of the building. The frigid air instantly hits me, making me inhale a sharp breath. But it does little to erase the image of Conner flirting with the cute blonde. She’s everything I’m not. Prim. Proper. With virgin skin and a pristine smile. Probably with a rich daddy and a trust fund that will make most people green with envy, too.
And here I was, about to apologize to him.
Maybe he’s done me a giant favor. Nothing can ever happen between me and Conner. Because too much already has.
I wasn’t enough then for him, and it looks like I’m not worth fighting for now, either.
I stand out here, in the chilly air, until lunch is over and class calls.
I tell myself I don’t need anyone.
Least of all Conner Jagger.
The next day at school, Hadley doesn’t abandon me at lunch. Instead, she invites me to sit with her, Cole, Ace, and Remi, and surprisingly, I find myself saying yes. Conner is nowhere to be seen, and neither is the girl I saw him with.
Not that I care.
“So, how was your first week, Kennedy?” Ace asks me.
I shrug. “It’s... school.”
“You ain’t wrong there.” He smirks, digging into his salad. It sucks, playing fifth wheel, but I don’t let it faze me.
I woke up feeling stronger today, determined not to let Warren, or the likes of Lylah and Marissa—or even Conner, for that matter—dictate my life. I’m here, I might as well make the most of it.
“So, what is there to do for fun on a weekend around here?”
Hadley and Remi share a glance, but I ignore them, focusing on Cole. He’s a Sterling Bay Seahawk, he must know where the rich kids of the Bay like to party.
“I heard Aaron is having a party tonight.”
“Nice, are we going?”
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” Hadley says, and it’s my turn to frown.
“Relax, Mom. I just want to embrace my new life here. Is that such a bad thing?”
“Are you sure that’s all this is about?” She gives me a pointed look, and I glower.
“Fine.” I press my hands against the table and stand. “Won’t give me the deets, I guess I’ll have to go get them myself.”
“What is she—”
Remi’s words are drowned out by the roar of blood in my ears. I don’t have a fucking clue what I’m doing, but all I know is I can’t sit here, pretending that everything is okay, any longer. I need to do something—anything—to give me back some degree of control over my thoughts and feelings.
Scanning the cafeteria, I spot the football team huddled at their usual table. I know it’s them because despite the season being over, most of them are still wearing their Seahawks jerseys. The cheerleaders are close by, but I pay them no attention as I saunter right up to the guy holding court.
“Excuse me,” I say.
“Yeah?” He flicks a brow at me. He’s cute, in that All-American boy-next-door kind of way.
“Are you Aaron?”
A couple of his guys snicker.
“That’s me. You’re the new girl, right?”
“Kennedy, but my friends call me Kenny.”
“Kenny, you say.” He gives me a tentative smile. “What can I do for you?”
“I heard you’re having a party tonight.”
A couple whisper, taking bets on whether I’ll end up under Aaron tonight.
“Guys,” he clips out, shooting them a warning look. “Excuse my friends, they’re assholes.”
I can’t help but laugh at that.
“So, the party...”
“Yeah, I’m having a thing. Nothing crazy, just the guys, some of their girls. You should come. I invited Cole and Hadley. Ace and Conner, too, if they’re game.”
I internally flinch at the mention of his name but paste on a smile. “So I’ll see you there tonight?”
His asshole friends are high-fiving now, but I block them out.
“Uh, yeah, I guess.” His gaze rests over my shoulder and a trickle of awareness shoots up my spine.
Sure enough, when I glance behind me, Conner is standing at the table I just left, watching me.
“Are you two—“
“Nothing.” I smile wider, smothering the flash of pain I feel. “We’re nothing.”
“Yeah, well I guess I’ll see you tonight then.”
“Hey, Kenny,” one of the other guys says,