BLOODY LIFE

ling 911. What

want me to inform them you stole my c

e made me feel like I could trust him. "This is your cat?"

k enough to track all the way to this neighborhood. Sorry if he bothered you and for waking you up." He t

bout you don't ring doorbells loo

ke note

sent a shiver up my spine. What the hell was up with my emotions, and how was this guy havi

I have t

p," the sm

ed my face up, e

it's offered," he laughed. "Come on. We don't know anyone at

d thinks," I said, throwin

nned, "Yes, he's welcome t

a blink-and the guy seeme

oom, the smell of mom's bender wafted across my nose from the kitchen

rs again and crawled into bed, my eyelids heavier than they'd ever been

eep. I splashed some water on my face, brushed my teeth, and tug

led the hospital to check in on mom. She was still asleep after a restless night. I would h

intersection at the end of my street any second, and then I hea

show up and give me a ride?

orning, but not today. I wasn't in the mood to listen to his million a

I pointedly turned and walked toward the ben

out after me. I ignored him and kept w

e

wasn't a hopeless romantic, and I didn't expect much of him...maybe showing up to pick me up from work when he

ut of our so-called relationship. I had bigger things to worry about right now. The firs

of my notes for my biology test. I hoped I had everything

ugh the rest of my classes until it was time for math. Time to f

ted her eyes at me, and her best friend, Macy, shot me a glare. I waited for a snide remark because I dared to approach their giggli

ight," his lips turned up in a

I could say in response. I wanted to scream at him and his frien

" She practically shouted the blonde-haired jock's name. Her ey

y eyes at the self-ab

ised that Jackson Cross apologized to me, actually apolog

ack to where it needed to be. I sailed right through math an

londe hair caught the sun just enough t

t night. "I need to find Jen, we're having lunch in the cafeteria today." I didn't for

the library, I was actually going to dit

for you or your excuses. Your little kiss ass routine?" My voice jumped an octave as my irritation grew with the silly grin on his fa

g Jen from the library, "Listen, my phone died, and I got ca

y, "Really? Last I recalled you wer

ead, "I'm sorry, Elle, it won't happen again

oward the library. "Dam

suck, and I'm actually trying to f

isk pace, "Don't say that. L

" I stop

and in his, "I feel awful you had

o think of myself as a pushover, I just really didn't want to have to deal with

ned just in time to catch Jen rolling her ey

I have a ta

nch, "Listen, I promised one of those Banner guys I'd have lunch with him and

her arms a

ament with Jackson when Jen asked about the mysterious phone call last night.

at the coffee shop?" D

ttle confused as to why the guy aske

Banners? Trust me, they don't nee

et them?"

e paused, "I can't remember the rest of their nam

one I met last night, they sure as he

join us, I'm just doing this beca

was it?" David asked. "I think h

guess with the name. "Yes,

his exaspe

ny of them yet,

"I'm actually surprised that they'd ask anyone

said, "Maybe they just want to g

Like a warm summer day when the breeze drifts across your face...that feeling washed

y?" Davi

bed the evidence of what just took place away. I knew

nd Braden's eyes locked onto mine from across the room. I smiled but felt the hea

ot annoyed glances

the

as welcomed at their lun

" I absently

e filled with kids we didn't know, "Wel

looking at me almost angrily. He was the one who

you,

l with this. The last thing I needed to worry