Page 5 of Sporty Girls Don't Fall For Loners

His eyes suddenly rise and pin on me. I quickly yank my gaze away and join in my friends’ conversation.

Chapter Two

Kade

A few minutes earlier

One of the things I hate most in the world is a crowd. And the cafeteria, filled to the max with high school kids, is the worst place of all. There isn’t a single empty table in this darn place and there’s no way in heck I’m sitting with other kids.

Releasing a groan as my eyes sweep the area, I can’t ignore my grumbling stomach. Ally Hastings, my new foster mom, tried to get me to eat something this morning, but I refused. Just wasn’t feeling it. And the hospitality of her and her husband, my case worker, just ticked me off. Because I don’t believe people care about me one bit. Zack’s just doing his job and his wife feels bad for me. Because I’m a kid all alone in the world. Have been for the past six years.

My stomach claws its way at me, tearing the walls from inside. If I don’t get something to satisfy it, I doubt I’ll make it through the day. Heck, through the next half hour. So even though I don’t want to do this or have anything to do with anyone here, I grab a tray and stand behind the line of kids waiting for food.

A few girls ahead of me turn and smile at me. Some wave as they bat their eyelashes. I twist away from them, hopefully letting them know I’m not interested. I slip my phone out of my pocket. The only way to pretend these people don’t exist is to busy myself with a game or an interesting article.

“So hot.” One girl giggles to her friend. The guy standing beside her—her boyfriend, I assume—glares at me. As if it’s my fault his girl’s eyes are wandering to another guy. I scoff. I can take him with my hands tied behind my back.

“Keep the line moving!” the lunch lady calls. “Got lots of kids to feed.”

When it’s my turn, I point to the mashed potatoes and a turkey sandwich and she places them on my tray. “Enjoy your food,” she tells me with a smile. As I turn to go, she says, “Hey.”

I face her.

“Don’t be so gloomy,” she says, her smile widening. “A handsome guy like yourself has only good things coming for him. So smile!”

I grunt under my breath and walk away from her. Who the heck does she think she is? She doesn’t know me. Doesn’t know the crap I’ve been through in the last six years.

“Over here, new guy!” a voice calls in the distance. Glancing up, I find the girls who were waiting in line with me waving me over. There are many other kids at the table as well.

Yeah…no thanks.

Whirling around, I find a table in the back where two younger kids—maybe freshmen—sit and drop my tray with a loud bang. One of the kids jumps, her head whipping in my direction. I keep my eyes on her for about a second before lowering myself on the chair and focusing on my phone.

As I play a game, I eat from the food that oddly tastes good. Lunch at my previous school sucked and no one did anything about it. Most kids would go home and eat a good dinner, but that wasn’t the case for me. I hated my previous home and would do whatever I could to avoid it and the other kids living there. I’d make excuses to stay out late or pretend to be busy with school projects.

Everyone knew I was lying because I wasn’t interested in being a good student, but they didn’t care. Heck, all the other caseworkers didn’t care about me and I’m sure Zack Hastings is no different. Like I said—just doing his job.

As I’m downing my turkey sandwich with some Coke, I feel eyes on me. Figuring it’s those girls again, I ignore them. But something makes me lift my head, and then I spot her. The person watching me. Eyes the color of chocolate and sandy brown hair. It’s the goody two shoes from this morning, the girl who asked me—more like nearly forced me—to go to her aunt, Ally’s, class. Seems pretty bossy. The kind of person who doesn’t know when to mind her own darn business.

She’s at a table in the back corner with two other girls and a guy. The other three are laughing about something, but she’s got those eyes on the new kid.

Why the heck is she looking at me?

Dropping her gaze, she turns to her friends and adds in to their conversation. I don’t think they’re talking about me, unlike some of the other students, including the two at my table. Probably wondering why the new guy keeps to himself. Maybe what’s his deal, why he’s scowling like he hates the world.

It wasn’t always this way. Six years ago, I was a happy ten-year-old kid enjoying life. But then everything changed.

Shoving that away, I continue eating my food as I scroll through a true crime article.

“Hey,” a voice says from above.

A girl stands before me. Maybe a freshman or sophomore. Two other girls stand behind her with shy, nervous looks on their faces.

“I’m Grace,” she says with a bright smile. “What’s your name?”

The other girls giggle.

Frowning, I keep my eyes on my phone. As hungry as I still am, I don’t have an appetite anymore.

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