Page 57 of Fighting the Odds

“I’ll be waiting here at three-thirty,” Cyrus tells me after giving me a kiss goodbye.

“Okay.” Opening the door, I step out onto the sidewalk in front of the school and take a deep breath.

Cyrus doesn’t leave. Instead, he sits there, waiting, giving me an escape plan if I need it. And it’s taking everything in me not to turn and jump back in his jeep.

One step. It’s one step at a time. I can do this. I repeat over and over in my head.

I’ve only made it a couple of steps when three large shadows appear before me. Looking up, I see Braxton, Zander, and Colton standing in front of me. All smiling at me.

Wait! Is that a smile on Colton’s face, too? Maybe he meant what he said.

“Welcome back, Sierra. We missed you.” Zander wraps his arms around me, squeezing so tightly I can barely breathe.

“Get off her, Zan, you’re suffocating her,” Braxton barks, but as soon as Zander lets me go, he’s hugging me as well.

When he lets me go, I stand frozen, waiting to hear what Colton’s going to say. He was friends with Wes but claims he isn’t any longer. I don’t know what to believe.

“I’m glad you’re back, Sierra. I’m not going to hug you, because I have a lot to make up for before I deserve that honor. But I will. When you’re ready, I’d like to sit down and talk with you one on one. Until then I’ll be by your side.” He gives an awkward smile as he rocks back and forth on his feet, his hands slide inside his pants pockets.

“Thank you,” I tell all three of them. “Guess it’s time to head inside and face the music.” I take one last glance over my shoulder and see Cyrus still sitting there in his jeep, smiling at me.

Did he see the guys hug me? I know he says I need to pursue my feelings, and that he is fine with it. But did he actually mean it?

Zander takes hold of my hand as Braxton slips his in my other one and we walk to the front doors, with Colton walking beside Braxton. I can see everyone staring at us, some leaning in to whisper to each other.

I know it’s about me. I don’t need to hear what they’re saying to know that.

“Don’t worry about them. They’re just jealous.” Colton, of all people, speaks up and I’m stunned. I wasn’t expecting that.

Zander and Braxton give my hand a comforting squeeze as we head up the steps to the entrance to the school. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Wesley leaning against the wall, Savannah standing in front of him, her hands on his chest as he smirks at me.

His intense gaze has the hair on my arm standing on end. My heart races in anticipation of what’s to come today .

“It’s going to be okay. One of us is going to be with you as much as we can,” Zander whispers, and I give him a forced smile.

Colton steps in front, opening the door for us to enter. The outside chatter stops, but it’s replaced by murmurs inside. I know this is going to be how it goes all day. Hopefully, after a few hours, they will grow tired and I’ll just be old news.

True to their word, after every class, one of them is there, even Colton. While Zander and Braxton hold my hand, Colton carries my books for me.

I give him credit, though; anytime someone tries to say something directly to me or touch me, he’s there defending me like a true knight in shining armor. I'm a little amazed by it, and he’s breaking down that barrier I placed up to protect myself from him.

None of the times I’ve been around the guys have I seen them hanging out with Wesley or any of his followers. While I love them for it, I also fear what the repercussions will be for them.

At lunch they try to get me to eat inside, but I can’t. I need a break from everyone at this school and choose to eat at my regular lunch spot under the tree. And keeping their promise, they follow. They even brought their own lunches.

We eat while they keep showing me picture after picture of Sam and them having fun. The whole time I have to fight back the tears. Sam is happy and I’m missing it. Hearing her giggles and seeing her smiling face. Holding her in my arms and smelling the fruity scent of the body wash she loves. Mr. Stevenson is giving her all the things I wish I could.

“She misses you. Sam talks about you all the time,” Colton speaks up, giving me the verbal hug I needed.

“I miss her too.”

“You’ll be together soon, this is just a temporary road bump,” Zander says.

“Has it been okay when we’re not with you?” Braxton asks this time.

I can’t help but love how each of them is taking turns asking me a question, comforting me, none of them trying to outshine the other.

Nothing I can’t handle or not used to.” I don’t get a chance to elaborate because the bell rings and I need to get to my next class. Which just so happens to be gym with Wesley and Savannah and all their little groupies.

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