Page 79 of Bad Kind of Love

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Becca

“We still on for this weekend?” Wes slides up beside me, leaning against the lockers with a dreamy smile across his face. His sandy hair is styled differently today. Instead of hanging over his forehead, it's slicked to one side making him look more professional than normal.

“This weekend?” I ask distracted, but then remember about our movie plan.

Shit.

Frowning, he notices something’s off right away and scoots in closer.

“You forgot?” His brows lower, hurt is evident in his tone.

Closing my locker, I shake my head.

“Of course not, I just… remembered my Aunt Claire and I were going to go visit my dad this weekend. I guess there's some paperwork we need to go through before they release him.” The lie spewed out of mouth, burning on its way out.

I hated lying to him, but that was the only good excuse I could come up with.

“Oh okay. We can just go another time.” He nods and I feel a sense of relief.

“Yeah, definitely.” I smile, tugging on the strap of my bag. We stood there in silence, both watching each other intensely.

Did he know I was lying?

The idea made my stomach churn as I stared deeper into his aqua eyes. “Alright, well, I gotta get to class.” I tear my gaze away from him and focus on the crowded hallway.

“Yeah, uh, I’ll see you later.” He nods before brushing past me. His arm grazes mine and I find myself turning around to follow his movement.

The way he carried himself down the hall appeared off, his shoulders were slumped and his once carefree demeanor vanished.

And it was my fault.

My guilty conscience made it nearly impossible to have a normal conversation with Wes. Every time I saw him, I was reminded of what I did.

And what I’m still doing.

As if he could sense my stare, his head swiveled to the side and our eyes clashed together. Before, I would feel butterflies ignite in my stomach from his stare, but now, it just felt wrong. Giving him a partial smile, he half ass returns it and disappears down the hall.

******

Chemistry class was dragging today. If it wasn’t for the window beside me, I think I might have died from boredom. With the lights dimmed down low and half the students sleeping with their head in their arms, I rise up from my chair and grab a bathroom pass.

Exiting the room, I march down the empty hallway until the girl’s bathroom comes into view and I walk inside. Coming to an abrupt stop, the sound of crying hits my ears.

More like sobbing I should say.

You could tell they were trying to muffle the sound, but their intense weeping was too noisy to hide.

Slowly stepping further inside, I notice a girl sitting on the floor crouched over with her head down.

“Are you okay?” I hesitate taking any further steps inside but the minute her head lifts, my eyes widen.

“Josie?” I whisper. “What’s wrong?”

Her eyes were bloodshot like she's been crying for hours. Mascara streamed down her face, staining her cheeks with the black liquid.

“Nothing.” She swipes at her eyes with the back of her palm before rising quickly to her feet.

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