Page 33 of The Heir

“What?”

“Love it when you explain things. No one talks quite like you.”

“You mean unable to speak coherently?”

“No–say what you think, when you think it. You are honest.”

I stared at him as the bell rang, and students shuffled around us, packing up their bags and heading to the cafeteria for lunch. The metal chairs screeched on the floor, backpacks zipped, the chatter of hungry teenagers was all drowned out as I stared into his eyes. The next moment, however, he broke the connection and stood, putting his things inside his backpack. I quickly followed his example and gathered up my things. He stood there waiting at the door, and as I placed my backpack over my shoulders, I watched him smile at me, then walk out the door, backward, to keep his eyes on me for a little while longer; then I watched as he waved, turned around, and was lost in the crowd of students shuffling down the hallway.

“So, we are still on for today, right?” Ryker asked, sliding next to me at the lunch table.

I looked up at him and nodded, not able to control the crazy thoughts spinning around in my brain. How had Ryker been in that letter? It wasn’t possible. Maybe my father had another friend named Ryker? Although that was a possibility, I was not shoving aside the truth: Ryker was not a common name. “Of course,” I said quickly.

“Awesome,” he returned, placing a cold hand on my shoulder. I tried to be nonchalant about the chill that ran down my arm at his touch. I frowned because his touch was still not warm and comforting.

“What’s today?” Sam asked, as he tossed his sack lunch onto the table and sat down across from us. He was soon followed by more football players, and I had to admit, I was not super into sitting with such a large crowd. I did remind myself of operation make-everyone-think-I-am-fine and made a point to smile at each of them and give a little wave.

“Oh, Emma has been waiting all week to hang out with yours truly. Sorry about all of my practices getting in the way.” He winked in my direction as he put his cool arm around me.

Honestly? I didn't miss you as much as I usually do.Sorry, Ryker. Shad is filling my thoughts twenty-four-seven. Speaking of which, where is Shad?I tried to peer over the table to look toward the cafeteria doors. Maybe I would catch him walking in.You just saw him last period, Emma. Chill out.

“My dad is out for the night,” Ryker said a little too loudly, and I just nodded because I knew his dad worked a lot. I looked around the table for Ash. As I did, I noticed that the guys all looked at Ryker and gave him head tilts, high-fives, and fist bumps as if he had just won the championship game. Puzzled, I took a bite of my sandwich.

“So what are you guys going todo?” one dark-haired boy asked with a smirk.

Another guy with brown hair punched his shoulder and said: “Du-ude!”

“We are just going to hang at his house,” I said, irritated.Do we have to sit with the football team?Ryker squeezed my knee, and I looked at him.

His eyes locked onto mine, as if to say:I am sorry about them.

I smiled my fake, warm smile, that he knew meant:you owe me. I looked up, finally seeing Ash as she bounced into the seat beside Sam with her customary gleaming smile.

“Hey guys.” I watched as the football players looked her over. She looked at her lunch, oblivious to their stares.

“Hey,” Sam said to her. “You are in my science class, aren’t you?”

“Yeah, I am,” Ash said, taking a bite out of her classic PB&J combo.

“We should sit together,” he said to her.

“Yeah, sounds good,” she agreed after she was done chewing.

I looked to Ryker to see if he noticed Sam’s obvious attention directed at Ash, but he was staring at me.

He is no help.

Third and fourth periods dragged. The only positive thing about fourth period was that I saw Shad again. I didn’t get to talk to him in class, but it didn’t matter because I had a perfect view of him for the entire period. I was grateful that my teacher had placed him in my line of sight. He was right beside the whiteboard. Every time Shad caught me looking at him, I acted like I was writing down the questions from the board, which to be honest was what I had been attempting to do all period, but Shad was very distracting.

After class, I packed up my backpack and threw it over my shoulder. School was over and that meant Ryker and I were going to hang out. I was looking forward to catching up with him; it had been way too long.

As I walked out the door, I bumped into Shad who stood just outside, blocking most of the opening.

He turned, and his golden eyes met mine, and I tried not to smile the biggest smile I owned becausethat would be creepy, wouldn’t it?We stared at each other, the song yet again drowning out the noise of students walking and talking in the hallway beyond.

“Have any plans this weekend?” he asked as we made it out of the door. He looked hopeful.

“Yeah, I’m hanging out with Ryker this weekend. You?”

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