Page 58 of Outcast

He shot me a sly smile and I rolled my eyes. Oh, he knew. The man knew exactly how girls responded to him. There was just something so magnetic about his personality.

Not able to help it, I glanced over.

Matías had just separated himself from the girls surrounding Parker. None of them paid him any attention at all. He could have been a ghost as he wove between them with his unblinking gaze locked only on me.

I started backing up before I even realized what I was doing.

"Rita?" Esteban stood up.

Fuck this. I wasn't ready to talk to Matías yet. As much as I loved him, and it bit my ass to admit I couldn't turn the feelings off just like that, I also didn't want to look at him. Not after what I'd let happen atPapá'sfuneral.

It had been one of my lowest points and I walked away from him with so much hurt, I just couldn't do it.

Not right then.

"Sorry, Esteban. I'm not going to talk to him today."

Then I did what I said I’d never do. I ran.

And it wasn't fucking badass at all.

14

MATÍAS

Parker was soaking up all the attention from the class.

All except for one girl.

Whoever she was, she was Rita's favorite. It was obvious in her smiles and the way Rita glanced at her.

While Parker caused a scene with his smartass jokes and sarcastic smirks, Rita was having a hell of a time in the corner with Esteban and the girl.

Crowded around the bike, Esteban spoke quietly, head bent toward the girl, who looked at him like he was the best thing since underwear. Even Rita seemed mesmerized by what he was saying.

I strained to hear what he was telling them, but all I could hear was Parker's voice and feminine giggles. Nothing from that side of the room.

Somehow, the girls made a complete circle around both of us. I couldn't get through if I wanted to.

Then Esteban smiled at Rita and she melted.

I couldn't take it. Knowing they'd slept together.Knowing I pushed her to that. Or that she'd been avoiding me since the night of the funeral.

Suddenly, there was an opening right in front of me and I took it. Sidestepping another girl, I made it even farther away from Parker and closer to Rita.

She glanced up, and her jaw set.

That was fine. I'd take her anger any day over her absence. What kind of fucking hypocrite did that make me?

She said something to Esteban, then like a hole in the bottom of a boat, all the steel and anger leaked slowly out of her face. She turned away, as if looking at me physically pained her.

My heart was breaking right in front of me and I couldn't get to her fast enough. A couple girls stepped in my way, but not to get my attention. They didn't notice me at all as they huddled together and whispered about how cute Parker was.

I was five feet away when she started backpedaling and then she was gone. Running from the room and heading out a side entrance.

"Fuck," I cursed under my breath and started to sprint after her.

Esteban popped up in front of me, and I almost bowled him over.

---