Page 10 of Catch the Sun

Gasps ring out all around me as I push up from my chair and haul my backpack over one shoulder. I don’t spare the teacher another glance, but I do catch Max’s eyes for a split second before I storm out of the classroom.

He’s still staring at me.

Still watching.

Only this time, I swear the ghost of a smile flickers on his lips.

As I race out the door, knowing I’ll be headed for detention after school, I jog toward the far end of the hallway, where the vending machine still taunts me with that elusive Dr Pepper. It’s basically holding it hostage and the notion manages to heighten my anger to an unhealthy level.

I want that soda.

It’s mine, I paid for it, I want it.

Mostly, I want to be mad at something other than Jonah for once.

A snarling sound fizzes in the back of my throat as I stomp forward and stare down the machine. I kick it again. Bang on it with both hands, then turn my hands into furious fists and pound some more.

It doesn’t move.

Doesn’t budge.

I’m pretty sure I hear it laughing, but that could be my own inner voice.

With a final knock with my sandal to the base, I shout, “Fuck you, Dr Pepper!”

My words echo through the empty hallways, ricocheting off the walls and immortalizing themselves in the ugly blue lockers and even uglier tile. I’m embarrassingly close to tears when—

Thwap!

A yelp flies past my lips.

I jump back when a fist whips by me and slams against the front of the vending machine. My heart leaps, and I glance up with wide eyes, watching as the can of Dr Pepper wobbles free and drops into the dispensing slot.

Plop.

I lift my chin.

My gaze locks with Max Manning’s.

He doesn’t say anything. Doesn’t smile, blink, or even breathe. He just stares at me for a heavy beat, his chocolate-dark hair falling over his forehead, his pale-blue eyes blank and unreadable.

Then he takes a step backward.

Turns around.

And disappears down the hallway.

Chapter 3

Ella

“How was school?”

My mother’s back is to me as she leans over her computer desk, furiously typing something into a search engine. All she does is work, even though she hasn’t nailed down a job yet. Lord knows what she does all day, but it seems to keep her busy.

I drop my backpack by the front door and toe out of my sandals, inhaling a deep breath. The house smells like sugarcane and citrus zest. “So much fun. I learned a lot. Made out with a boy under the bleachers right after I was nominated for queen of the Fall Fling. Then I chased a lifelong dream and joined the cheer squad.”

She falters, twisting around in her rolling chair. “Really?”

---