Page 26 of Cruel Devotion

“No.” I shook my head. “You’re not. You don’t give a damn about me. Or what people say.”

“Sure, I do.”

I set my napkin on the table, hating that he’d have to torment me now, too. I went out of my way to avoid all the bullies here. I didn’t get myself into situations where they could target me.

Ignore. Avoid. Keep my head down. Mind my own business.

That was my strategy to endure this crap until I could graduate.

But him seeking me out like this?

“I… I don’t trust this.” I shook my head and scooted my chair back to get up. “I don’t trust you.”

“What?” He frowned up at me as I gathered my things. “That’s not nice to say.”

“Oh! Like you’ve got room to talk. Youneversay anything nice about me.”

He laughed once. “That’s not true.”

“Then you live in an alternate reality.” I closed the book I had open for studying, then I shoved it into my bag. Shoving my arms into my coat sleeves, I frowned and hated him just a little more to play games like this.

“Where are you going?” He put his hand on my tray before I could slide it away. “I just thought I could eat here and?—”

“And pull some trick on me. What is it? A prank? Who’s videoing this time? Mr. Popular pretending to be nice then humiliating me. Is that it?”

He scowled at me. “No. I’m just trying to be nice.”

“Huh. That’s cute.” I tugged my coat on all the way. “I have news for you, Eli. Too little, too late.”

“Jeez. Isn’t that kind of harsh?” he asked as I pulled the strap of my bag over my shoulder.

“Harsh? You bully me my whole life and think that my not trusting a supposed good deed from you out of nowhere isharsh?” I laughed once and grabbed my tray.

There was no way in hell he cared to change his colors. He was definitely up to something, and whatever it was, I wanted no part in it.

Taking my food outside, in the cold, I avoided him—again—and damned him for making my life that much more difficult.

I sat on a concrete bench just outside the doors to the food court. Instantly, I shivered at the chill of the coldness seeping through my jeans.

At least it’s not snowing.

With my back to the wall of windows into the food court, I set my bag next to me, positioned my tray on my lap, and tried to reclaim that little peace and enjoyment I’d had in my solitude.

I couldn’t.

As I finished my now-cold lunch, I wasted the entire break between classes trying to figure out what game Eli was playing with me.

And why.

Because I was right.

He didn’t give a damn about me.

He never had and never would.

Just like every other judgmental and biased jerk in this town.

10

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