Page 7 of I Don't Need Your Love
Chapter Three
Ryder
I smile as I watch Carly Simmons walk away with her friends. More like march away. Like she wants to get the heck away from me as fast as possible. Honestly? I find the entire thing hilarious. The girl’s got a grudge against me ever since I supposedly destroyed her Lego like ten years ago? I don’t remember that specific incident, but there have been many instances when I did destroy her things. But I was a stupid kid and was just having fun. I didn’t mean anything by it. And not that it’s an excuse, but I dealt with a lot of crap from my home life during those years.
I’ve tried apologizing over the years so we could maybe start over, but every time I attempt to have a decent conversation with her, she nearly bites my head off. I actually secretly like when she’s ticked off at me. I like seeing her fiery personality match her fiery red hair. Maybe that’s not the nicest or healthiest thing on the planet, but I can’t help it. Arguing with her helps me forget that my parents didn’t even bother to call or text and ask me how things are going at my new school. You’d think having their only offspring attend a prestigious boarding school would make them proud of me.
“Ryder!” My roommate, Felix, claps me on the back. “Why are you just standing there?”
I blink away from the building that holds the classrooms where Carly and her friends disappeared into. “Did you say something?”
He scans my eyes with his dark brown ones. “You good? You seem distracted.”
“Yeah, I’m good. Was just thinking about something.” I push my fingers through my blond hair, shrugging. “I still can’t get used to this uniform.” The green blazer feels restricting, eventhough it’s November and it does a good job of keeping me warm. And this tie is choking me. I loosen it up and undo the top two bottoms of my white shirt. Ihatecollars and button-down shirts.
Felix chuckles. “You could get detention for messing up the uniform.” He clears his throat and starts paraphrasing the student handbook. “The boys shall wear their ties properly, tightened up to the neck. All shirt buttons shall be buttoned at all times during school hours. Shirts must be tucked in as well.” He glances at my waist and black pants. “At least you got that part covered.”
I grunt as I fix my uniform. “A price to pay to attend this great school.”
He follows me toward the school building. “I heard Principal Harrington’s had so much success with the scholarships that she expects to have many, many more underprivileged kids attend next year. No offense.”
The underprivileged kids scholarship was how Carly got in here. When I heard about it, I spent two years researching it and tried to get in. I want a chance to make something of myself. Mom and Dad never had careers or anything and we somehow managed to get by. I want more for myself. Carly doesn’t know this, but when I came here with her parents and Blake for Parents’ Day a few weeks ago, I had an interview with Principal Harrington. She seemed sympathetic to my home life, but I knew she just wanted to use me to make herself appear like such a charitable person. But whatever. The important thing is that I’m here.
“It’s cool,” I tell Felix. I’m not ashamed of where I come from. I just wish my mom and dad would care about me.
We enter the school building and separate to our classrooms. I’m a little disappointed that I don’t share math with Carly. Other than Felix, she’s the only person I know here, and even ifshe doesn’t say a word to me or look my way, it’s comforting to have her around.
After I take a seat in the back, I notice a few girls smiling at me. Felix told me that most of the kids here have known each other all their lives because they run in the same circles. So having a new face here draws their attention. While I always love attention from girls, I kind of need to focus on my classes. The worst thing would be for me to flunk out and prove to my parents that I’m a nothing. When I told them about getting accepted here, Dad snorted and said I wouldn’t last a day. I can’t believe my own father wasupsetand angrythat I’d be attending a school like Harrington Bay Academy. He laughed and told me not to bother packing a suitcase because I’d be crawling back home in less than a week.
Mom was no better. She was lying on the couch and joined her husband in his laughter. Sometimes I wonder how these people gave birth to me.
I wanted to tell them that just because life failed them, it doesn’t mean it will fail me too. But I figured there was no point. With my fists clenched at my sides, I stomped up to my room in the attic—far away from them, which was just how they liked it ever since I was little—and slammed the door.
Shaking those thoughts away, I focus on the lesson. If I want to make something of myself, I can’t let anything distract me.
After I’m done with my classes for the day, I put my things in my locker and make my way toward the guys’ dorm. Outside the school building, I catch many kids making plans to hang out. Some walk around the courtyard, others get in their cars and head to town, many have after-school activities like sports. A pain stabs my insides when I remember sports are a part of my past. I had so many hopes and dreams before my injury during a football game a few weeks ago. It was after my interview with Harrington. I thought joining the football team here would helpme get recruited to play for a top college. But I injured my leg and now need to rely on my grades to be accepted into a good college—or a miracle, I guess.
In the distance, I spot Carly weaving her way through the students as she heads for the girls’ dorm. It’s not hard to spot her because of that hair. It stands out among the crowd, kind of like a beacon. A beacon drawing me in. I could go over to her and ask her how her day was, but I’m pretty sure I’d just upset her. Besides, there’s always tomorrow. And the next day and the next.
Weareschoolmates now.
Chapter Four
Carly
Since Harrington Bay Academy is one of the most prestigious high schools in the country, the teachers think it’s their job to pile mountains of homework on us. Which is why I’ve been slaving away in my room for the past few hours.
Despite my less-than-average grades, I always try to maintain a passing grade in all my classes because I don’t want to get the boot. Even that takes up most of my time. Seriously, it’s like they don’t expect us to have a life here.
After what feels like forever, I drop my pen and stretch my arms over my head. I may have dozed off once or twice while trying to read my history textbook. I do find history interesting overall, but I think my brain is way past its breaking point.
And my brain is also exhausted from trying to shove away a certain dude with gorgeous brown eyes every two minutes. Every time he pops into my mind, I grit my teeth and my pen nearly makes a hole in my notebook. Why does he keep waltzing into my brain uninvited? Did I not specifically instruct myself to treat him like wallpaper?
All I want is to enjoy the next two years of high school with my best friends. I know he’s going to ruin my life. Because that’s Ryder Bennett. His middle name might as well be “CarlyAnnoyer.”
Reaching for my phone, I tap on my brother’s name and start a video call with him. I haven’t seen him since Parents’ Day a few weeks ago, but we’ve texted here and there.
As soon as his face appears, I bark, “Why didn’t you tell me he was coming?”
