Page 51 of This I Know
“And how exactly would you do that? You don’t even know me. You don’t what I like. So how could you make me feel better?”
“This is true. But I could try.” I tip my head and pierce me eyes. “Do you doubt me?”
I think I see a smile play at the corner of her lips. And then it’s gone. She sure does a good job of hiding it.
“Look,” she says. “The only reason I’m even talking to you is because of how you helped me the other day.” She eyes me back. “And for your information, I absolutely doubt you.”
“Fair enough.”
She slides her eyes toward me and clutches her textbook tighter to her chest. “Well, why shouldn’t I? Why should I have even the smallest bit of faith in you?”
I shrug. “I guess you shouldn’t. Not yet.”
The bell sounds. She stops, as though not sure what to do.
I smile. “Can I see you around?”
“That’s a weird question. You’re going to see me around.”
“I know. But I want to know if it’s okay that I see you around.”
She hesitates.
There’s that smile again. “You can,” she says. Then her face turns serious. “It’s my turns to ask you something.”
“Okay. Shoot.”
She looks down. “What is all this?”
“All this?”
“Yeah. I mean … are you playing games with me?”
I’m not playing games. I’m taking my time because a girl like her deserves it. Because I’ve opened up to Avery for the first time – shown her a real, genuine piece of who I am – and it feels like the most well-aligned thing in the world. It’s like being near her was meant to be, like I was put in her path for a reason, and me in hers; like I can finally make the positive difference in someone’s life that was denied me all of mine.
“I don’t do games,” I answer.
Part Two
The Rise
Avery
What theheckis he doing standing in front of my locker? I really have to get in there, or else I’d turn back right this minute.
I mean, look at him. Standing there all sly, slumped like he doesn’t have a care in the world. Why isn’t he hitting up another girl?
What he pulled yesterday was cute. And charming. But today’s a new day, and I haven’t got time for that stuff. And no matter what he thinks, all his seductive looks and flirty antics, intentional or not, are not going to bring me down to his level. Not again. I’ve gotten a good night’s rest, and I’m stronger than I was before. Every day I’m getting stronger.
But he’s still there. He’s wearing his usual plain jeans and sexy T-shirt, holding a handful of textbooks in one arm. His skin looks extra tanned today; either that, or I just never noticed that part of him before. One of his legs is lifted against the locker next to mine.
I try to ignore him.
I pretend I didn’t totally just register the Greek god-like status of his body as I pass.
Despite getting the cold shoulder, he doesn’t leave. Instead, he lets his leg down and leans against the locker neighboring mine, resting his weight on one shoulder.
“So I asked around,” he says.
