A look crosses his face that I can only describe as complete horror. “But wait… isn’t your brother a Bradbury?”
“Yeah.” I push a piece of hair behind my ear. “My stepdad has money. Unfortunately for me, he hates me.”
Preston raises an eyebrow. “Who was your father?”
I don’t know why Preston is talking about this. The first chance he gets to really talk to me and all he wants to discuss is money and family names.
I don’t tell a lot of people who my father is. Part of me wants to tell Preston, but I hate the part of me that wants to tell him. I only want to tell him because I want him to like me. If I tell him, he will most definitely like me way more than he does right now.
I clear my throat. “Uh, I don’t really like to talk about him. He died when I was a kid, so it’s kinda hard.”
He furrows his brows, like he can’t figure out why I’m not name dropping.
Uh… maybe Preston Lomax is just as bad as everybody says he is.
Preston reaches over, pushing a piece of hair behind my ear. I suck in a sharp breath at the movement and he smirks, like he knows exactly what he’s doing to me.
“I was just wondering where such a beautiful girl got her looks—you don’t really look like your mom,” he says.
He knows what my mom looks like?
I raise an eyebrow.
He shrugs. “What? I looked up your family. I have to be careful who I associate with. I tried to figure out who your birth father is, but I couldn’t find anything.”
He looked up my family.
I’m pretty sure I should be horrified right now. And I am. He must be able to tell from the look on my face.
He scoots closer, putting a hand on my shoulder. “It’s not a big deal. It’s just… the Lomax family can’t be seen with just anybody. I have an image to uphold. I’m sure you understand.”
I don’t. Not at all. Still, I nod to avoid conflict.
Harper was definitely right—Preston Lomax is bad news. Not only is he the biggest player at West Raven Academy, but he’s also the biggest snob here too.
“Do you want to get out of here?” Preston asks. “We could go hang out in my dorm room or something.”
And there it is.
As much as I hate to admit it, Hunter was right with what he told me last night. ‘A guy like that only wants one thing, and something tells me he wants something you’re not willing to give.’
Tears press against the back of my eyes as I stare at him, my mouth hanging open wide.
Preston never liked me. Maybe he was attracted to me, or maybe that was just an act too. But Preston… he just wanted to use me. And boy, he is good at what he does.
Maybe I’m not as naive as I thought I was because I can suddenly see through everything he’s ever said to me.
I take a deep breath, looking down at my shoes. “Look, Preston, you seem nice, but I don’t think this thing is going to work out between us. I mean… you said it before… you can only hangout with people who won’t embarrass your family. And, well, I would completely embarrass them. You should hold out for somebody else.”
I’ve never broken up with a boy before. I’ve never had a boyfriend to breakup with. Preston is the closest any guy has ever come, which is just pathetic. But I’m pretty sure I just nailed the whole ‘break up’ thing.
His eyes widen as he looks at me, cocking his head to the side. “Are you… saying no… to me?”
“Pretty much.” I purse my lips, standing up from the bench. “But don’t worry, I’m sure that redhead you were with at the dance last night would love to date you.”
He blinks, staring up at me in stunned silence.
I’m sure he wasn’t expecting me to say no. From the look on his face, I don’t think he’s ever heard the word no.
I clear my throat. “Uh… well… it was nice hanging out with you, Preston. Um, maybe we can be friends still.”
“Friends?” He repeats, raising an eyebrow.
Wow, this is far more painful than I thought it would be.
“Yep, friends.” I force myself to smile. “Anyway, friend, I’ve got to go. It was good seeing you.”
Before Preston can say anything else, I turn and briskly walk away from him.
I’m practically running.
I really hate admitting it, but Hunter was right.
A fever dream.
I’m in a bit of a daze as I walk from the quad. For some reason, I think I’m heading back to my dorm, but I end up walking the complete opposite way. At the sidewalk’s end, there is a path that leads into the woods. Wanting to get away for a bit, I decide to head down the path. It might be nice to just enjoy nature for a bit.
I huff as I walk down the path, anger coursing through me. The problem is, I’m not even sure who I’m mad at. Maybe my mom, for being such a sucky parent. Or maybe I’m mad at Preston, for being such a jerk. I’m definitely mad at the world for me being born into the family that I was. But mostly, I think I’m mad at myself. I’m mad that I let my mom get to me like that. I’m mad that I fell, hook, line, and sinker, for Preston’s lines. I feel so stupid.
Boys have always been the last thing on my mind. I have to remember that it’s this way for a good reason.
What boy could ever understand my family? And better yet, how could I even explain it to him?
No, high school isn’t the right time for me to fall in love. But someday, I will meet a guy who will sweep me off my feet. Until then, I’ll focus on my friends.
Harper and Laura are good friends. I could see myself being friends with them for life. Maybe we’ll even go to the same college and I’ll have a readymade roommate.
I hear a twig break behind me, but I don’t turn to look. It’s probably just somebody else walking down the path. With my luck, I wouldn’t be surprised if Preston came to walk on this same path. Today just is not my day.
No matter how hard I try to not let my mother ruin my day, she always manages to do it.
I sigh, pressing forward on the path.
A rustling in the leaves behind me captures my attention. I move slightly to the right on the pathway, thinking another student must be running this path today. Directly to my left, tree bark, leaves, and dirt explode into the air. I abruptly stop, turning to look at the explosion.
What in the world?
Why did…
I hear footsteps behind me again, closer this time. I turn around and see somebody wearing a mask running toward me. But more important than the mask is the fact that they’re holding a gun in their hand, aiming it toward me.
I take off running as fast as I can. As I do, leaves and dirt explode beside me again. It’s then that I realize what the explosion was before.
This masked man is shooting at me.
As I run, I try to think rationally about what is happening, but there is nothing rational about the fact that a guy with a gun is chasing me.
What do I do?
I should probably call the cops, right?
I reach into the pocket of my dress as more leaves and dirt explode beside me. I end up dropping my phone onto the path, but I don’t stop to pick it up. If I stop long enough, this person will have time to aim their gun a little better. Lucky for me, they’re a bad shot.