Page 36 of Reluctant Chemistry

“I didn’t send that text. I swear.”

Travis trailing behind her, CeCe strode down the corridor, past the lockers, and out the front door. “Whatever.”

“Brandon was mucking around with my phone, and he sent it. It was a joke. He said he saw you and some guy that looked like O’Leary at the beach one day. Are you guys together?”

She ignored his question. “Yeah, well, that says it all, doesn’t it? You and your friends think it’s okay to slut-shame girls, that it’s funny? Get a life of your own before trying to destroy someone else’s. I’ve been through enough BS lately.”

Hightailing it across the quad to the school gates, CeCe kept her head down as the straps of her backpack dug into her shoulders.

“Time you moved on, babe,” Travis yelled after her. “You can’t cart that morbid shit around with you forever.”

CeCe stopped and turned to face him. Gathered courage. Stepped forward. “You don’t move on from grief, Travis. You carry it with you…every single day.” She slapped her chest. “It’s in here. It floats on the waves at Sandwater Bay and sits in the passenger seat of my Kombi. And that stupid comment is why we’re over. You just don’t get it, and you never will.”

As she crossed the road to her mother’s Corolla, she could feel Travis watching her.

Leaning against a lamppost, Levi, one of her passengers, frowned over at her ex. “Are you okay?”

Levi was a cocky kid. Sixteen years old and already a good head and shoulders taller than her. She greeted him with a smile. “I’m fine.”

“The brats aren’t here,so guess I call shotgun.”

“Yeah, they have swimming lessons this afternoon.” CeCe still didn’t like anyone sitting in the front passenger seat. That seat was Anna’s. But what could she say? That the seat was reserved for a dead girl? She opened the driver’s door then glanced over at Travis, who hadn’t moved an inch. “How was your day?”

Levi grinned at her over the roof. “I received a detention first period.”

“What for?”

“Told Ms. Butler to piss off.”

“Levi! No wonder you got a detention. Get in the car.”

They climbed in and fastened their belts. CeCe turned to look at him. “Okay. Life lesson for this week. Never tell a teacher to piss off. Ever. Or to F off.”

“She deserved it. Called me a moron.”

“Yeah, well, two wrongs just make both of you look stupid. Remember, a little bit of diplomacy can go a long way.”

He grinned. “Is this how it’s going to be? All this touchy-feely stuff every time I hitch a ride?”

CeCe matched his grin as she flicked on her indicator. “Not every time. Just when you’re being a dick.” She pulled out of the parking space and onto the road.

“Did you meet the new chemistry teacher?” Levi asked as they traveled east along Parkvale Drive. “Some of the senior girls were talking about how hot he is.”

Checking her rearview mirror, CeCe winced. “Yep, I met him.”

She ignored Levi’s stare.

“And?” he finally asked.

“And nothing. He’s my teacher.”

18

The Standoff

As part of his paramedic training, Luka had learned how to keep calm and maintain a neutral expression in most situations. But when he’d looked up earlier to see CeCe sitting at the back of his class, surrounded by a half dozen male students, he’d struggled to hold his reaction in check. Especially after herEastertext message.

He slumped back in his chair and picked up his phone, thinking he should text and ask to meet up so they could discuss what happened like adults.

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