Page 14 of Only When It Breaks

Me: Welcome to the world of being misunderstood.

Kai: Are you?

I laugh.Nice try.

Me: Go and talk to one of them.

Kai: I can’t.

Me: Why? You’re alone and you don’t want to be. They’re probably trying to blend into the background to avoid kids like you and your friends.

Kai: What does that mean?

Me: Well, you’re in the popular group, so of course you don’t realise. Just go and talk to one of them. See that there are others out in the world, other than your dumb arse friends.

Kai: I’m starting to get the impression you don’t like my friends, little Rebel.

I smile. I can’t stop it.

Me: Maybe I’m starting to think you can do better.Sometimes the fall is the only thing that teaches you who you really are.

There’s a pause. I can almost picture him reading it, trying to figure me out.

Kai: If only you knew, little Rebel. This smile. This bravado, it’s all asham.

I frown at his words. What’s that supposed to mean?

Kai

I’ve said way too much. But I can’t take it back now, so I tuck my phone away and decide if she asks any questions, I’ll just flirt.

I glance around the dining hall. Austin, Henry and the other guys are all in our usual corner. Of course, the usual girls that surround us are giving him a wide berth, so they’re all over the other side of the hall with Bella. And I could join them, Bella already tried to wave me over a few times. But I’m not in the mood. I’ve spent the entire morning fighting girls off, something I never thought would irritate me, yet it has.

I take a breath and head over to Emmie’s friend, Ava. Her table is half-empty, surrounded by the usual quiet lunch kids and one girl braiding her own hair with a scientific focus.

I slide my tray across from her and sit down. Ava looks up from her book, eyes wide. Her mouth actually drops open.

“Hi,” I say with what I hope is a casual smile.

“H-hi.”

“What are you reading?” I lean forward and tilt the hardback toward me.

She snatches it back like I tried to steal her diary, slamming it shut and shoving it into her bag. “Nothing you’d like.”

I press my lips together and glance around. A few people are watching us; more likestaring, actually. Is it really that weird I sat here?

“So . . . where’s Emmie?” I ask, trying to keep it light.

Ava’s eyes dart around like she’s about to get ambushed. “Library.”

Of courseshe’s in the library.

“Why aren’t you with her?” I ask.

Ava gives a little shrug. “She likes being alone sometimes.”

I study her face, but she won’t meet my eyes. “She okay?”

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