Page 114 of Reaching Avery
“Babe,” I said, getting Avery’s attention. “I got you something.”
He skewed a brow. “If you spent any money on me, I may have to sacrifice you.”
“No money. I swear.” I reached down and grabbed my backpack, which earned a curious brow-raise from Avery because I was the weirdo who never carried them. “Here.”
I handed him the twoHouse of Nightbooks, and the smile on his face was totally worth the bitching out I’d gotten from Mr. Davis for being tardy.
“I checked them out under my name,” I said, zipping my backpack and tossing it back under the table. “But since these books are apparently like crack and go quick, I didn’t want someone else to get them.”
“Thank you.” He leaned into my side, and I slipped my arm around him.
The day was going amazing. Or maybe my upbeat attitude made it just seem that way. Whatever the reason, I was grateful for it.
I had a wonderful boyfriend who was gradually coming out of his shell, hilarious friends who teased me but would have my back in a second flat, and my grades were the best they’d been, putting me in a great position for college. Also, theBeauty and the Beastmusical had been a hit over the weekend, and tickets for it the coming weekend were already almost sold-out.
Nothing could bring me down.
Until it did.
We’d finished eating and were on our way outside to hang out before lunch ended, when it happened.
Right as we got into the courtyard, Avery yelped and knocked into me before falling onto the cement. I hadn’t been quick enough to catch him. My mind was reeling as I tried to make sense of it. Maybe he’d just tripped.
I bent to help him, but another guy came out of nowhere and kicked his side. Avery gasped for air as he held the area that’d been hit.
“What the fuck?” I yelled, glaring daggers at the guy before pushing him away.
His name was David, and he was a senior I wasn’t really friends with.
“I’m gonna kick his ass!” David yelled, red-faced and kind of foaming at the mouth, as he leapt forward to try to hit Avery again.
I wasn’t having any of that crap.
I tackled him before he reached his target, and other bodies fell on top of me. I realized that Ricky and Travis had jumped in as well, defending Avery just like I had.
David thrashed around and tried punching us in the process. He landed one to my right eye, but it didn’t take much to hold him down after that. Three athletes who hit the gym almost daily? Yeah, David didn’t have a chance.
“My mom left because of his slut mom!” David yelled. More like shrieked. “That damn whore!”
I got off him and stood up, trying to make sense of what he’d said. Ricky and Travis followed suit, and as David tried to charge at Avery again, they clotheslined him. Knowing they had David under control, I ran over to Avery.
He was sitting up, holding his stomach, and Sarah was beside him, rubbing his back.
“Babe?” I went to his side and tilted his face up to mine. “You okay?”
He went to smile—not a sincere one—and blood dripped from his lip as he did. As well as tears from his pale blue eyes. “I’ve had worse.”
His words crushed me. He shouldn’t haveeverhad worse. Hell, he shouldn’t even have what he had right then.
“I’m taking you to the nurse,” I said, putting my arm behind his back and helping him up.
“No, I’m fine,” Avery said. His chin was scraped too, probably from when he’d smacked against the ground.
“You arenotfine.”
“Tell your whore of a mom I’m comin’ for her!” David screamed, trying to get around Travis and Ricky.
Avery paled right before he bent over and puked on the concrete. As fast as I could, I grabbed his hair, moving it from his face.
