Page 77 of Faux Real
“Doesn’t seem like she really wants to talk to you, mate,” I note, scanning Kenny’s tightened features. If she could teleport, she would. “Best to leave now, yeah?”
“KC, come on, I’m sorry,” he says, touching her arm. “Just give me five minutes, okay?”
“Save it, Sawyer,” she says, flinching from his touch. “I don’t want to hear it. Just go away.”
“Fine!” Sawyer’s jaw clenches as he pushes past us.
“Oh thank God,” Kennedy says, sighing with relief as she looks up at me, a grateful smile on her face. “Thanks for the back up.”
“Anytime,” I hum as we head out of class. “Has he uh—been bothering you a lot? Or just today?”
Not that I care,obviously.
“He’s texted me a few times this week asking to talk,” she groans. “I would think that being left on read would indicate that I’m not interested in speaking to him.” She glances at me. “Guys aren’t very perceptive, are they?”
“I’m truly offended that you would group me in the same category asSawyer,” I joke, hoping to lighten the mood. “Apologize this instant or I won’t be your partner for this project.”
She grins. It worked. “You wanna be partners?”
“Yeah, why not?” I smirk, wiggling my brows. “I’m an excellent model, I take directionvery well.”I motion around my face. “And with these dashing good looks, you’ll surely get an A.”
“Yeah?” she asks, a playful glimmer in her eyes. “And what willyouget? Am I modelesque enough for you?”
I rub my chin, pretending to study her face. “I’ll probably pass with a solid C+, maybe a B?”
“Oh, shut up!” Kennedy frowns as she punches me in the arm.
“Violence is never the answer, Kennedy,” I tease, feigning injury. “You’re such an American. Just use your words, love, they are far more powerful.”
“You. Are. A. Dick,” she states with a smug smile. “How’s that?”
“Much better.” I laugh as we round the corner to the common room. I hesitate for a moment before asking, “So, how are you feeling? We didn’t really get a chance to talk after—” I pause.What even was that?“Well, you know.”
“Yeah, this week has been super hectic,” she says, avoiding eye contact. “But um...I’m fine. I think. I don’t know.” She glances at me, a hint of embarrassment in her eyes. “Sorry for dumping all that shit on you. I don’t know where that came from.”
“I didn’t mind,” I say, scratching my head. Is she not going to bring up the fact that we almost—Fuck’s sake. Whatever. I’m good with that. I don’t need any complications in my life and that would indeed be aseverecomplication. “We’ve all got our shit.”
“True,” she says slowly, biting her lip in thought. “Well, I think it’s best if we just forget everything that happened that night and move on...right?”
“Doyouwant to forget?” I ask, loaded air hanging around us. “It’s up to you, Kennedy.”
“Up to me?” she whispers, tapping her fingers on her textbook. What is going on in that head of hers? I sure as hell am not going to tell her what to do. “You have no opinions?”
“It’s your life.” I shrug. “Maybe forgetting is the right thing to do.”
“Right,” she frowns, clearing her throat. “Well, I gotta go meet Maxine, so I’ll see you later I guess.”
“Sounds good.”
As I watch her walk away, I can’t help but wonder... who is she forgetting?
Me? Orhim?
You know what? Doesn’t matter. Why? Because Ido notcare. I don’t.
twenty-four
The Camera Doesn’t Lie
