Headmaster Walton smiled proudly at Christian. “Christian is a gentleman; it doesn’t surprise me that he helped her.”
Okay, relax. I’m not that much of a damsel in distress.
Ann narrowed her eyes in a dubious way. “Christian, is that true? Did Hayley fall?” She glanced at me and then back at Christian. “Please be truthful. I have a hunch that Hayley could very well be in danger, and she’s too stubborn to ask for help.”
I held my breath, waiting, staring directly at Christian. His eyes slowly moved to mine, and we held onto each other in that moment for no longer than a few seconds, but something unspoken was exchanged between us.
“Yes, I saw her trip, and she took quite a fall. I helped her up and then walked her to her friend’s car to make sure she was okay.”
Relief washed over my entire body. I almost exhaled.
“I told you,” I said expectantly to Ann. I straightened my shoulders and made a note to glance at Headmaster Walton’s hanging clock. “Now, if we’re done here, I have to get going, or I’m going to miss the bus, and Pete will be wondering where I am.” Not true.
Ann’s face fell. “Of course, go. I’d give you a ride, but I have a few more stops in town before I'm done for the day. I’ll be back to check on you next week, okay?”
I gave her a thumbs up. “Super.” Then, I turned to Headmaster Walton and gave him a small gesture before bypassing Christian.
I hurriedly left the room and tried not to run at a full sprint out of the office. There was no way he was going to let me get away without a word after he just saved my ass—again. But I needed time to think and to decompress.
My steps grew faster when I heard the office doors open and close behind me. At that point, I was almost running, and before I knew it, I was outside, the cool autumn breeze causing my hair to fly around. I blew air out of my mouth and could taste the freedom, but then my heart stopped as a hand snaked around my arm and pulled me back. Christian spun me around and peered those eyes down at me below his thick, dark eyelashes.
I stifled a yelp. My chest was rising and falling quickly.
“Still don’t want my help?” His mouth was set in a firm line, but his eyes were playful.
I yanked my arm out of his grasp, even though something in my body yearned for me not to. “I appreciate the help in there.” I pointed my head in the direction of the doors. “But I’m fine otherwise.”
A sharp laugh rumbled out of Christian’s throat. He turned around and clasped his hands behind his head. A hefty breath sounded from his direction, and then he turned back around, his arms falling. “Are you that damaged that you can’t take a little help and protection from someone else?”
I pulled back instantly. “I’m not damaged!” Hurt pierced me. But aren’t you, Hayley? I knew Ann would be coming out of Headmaster Walton’s office any second, so I rounded the corner of the building, knowing Christian would follow.
His footsteps were heavy as twigs and crispy leaves broke with each stride. “You’re not? You have some fucking psychos following you and jumping you, threats from years ago coming to the surface, your foster dad locks you in your bedroom and times your showers…but you’re fine? You don’t need anyone’s help? It’s bullshit!”
I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen Christian so frantic. As kids, even when he was angry with someone at school, or with Ollie for following us around and begging to hang out with us, he still acted collected. Cold, but collected. He never raised his voice. The other night, when he was clearly bothered by my injuries, and even more bothered by my story regarding Gabe, he didn’t visibly show his emotions. But now? His face was red, his hands were clenched into fists, and his gray eyes were like a raging storm brewing over the ocean. He shook his head sharply. “What are you so afraid of?”
A gust of wind blew across the bare skin of my legs. I crossed my arms over my uniform. “I’m not afraid of anything.” Oh, but you are, Hayley.
The thought assaulted me, and I knew my expression showed it. Christian narrowed his gaze.
I tore my expression away, feeling my walls cracking a little. Shit. No. Then, I heard a rattling sound, like the old, beat-up truck that one of my past foster dads owned. My gaze went directly to the parking lot, and I froze.
I recognized that truck.
I recognized that skinny arm hanging out of the passenger side window.
Oh my God.
My attention moved back to Christian, and my resolve fell to our feet. My entire body broke out in goosebumps.
“I lied.” My voice sounded like broken shards of glass. Sharp and choppy. Breakable.
“What?” Christian stopped pacing and placed his hands on his hips.
I swallowed and moved beside
him. I looked out into the parking lot again, meeting a pair of eyes that matched mine. “I lied.” I craned my neck up to Christian, his body heat warming me for a fraction of a second. “When I said I wasn’t afraid of anything.”
He tilted his head while peering down.