Page 14 of Fractured Mind
CHAPTER
SIX
MIA
I’m a wreck.Between the adrenalin from the fight and starting a new school, I got four hours of sleep. The wardrobe is full of clothes, but I’m staring at it, unsure on what to wear. Huffing in frustration, I decide to text Ruby for some ideas.
What do I wear today? Help me!
Haha. Wear whatever you want. Be yourself.
That’s comical. I’m still trying to figure that part out.
My hands are clammy as I shift through the clothes, but I pull out a fitted top and dark-blue jeans, hoping it’ll make me blend in with the other students.
I go downstairs and in the kitchen find Nana sitting at the table, holding a teacup.
When she sees me, she smiles. “Why don’t you have some breakfast?”
My stomach is in knots. “I’m too nervous to eat.”
She stands, steps over to me, and pulls me into an embrace, squeezing me like she’s savoring the moment.
My eyes well up. I’m not used to affection. Tears escape as I move away, and not just mine—she’s crying too.
“Look at what you’re doing to me,” she says with a small chuckle while wiping her tears away.
The sound of a loud engine arrives out the front, so I grab my bag off the table. “I’d better get going. Ruby is here.”
“Have a wonderful day at school.”
When I step outside, I hear music blaring. Ruby’s window glides down, and I crack a smile as she sways from side to side with her hands up, dancing.
She grins broadly as I climb in and place my bag near my feet. “I hope you’re in some of my classes.”
“Me too,” I reply. Having a friend in class will make me more at ease.
I take deep breaths to calm myself as we pull into the school parking lot. She finds an empty spot next to the blue sports car I saw speeding past Nana and me on my first day. I sink into the seat when I see Ashton and Jackson standing directly ahead of the car, talking to Levi and Roman.
I can’t stop myself from ogling Ashton’s body. The image of him without a shirt makes me swallow hard. Today he’s wearing washed-out jeans with a loose black tank top that shows off his broad shoulders and muscled arms. When my gaze rises to his face, my eyes meet his and I gulp.
A hand on my leg makes me jump.
Ruby stares at me with a knowing look. “You can’t sit in here forever.”
I exhale deeply through my mouth before getting out of the car.
Levi peers up from under the brim of his hat and comes straight for me. “Hello, kitten, fancy seeing you here,” he coos.
“Leave the poor girl alone,” Ruby reprimands him, but it only encourages him because he drapes his arm around my shoulder as he grins at Ashton, who’s shaking his head. He seems more carefree this time around.
We walk through the parking lot and toward the building, and every student’s attention is on us. I hunch my shoulders and lower my head, trying to shy away from it. Levi lets go of me and starts slapping backs and sharing high fives with other guys. Roman stays with him at the entrance.
Ashton stands beside me, with Ruby and Jackson behind us. When we step inside, the chatter turns to whispers. Everyone’s staring at us wide-eyed, and they move out of the way as we walk along. I have a sudden urge to run away. I liked being in the background at my other school.
Inside, I try to block everyone out as I glance around. The school’s enormous, with so many classrooms and students. I know for certain I’ll get lost.
I look up at Ashton. “I have to go to the office. Can you tell me where to go?”