“Art appreciation is so boring. That test almost made my eyes bleed,” Amber whispered.
I nodded in agreement.
As I put the quiz at the corner edge of the desk, Connor looked up from his phone. He dipped his head once, then returned his gaze to his phone. A pinch of hurt captured me as I turned and walked back to my seat.
“I’m so glad we studied that section in the book more than once,” Amber said when we were back at our desk.
“Mm hmm.” I grabbed my phone again to check my missed text.
Student is asking for help after class. I’ll text you later tonight.
The pinch increased.
I stared at my phone, unblinkingly and blocking Amber from the view of my screen as she puckered her lips with annoyance.
The students finished their quizzes and Connor walked to his podium.
“I’m going to start teaching you what you’ll need to know for your final. I know we still have three months left of the semester, but there’s a lot to learn, and planting knowledge into your brains early will be a great thing for your busy minds. Grab your books and go to page two hundred and twelve. Vida, would you please read the first paragraph to the class.”
My head jerks up and we locked eyes. He stared expectantly at me, but there was a hidden tease in those baby blue orbs of his.
I started reading to the class, then Connor took over immediately after and explained why that particular passage had been included in the constitution. I admired his passion for teaching, and I smiled at the sexy way his hands moved as he talked, and how he lit up when the students understood what he was talking about.
The hour went by quickly as the students hung on his every word. “We’ll stop here,” Connor said when he noticed the time. “Go home and read chapters four through six and read over your notes. I will see you all tomorrow.”
He walked back to his desk as the students started to walk out. Amber stood with her bag, waiting for me to get up. Elizabeth, a shy classmate, walked toward Connor and grabbed a chair to sit next to him. She smoothed her blonde hair behind her ear before talking to him. He didn’t glance my way as he started talking to her. My gaze dropped, trying to hide my hurt as I followed Amber out.
“See you later, girlie. I’m going home and crashing. You should do the same.” She gives me a hug before walking toward her car.
I kissed the top of my Honda then stepped in. I drove home and arrived to an empty house. There were a note and dinner on the table, but I ignored both and headed to my room, falling fast asleep.
Chapter 5
A hard knock on the front door woke me up and I groaned, rolling over and burying my face in my pillow. My arm stretched out to my nightstand, my fingers tapping around the surface for my phone. As my fingers wrapped around it, I opened one eye to check the time.
9 am.
Shit!
I dropped my phone and scrambled out of bed.
I heard knocking again as I smoothed my hair away from my face roughly and walked to the front door, peeking through the peep hole. Amber stood outside with her arms crossed, annoyance and worry written on her face. I opened the door and rested my temple on the frame, my eyes squinting.
"Oh my God! I was worried sick! What the hell, Vida? You didn't answer any of my texts or calls last night or this morning." Amber pushes her way in and gets the full view of my just woken self. "My goodness! You just woke up?"
"I slept through the night." I frowned. "I didn't realize I was so tired."
"Your dad didn't wake you up before work?"
"No, he's not home."
Crap…
"Where did he go?"
I shook my head, too tired to start protecting his secrets. "He's on a business trip."
"Why didn't you tell me? You can't stay here by yourself. You’ll get lonely. You can stay over at my place until he gets home."
"I like my space,” I say softly.
“Well, if you change your mind—”
"I'm going to go take a shower and get ready for school."
"It'll be too late for school once you’re done getting ready. Wanna just ditch today?"
"I have perfect attendance,” I pointed out.
"One day off from high school won't hurt you,” she challenged.
"It would only take one day to ruin my rules."
Amber huffed. "Live a little, Vida."
I frowned. "I do live.”
She cringed. “I'm sorry."
Hurt, I turned around to walk to my room, but Amber stopped me again. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
I stopped. There was something in her voice …
Desperation.
I knew that tone all too well.
My face softened as I turned toward Amber. “Isn’t today the first day of the fair?”