“I-I don’t know why I said sorry. It was instinct, I guess.” She spoke to his chest; she couldn’t look at him this close and speak directly to him.
She felt his arms drop after a few seconds and swore that, before he let her go, his hands made a bigger, deeper impression. She looked up at him again. He had really green eyes. She had never seen natural green eyes before.
“Do me a favor and don’t apologize to anyone who doesn’t deserve an apology. Got it?” He demanded an answer from her.
She didn’t like demands. “Don’t I deserve an apology, then?”
Nero smiled and took a step toward her. “I’m not sorry.”
Elle stared at Nero.
Is this real?
She hadn’t realized the bell had gone off and no one was roaming the halls. By the time she did, she began to feel uncomfortable. She didn’t like the way Nero was making her feel.
“I better get to class.” Elle needed to make sure Chloe had made it there okay.
She walked away quickly, far too uncomfortable. Moreover, she felt Nero watching her, making her even more self-conscious.
“Watch where you’re walking next time.” She didn’t have to turn around to see he was smiling.
She reached Pre-Cal and was relieved to find Chloe. She is not going to believe that Nero freaking Caruso talked to me.
Chapter Five
Don’t Lie to Me
Elle decided to wait until lunch to tell Chloe what had occurred in the halls since anyone could listen in on them in the classroom. Plus, they would have something to talk about over lunch.
Elle found that, without Cassandra, no one paid any attention to them. It was like they were invisible. Some might think nothing could be worse than being invisible, but Elle and Chloe certainly liked being un-noticed. It was like they were on vacation. Hell, Elle would give anything to be Casper the friendly ghost and trade in her being-bullied days. Anyone who had never been bullied could never understand what she and Chloe went through five days a week.
Before Elle knew it, it was five minutes until lunch. She hadn’t even thought about the murder once since the hallway break when Nero had run into her. She wondered what that meant, but then quickly pushed it out of her mind.
I should be in an asylum, yet I have never been happier. She thanked God for whatever the reason Cassandra not being there was.
The lunch bell rang and Elle and Chloe headed for the door. When they reached the hallway, Chloe spoke.
“This is the best day of my life!” For the first time in years, Elle saw Chloe smile at school, not to mention in the hallway.
“I know. Best freaking day ever. I wonder why Cassandra isn’t here.”
“Who cares? I never thought one person was the sole reason for high school being such a nightmare for us.” Elle loved seeing Chloe like this.
“Yeah, me either.” They walked in the cafeteria and looked at their choices. They still picked the line that was less intimidating, not wanting to push their luck. Chicken patty day it is.
They grabbed their lunches and sat at their usual table, and then Elle leaned over the table and said, “I have to tell you what happened when you left me this morning. By the way, what the hell? Why did you do that?”
“Because Mr. Evans said he needed to speak with you, not me. I knew it was about you not turning in your essay. He wasn’t going to talk about it in front of me, you know that.” Chloe picked up a fry and tossed it in her mouth. “Oh, and why didn’t you turn in your essay? It was the first assignment of the semester.”
“I was sick. Listen, I have to tell you something. You’re not going to believe who talked to me and didn’t want me dea—”
“You were sick? Really, that’s the excuse you’re giving me? I hope you didn’t use that on him.”
“Uh, yes, I was sick. That’s the truth and he believed me. Why can’t you?”
“Probably because not once have you not turned in an assignment, and you get sick all the time. You practically stay sick. There isn’t anything that goes around that you don’t catch.”
Elle stared at Chloe. She was right; she was always getting sick. Her friend wouldn’t take the sick card. However, Elle couldn’t tell her that she had seen a man get whacked last night. She could never tell anyone she had seen what happened. Elle had watched the movies—the less you knew, the better. They couldn’t hurt you for information you didn’t know.
“Well, this was a different kind of sick.” Elle hoped Chloe would take it. She wanted to move on to something she could tell her.
Elle looked over at Nero’s table. He wasn’t there.
Hmm, he’s always right there.