I hadn’t been expecting that answer. “When?”
“Last week. This is my first day here. What about you?”
Maybe he hadn’t heard about the incident last fall. He definitely hadn’t been friends with the same crowd as me. “I transferred here last semester.”
“How do you like it?”
It had never been a question of like or dislike. The school was across the city from my old life, that was all that mattered. Shrugging, I finally said, “It’s alright.”
“So, why’d you switch schools, Gianna?” The question might have been nonchalant for him, but it always forced me to be dishonest.
“My dad bought a house in Englewood. It was easier to switch schools than make the trip up to Broomfield every day.”
I gauged his reaction, happy when he appeared accepting of my lie. “Are you a cheerleader at this school now?”
He probably remembered me wearing my uniform to school on game days. “No cheering for me anymore.”
“Who do you hang out with here?” He glanced over my shoulder then his dark brown eyes returned to me.
“I, um, don’t.” At his look of curious disbelief, I explained, “Most of my friends go to school in Denver and Aurora. I just get an education here.”
Looking thoughtful, Gage leaned forward. “Well, since you don’t have any friends and I don’t know anyone here, I’ll hang with you for now.”
I couldn’t help my burst of laughter. “Oh jeez, thanks.”
“No problem.”
Checking the time on my phone, I saw it was eleven minutes to first period. I slipped my book into my backpack and zipped it up. I’d need to stop by my locker to get rid of my bulky coat. “Time to get to class.”
Once out of the booth, without the barrier between us, I felt a little nervous. While I put my backpack on, he reached over to grab my coat, handing it to me. “Thank you.”
As I started to walk away, he called out, “Do you mind showing me to my first class?”
Whirling around, I reached up to hold onto the straps of my bag. “Yeah, sure. Which room number?”
Gage’s eyes dropped down to the paper in his hand. “Room 117.”
Feeling like this guy might be safe, I attempted to remain friendly. “Okay, come on.”
On the way to 117, I dropped off the coat at my locker. Gage told me his locker number and we swung by so he could locate it. He didn’t have textbooks yet, so he didn’t bother opening it. Walking to his class, he informed me that he was an aspiring DJ. He still struggled to make a name for himself, so he hadn’t gotten much work yet. When he graduated at the end of the school year, he’d concentrate on booking gigs full time.
We stopped outside his class. “So, meet you in the lounge at lunch?”
Shifting from one foot to the other, I hesitated. Not having friends at my new school had worked for me so far. I wasn’t sure I wanted a new guy friend. But he was Kara’s older brother, so it wasn’t like he was a total stranger. It wouldn’t hurt to have one friend at this school.
And it’d make me less of a freak.
“Okay,” I replied slowly. “I’ll meet you there.”
He flashed me a grin. “Later, then.”
I watched him approach the teacher inside the classroom as a girl sitting in the front row checked him out. He was cute now that I thought about it. Hot body like a swimmer. The way he walked reminded me a little of Caleb.
Hurrying to my own class on the second floor, the rubber soles of my boots squeaking on the shiny floor, I remembered Caleb’s request in his last letter. He wanted me to visit him next week on Valentine’s Day. I had mixed feelings on visiting my own boyfriend on the most romantic day of the year.
As much as I missed him, I couldn’t help being apprehensive at the prospect of facing him. I was scared he’d take one look at me and realize he didn’t want me anymore. I had no doubt Caleb cared for me, but would he still love me the same?
Hell, I didn’t even want me anymore.
CHAPTER FOUR
“A kiss that is never tasted, is forever and ever wasted.”
-Billie Holiday
VALENTINE’S DAY
CALEB
Showering this wonderful morning, I whistled under the warm spray, eager to get my day started. Valentine’s Day falling on a Saturday worked out perfectly for me.
I passed by Ian as I exited the bathroom. “Stop with your god damn happiness, Caleb.”
“Just ‘cause you don’t have a beautiful girl visiting you today.”
I wasn’t about to let him ruin my good mood. It’d been four months since I’d last seen Gianna. Today felt like my birthday, Christmas and Valentine’s Day all rolled into one.