Hard Boy ✔️

20

- Voodoo Doll; 5 Seconds of Summer - 
- Speechless; Dan + Shay - 

Aurora Holland

"This is where we separate," Katherine stated as we walked to an intersection. "I live that way." She quickly added, pointing a finger to the right. I looked to the left, knowing my own neighborhood was that way.

"Well, thanks for hanging out with me. I know it was probably weird how blunt I was about it, I'm not usually like that." I told the blonde, twirling my ring resting on my index finger.

"It wasn't," She spoke with a shake of her head. "I was just taken back by it. You've probably gathered on by now, but I'm not very liked at Riverway."

"I only know what James said, and I know that it's none of my business so I'm not going to push you about it." I held my hands up in defense.

"Thank you for that," She said nicely, shoving her hands into her denim jacket. It was a light shade of black and hugged her small figure perfectly.

"I will say though, that I'm not one to judge on things like that," I said, remembering that James had been harassing her about her mother. "My family is not as it seems, but either way it's not my business."

Katherine didn't say anything, seeming lost in thought at my words. I sighed, knowing Paige was probably already waiting for me to get home to get ready for the event tonight. "I should get going, I've got to get to this thing."

"Yeah, of course, I'll probably see you Monday." She pulled her right hand from her pocket, pushing her hair behind her ear.

"See ya. You have my number so if you need to get ahold of me just text me," I said. "I text back embarrassingly fast."

Katherine nodded, waving goodbye and turning to cross the intersection. I didn't send another glance as I turned and made my way toward my neighborhood, remembering the directions as I'd ridden by it numerous times when with Paige or someone else.

My thoughts were clouded by anything and everything. At first, I thought about all of the homework I needed to do, then I thought about the art club that was mentioned on my first day of school. Then, my thoughts went to Katherine and how our blossoming friendship was one of the first friendships that were genuine, and didn't feel forced or faked by Paige the way others in the past had.

Then, my thoughts went to what happened at the end of homeroom earlier. I didn't know who that boy was, but I really wanted to thank him for attempting to help me today. He didn't need to do that, and it made me think of when I didn't hesitate to help Katherine on Tuesday despite knowing I was no match for James.

However, if it weren't for Carter Jackson who knows what would have happened? I would've for sure been late to AP Environmental Science, but surely James wouldn't have gotten too far considering the unknown boy was right and that Mr. Maroni would have arrived sooner or later.

He definitely wouldn't have James do anything further than what he was, but it didn't change the fact that he'd already had a death grip on me.

My eyes landed on my right hand. Now, besides the scratches littering the skin beneath my thumb knuckle, bruises the size of James' large fingerprints scattered across the top of my palm.

They weren't super dark yet, but they were already showing up even though it's only been about three hours since the confrontation happened.

As I approached my house, I saw that Paige had already arrived just as I thought she had. She wasn't in her car, meaning she was probably in my house. She had her own key, considering she's my cousin, and plus my mother loves her that much.