Broken Until You

Chapter 36 - It's Not What it Looks Like

When I saw this side of her, all I could think about is what I've really seen from her home life – the truth.

"Is...is everything alright at home?" I asked her.

My question caught her attention. She turned to face me and smiled awkwardly. "Of course everything is fine. Why wouldn't it be?" she forced a laugh.

I analyzed her. She looked nervous.

"Just asking." I shrugged.

I continue to analyze her.

"You know if you weren't so fake maybe people would start liking you more," I advised her.

"It won't matter in a few months, we'll all be off to college anyways," she responded, keeping her vision on the view in front of us.

"It's not a high school tip, Heather. It's a life tip."

She changed the subject. "Do...do you hate me, Ryder?"

I sighed. "I don't hate you, I just hate the things you do."

"Would you be friends with me? Ever?"

"If you weren't such a bitch then yeah, I suppose."

She laughed.

I looked into her eyes and smiled as she laughed.

When she realized I was staring at her, she stopped laughing.

"What?" she asked, dumbfounded.

I didn't respond, and she didn't ask me to respond. Like me, she kept quiet and stared into my eyes.

There was something hidden in her green eyes — like an emotion she was trying desperately to conceal from the world.

It almost felt like...

"I like you," Heather blurted out of no where.

Silence...

I blinked. "Wait what?"

"I.Like.You," she said slower, staring me in the eyes as she did so.

"You called me annoying like five minutes ago..." I reminded her.

"Sometimes I say stupid things when I like someone, Ryder."

I scooted back a little bit. "Heather, you can't like me. I have a girlfriend that I dearly love."

Her bottom lip quivered and a tear escaped her eye. "Why can't you like me? I'm way prettier and smarter and popular than Autumn! It isn't fair. Ryder, please..."

I stood up, fixing my tie. "Look I'm sorry Heather but I have to go."

When she didn't respond I took that as a sign to leave quickly.

My hand reached for the back door. But before I could pull it open, Heather tightly put her hand on my shoulder.

"Ryder."