Mine (Blood Ties #1)

I didn’t want a first day.

I didn’t want friends.

I just wanted a class schedule. How fucking hard was it to give me a damn schedule?

She reached to the side, grabbed something from behind the counter and handed it toward me. “Welcome to Duke’s, Ryth. I hope you’ll enjoy it here.”

I forced a smile, took the paperwork, and turned away, wanting to sink into the floor or the wall and hide.

“Hey,” he smiled nervously, then looked away, giving a slight shrug. “Giovani, most call me Gio.”

“Ryth,” I muttered.

“Yeah, I figured that already,” he smiled, and nodded toward the door.

I wanted to run, and when I say run, I wanted to haul ass out of this place and keep on going. I waited for the look as I stepped outside and into the corridor. Heat rose, finding its way along my neck to pool in my face. The wince would be next when he settled his gaze on the mark on my cheek, then would come the questions…and finally, when he was amongst his friends, the taunts.

“O-okay,” he stuttered, then stopped, his voice quieting. “Your c-cl-asses.”

He stuttered.

Like, actually stuttered.

He glanced at my shocked expression, then looked away. “It’s fine most of the t-time, just comes out wh-when I’m nervous.”

“You stutter when you’re nervous?”

He licked his lips and nodded. “Yeah.”

“Why the hell are you nervous around me?”

His cheeks reddened as he looked away. Oh shit…okay. That need to flee froze inside me as I focused on the guy. He was tall, muscled, obviously popular.But was he? Would a popular guy escort someone around on their first day? Someone they didn’t even know?

“So, looks like you have Harkins with me first up.” He tried to change the subject. “She can be a hardass, especially if you’re late, so we better get going.”

I just followed, feeling that storm inside me slip away. Maybe it wasn’t so bad here. Maybe I could do the last six months of school and finish, I dunno…normal, like everyone else?The thought of that excited me.

I followed him to the first class, sliding in behind his seat after he sat at a desk. Others glanced my way, but they quickly turned their attention back to getting through the build-up to exams and hardly anyone paid me any mind.

By the time the day was half over, I was basically invisible…but still awkward as hell when the bell rang for lunch. I glanced at Gio, then to the loud roar in the hallway as it filled in an instant.

“Thanks for showing me around,” I smiled, stumbling out of the way as a girl shoved passed in a huff. I glanced his way, waiting for him to just turn and leave me behind. After all, he had other friends to sit with, right?

“You hungry?” He glanced my way and motioned toward the cafeteria.

Sitting amongst a group of assholes who basically picked you apart? Not my idea of a good time. I shook my head. “Thanks, but no.”

“Good. I’m grabbing something from the vending machine and heading outside, you want in?”

“Yes.” Relief washed over me. “Thank you.”

He gave me a hint of a smile, then strode to where a bank of vending machines lined the wall. I grabbed my card from the wallet of my phone case and pressed it against the reader. He glanced my way, his brow rising. “What, you gonna buy me lunch, Ryth?”

I just shrugged. “Figured it was the least I could do.”

His grin grew wider, showing teeth, before he turned back and cracked his knuckles. “Well alright, in that case…”

I let out a bark of laughter, catching him grin and glance my way. He grabbed a sandwich and a cola and stepped to the side, waiting for me. I followed suit as he waited, then grabbed my food and motioned toward the exit.