I Love You More Than I'm Afraid (Our Forevers #2) by Rebel Hart (the first e reader .txt) 📕

when Tristan wanted to turn his back on all the popular kids for Aria, you stayed right by his side. You sit at a table with all of the debate kids, for him. I obviously wasn’t that important to you. Don’t lie to my face.”

Hannah’s mouth closed. She didn’t have an argument for that. She sniffled, and I could tell she was about to start crying, so I charged around her and threw myself into my car before things got too much worse. My own nose was burning, but I refused to cry about it anymore. I’d shed enough tears over Hannah and the way she wrecked me.

I started up my car and was just about to pull out when my phone rang. I looked at the screen and saw that it was my friend Suli. I pressed the call button and put it on speaker so that I could talk hands free, then I backed out of the parking spot.

“Hey,” I grunted.

“Oooh,” she responded. “You sound like you could destress.”

“Yeah. You got something in mind?” I asked.

She giggled. “A few things. Come to The Undersound tonight?”

I was trying the best I could to avoid the place, but I didn’t feel like being at home, and I was so on edge that I wouldn’t be productive anywhere else. “Yeah. I’m in.”

4

Hannah

I didn’t realize how loudly I’d been screaming until Arden drove off and I realized several people were staring. I had blanked out most of the conversation in an emotional fit of passion, so I wasn’t entirely sure how much I’d said that would be revealing or give too much away. A few students were huddled together and whispering to one another, but that could have just been about the fight in general.

Either way, my eyes were blurring and I was in no position to drive, so I bolted towards the elevators. The school’s parking garage had bathrooms on every other floor, so I took the stairs down one level and pushed my way into the bathroom before the tears started flowing too much worse. I only just made it, tears already sliding down my cheeks as I burst through the doors.

It hurt so much more than I was anticipating.

At least when I was just a popular kid, I could do everything in my power to avoid seeing Arden too much. Of course, we would occasionally have classes together, but I could sit near the front of the class where she was behind me, or embedded in my friend group where they were distracting enough to keep me from paying too much attention to her.

Since Aria arrived, I’ve been able to avoid her less and less until I was sitting with her every day at lunch.

My makeup began running down my face and I gripped my stomach feeling like I just might puke if I don’t calm myself down. It wasn’t like I was expecting Arden and I to get back to the place we were in before, but I was kind of hoping that we could at least be cordial again, maybe even friendly? I thought if she’d at least be willing to listen to me again like she used to, maybe I could talk to her about just toning it down a bit. Toeing the line so she didn’t piss her parents off anymore than she already had.

I live in constant fear that I’m going to wake up and learn that she’s been sent to a place like that conversion camp again. Doesn’t she realize it’s life or death? Why can’t she just keep her business hidden? It’s no one else’s concern what she does behind closed doors. If she could just play the role a little bit, her life would be so much easier.

Maybe we could have even…

“Aw, look at you. You’re a wreck.”

I gasped as a voice called out. I didn’t even think to scan the bathroom when I walked in. It was after school and the only people hanging around were those in clubs and after school sports. I assumed I’d be mostly safe in there alone. Looking over my shoulder, I noticed that it was a familiar face. Standing in the frame of one of the bathroom stalls, with her sandy brown dyed hair hanging in ringlets down her head, was Ceradi.

“Hi,” I said quietly. “It’s been a while.”

“That it has. You didn’t return my texts from this morning. Here I was actually beginning to think you actually enjoy sitting with those losers, but I saw your face. You were miserable,” Ceradi said. She ducked back into the stall briefly to grab a piece of tissue, then she came out and turned on the water and washed her hands before gingerly cleaning up my face. “Why do you do it, hon? Just come back to our table. Don’t make me admit that I miss you, you stupid bitch.”

I was finally able to crack a smile at Ceradi’s brash attitude. I knew that was just the way that she spoke and, as far as she could, she meant it endearingly. “I miss you too.”

“Then why?” she asked. “Just leave that freak Tristan and his cow girlfriend alone and come back home where you belong.”

I didn’t respond, because I didn’t like the way Ceradi was talking about Tristan, but I also knew I wasn’t going to defend him. Either because she realized that or she didn’t, Ceradi seemed to let it go, instead turning her attention to redoing my makeup. She lifted her purse and set it on the counter and then pulled out her “emergency” makeup pallets and got to work. She finished wiping away what had smeared before getting to work replacing it. She was totally quiet as she worked, which I honestly preferred. It was nice to just sit in the quiet for a while around someone who wasn’t Aria or Arden and imagine not having to deal with the added stress.

After about ten minutes, Ceradi finished up and then