Deep (Heavy Hearts Book 2) by Sarah Duncan (reading tree txt) 📕

feel weird, right? Having a boy sleeping on each side of me? It doesn’t, though. It feels safe. Not as safe as when I’m in Ayden’s arms, but still safe. For once, it doesn’t take me long to fall asleep.

CHAPTER NINE

I wake to the smell of bacon on Tuesday morning. My mouth waters and I can’t hold in my moan. Simon can stay over every night if he cooks bacon for me each morning. It’s definitely a weakness of mine. The smug smirk on his face tells me he knows damn well how much I like it, which is why he cooked it. He’s trying to win brownie points, although I don’t know why.

After Simon, Garrett and I go through our usual morning rituals, we walk to school, meeting up with Marcus on the way, followed by Shaun and Jared just outside the school grounds. My anxiety plagues me as we approach with all eyes on us, but unlike yesterday, today the onlookers smile in my direction, and a girl that I don’t even know says, “it’s about time that someone put Tasha back in her box.”

Tasha isn’t at school, which helps me breathe easier, but her bitch crew are, and they have no problem glaring daggers at me every chance they get. Abbey even dares to shoot me a bitch glare. Ballsy!

My first two classes are double photography. It’s a new class that the school has moved me into, so Abbey doesn’t have to endure a class with me. Her parents are arseholes and are on my list of people who need to pay! I like the photography class, though, so maybe they did me a favour.

Rhys, the smart bitch, bows down upon seeing me enter the photography room like I’m royalty and then doesn’t take no for an answer at partnering up with me. I don’t complain. I’m already enjoying her company. She catches me up with the course work, and I feel oddly inspired about what theme I’m going to choose for my portfolio.

We part ways after class, and I find the boys hovering at my locker waiting for me.

“You look happy.” Shaun nudges me with his shoulder as I squeeze past to get to my locker. I exaggerate my smile in response.

“She looks too happy.” Marcus frowns, and I poke my tongue out at him.

“What gives?” Marcus asks.

I shrug. “I had a good class, I guess. I’m looking forward to doing the work.”

“Shit, she really is a dork.” Jared teases and winks at me.

I need to ask them to stop winking at me like that. It reminds me too much of Ayden, which makes my heart hurt. After my locker is full and my arms are empty, I start walking towards the canteen, and the boys flank me, drawing attention from the other students.

As we pass Dylan Brent and Hayden Saunders, they say hi to me, which is totally normal because they are my friends, but I don’t miss the glare that Garrett and Jared shoot their way. When we’re far enough away from Dylan and Hayden, I stop and turn on the boys, hands on my hips in a huff.

“What the hell is your problem with Dylan and Hayden?”

“What do you mean?” Jared asks innocently, but I can see the guilt on his face.

“Don’t give me that. You know what I mean. Yesterday in PE, Marcus and Garrett kept blocking Dylan from talking to me, and just now you and Garrett shot daggers their way when they said hi to me.”

“It isn’t just them two. Marcus and Shaun were killing them with their eyes just now as well.” Simon, always the helpful guy adds. The four other boys turn to him to shoot him with their murderous looks.

“Want to explain to me why?” I ask them, not willing to let this go.

“We’re just trying to protect you, Lex.” Marcus shrugs.

“It’s overkill!” I snap, “The only person I need protection from is my brother. Back off everyone else!”

Five sets of puppy dog eyes look back at me. Ugh, this is hopeless. I turn, storming off in the other direction.

“Hey, where are you going?” Simon asks.

“The toilet. Meet you in the canteen.” I lie, not looking back until I turn the corner at the end of the passage. Peeking back, I see the boys walking in the opposite direction from me, towards the canteen. Thank fuck they aren’t trying to follow me.

I don’t go to the toilets, though; I walk straight outside and along the side of the stadium building to the back of the school to find my new crazy friend.

When I round the corner, I’m met with the distinct smell of weed and the sound of music and laughter. As I get closer to the small crowd, I smile inwardly when I hear the music playing is Breaking Benjamin’s Failure. It soothes my soul instantly.

“All hail Queen Lexi!” Rhys cheers, spotting me before anyone else, kneeling on the grass to bow as silence sweeps over the small group of students.

“Get up, you idiot,” I say, feeling self-conscious all of a sudden.

“Oh now, don’t be modest. You are our worthy queen, and we, your loyal servants.” Rhys stays on the ground smiling up at me with a ridiculous toothy grin.

All eyes are on me, making me squirm. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. I feel like I’ve just walked into a private party uninvited. But that’s not true, is it? Rhys invited me.

“Is she always like this?” I direct my question to the group, hoping to break the ice.

An auburn-haired girl with a pixie cut, and a sandy blonde boy wearing pink lip gloss turn to each other and grin.

“Unfortunately, yes.” Pixie girl steps around Rhys, who’s still bowing to me on the ground. “I’m Tillie. Rhys said she made a new friend. A word of advice, turn around and run now because once she gets her claws in you, you’ll never be able to escape.” Tillie holds out