All of It by Kim Holden Read Free Book Online Page B

insulting, but he says them so matter-of-factly that I can’t take offense.
    I shut my locker door and turn to face him. “Everyone likes to help people, Dimitri. I’m no different than anyone else.”
    “Ah, but that’s where you’re wrong. I don’t.” He shrugs. “Sure, there are certain people I’d do anything for; others, not so much.” He has that small, curious, knowing smile on his face and pokes a finger at my chest. “But you, you are quite unlike anyone I’ve ever known. You love to help people and make them happy—for their sake, not your own. Your friends, your family …” He raises his eyebrows and laughs to himself as if pondering on something private.
    I interrupt, “I wouldn’t help Chloe Murphy.”
    He nods. “No respectable person would. Bad example. Don’t steer this conversation away from the real subject at hand. Aside from Chloe, you would help anyone. Am I wrong?” Again with a question posed as a statement. He does this a lot and it gives me the strangest feeling every time it happens. Not uncomfortable, but as if there’s something right there in front of me that I can’t see. Like a challenge or a puzzle I can’t figure out.
    “You’ve only known me for three days, Dimitri,” I say with a sigh. “You’re quite observant, I’ll give you that, but you’re wrong. I do love to help people, but you make me out to be some sort of a saint or something. I’m quite normal actually. Stick around awhile and you’ll find out.”
    “I intend to. Now shall we eat lunch or would you like to spend the entire period debating your sainthood? I’m okay with either.” His smile fills his eyes.
    “I’m kind of bored with all the sainthood talk, so let’s eat.” I can’t help but smile at him. “Did you bring something? Do you want to go out to the courtyard?”
    He points to the window down the hall. I can see drops splattering against the glass.
    “Rain? But it’s not supposed to rain today,” I say, as disappointment fills my voice. I love my time in the courtyard and the rain has just stolen it away from me.
    “Well, apparently mother nature had different plans today. What’s plan B?”
    “Plan B?” I pause for a moment. “I guess plan B would be going home for lunch. I didn’t bring any money with me today.” I’m still focused on the window and the rain falling more heavily now.
    “If you don’t mind driving, I’d be happy to buy your lunch, Miss Smith.”
    The rain demands my focus. “No … thank you, but I’d rather just go home.” My voice is distant.
    “Okay … I guess I’ll see you in study hall then?”
    I hear the dejection in his voice, even though he’s doing a good job trying to hide it. I shake my head to pull myself out of my momentary misery. “I’m so sorry, that was rude of me. You’re welcome to come with me. I’m not offering up anything gourmet, but I won’t force mayonnaise on you either.” I smirk, remembering his disgust at my tuna salad sandwich on the first day of school.
    He laughs loudly. “Well, if I have your word on the mayonnaise, then I would love to join you.”
    He puts his books in his locker quickly and grabs his jacket, which he promptly wraps around my shoulders. “Let’s go.”
    It’s now officially pouring. The rain’s coming down in sheets and of course I’m the brilliant one who’s parked Jezebel clear across the parking lot. He pulls the jacket up over my head. “You ready to run for it? I’d race you, but you’d probably win,” he says knowingly.
    I nod. “You’re right, I probably would. Ready, set …” and I’m out the door running before I have a chance to say “go.”
    By the time I reach my car, I’m soaked except for my head and back thanks to Dimitri’s jacket. I unlock the doors with the remote as I approach and jump right in. A few seconds later he’s sitting in the seat next to me, laughing as we appraise each other’s appearance. He looks like he’s just stepped out of the