Just Roll With It: a Just Us novel by Niki Hager Read Free Book Online Page B

now. He was laughing not an hour ago.
    "Rigbee, can I talk to you for a moment?" Weiss calls out.
    Shit . Twice in the same five minutes, really? I tighten up, turn around, and walk back to his desk. I should have left when I had the chance instead of standing there staring at the elevator door.
    "Yes, sir?"
    "Oh, you can cut the sir crap. You're an adult, and we're not in high school."
    "Okay …" I say, nervously.
    "I wanted to check in with you and see how you're doing. Have you found your partner and subject matter yet?"
    "No, not yet," I answer. "But I have until Thursday right?" I ask in a panic. I swear I heard him correctly.
    "Yes, yes of course. I …" He inhales and sighs. "Well, I'll come right out and say it. I want to let you know that I understand some of the reservations you're having in class, but you are going to have to start participating or I won’t be able to justify granting you the participation points each week." He shifts uncomfortably. "If you ever want to talk about anything, you know the office hours and my door is open," he reminds me. Then he sets his elbows on the table, intertwines his fingers, and sits his chin on his now folded hands.
    I accidentally bark out a single laugh. I can't help it, it's so cliché. What complete bullshit. Very justified bullshit, but bullshit nonetheless. He has no clue as to what I go through to get through the day.
    "You're laughing?" he says to me with a smile. "You know I don't open up about my own personal life to many people, so know, I see something special in you, let’s call it a kindred spirit or something of the sort." He unfolds his hands and gestures at me.
    I stop laughing and start to listen to his exclusive piece of information.
    "I don't like attention, you know, outside of the classroom I'm a quiet guy, but it might be beneficial for you if I tell you a little bit about myself. I have depression, and an anxiety disorder. I'm not sure if you can relate, but I sense you can," he says, cutting right to the chase. "I heard someone once recite a quote and it really resonated, so I'm going to tell you, ‘The worst mistake you can make is to be constantly scared of making one’.”
    Well, damn, his advice makes sense. 

Turn The Tide, Ask For A Ride
The Days Of The Phoenix- AFI

Rigbee
    Wednesday after school I walk in to find the apartment empty—Enzo is out again. I do miss him, since he's been going out a lot. But sometimes I need alone time so I don't bring him down with me. I've started to focus my energy building a better me on my own. I've appreciated all of his help, but I can't be the broken friend who he feels he has to help fix anymore. He knows too much of my past, and I don't think I will ever make progress on myself if he doesn't let me do it myself. I want to be normal.
    At school when I'm around people who don't know me, I feel like any other girl, which is nice. It's also hard, though, because I don't want to tell anybody about it. So, if and when it happens, no one else except Enz will understand, hence why I can't ever have a healthy, functional relationship. I am stuck overthinking for the remainder of the night.

    "Let's skip out at break today and go get coffee," Martin says to me as soon as I sit down in class.
    "What, why? I don't know if skipping's such a good idea," I reply hesitantly.
    "Sure it is, we are not really doing anything we can't read about in the text later," he assures me. "Plus, it's the perfect way to get you and your hair boy talking."
    "Wh-What?" I stutter. "What do you mean?"
    "You know, casually ask a couple of us if we wanna ditch for coffee, he won't say no then," he states, matter-of-fact.
    "Um … okay, sounds like a decently contrived, albeit, manipulative idea."
    Martin points a finger at me and says, "There is one condition."
    "Lay it on me," I counter.
    "You have to ask him yourself." His mouth curves into a satisfied smile.
    Son-of-a-bitch.
    "Wow, you look pale. Are you okay?" he asks me.
    "Yes,