Rebellion Project by Sara Schoen Read Free Book Online Page B

tears finally stopped I knew it was time to move forward.
    High schoolers were just too cruel when it came to other’s pain. If I hadn’t had Parker it would have been so much worse.
    She took care of me, comforted me, and talked to me until I calmed down. When I finally did she got me water and gave me a few minutes to myself as she went to set up the table to study like we usually did after school. I knew she didn’t want to study, and she knew I wasn’t in the mood to study. I wanted to sit with popcorn and ice cream and watch a Lifetime movie, or even a sappy romantic comedy. I just didn’t want to think about school. I didn’t want to flash back to the fight with Kayden, and remember the heated remarks and the embarrassment as he told everyone within earshot my family’s secret—though I didn’t bother complaining to Parker about it. I think she was just trying to make it as normal as possible, but that was over once Kayden opened his big mouth.
    We did homework together until it was her usual time to head home. I would have driven her, but she insisted I didn’t have to today. I felt bad that she had left her car at school to take me home, but she was adamant about walking. I guess she didn’t want me to get into an accident if I was still an emotional wreck. I had then spent the rest of the night and a majority of the next day in bed. Mom thought I needed a break from the kids at school, and I couldn’t thank her any more than I already had.
    I spent the day reading, relaxing, and I even started typing a story on my computer in the utter boredom of being home. It was better than being at school and under the scrutiny of my peers. It was nice being away from their nasty comments. When I thought about having to walk through the halls listening to their remarks I was thankful my mom had been so understanding.
    During my day off my phone had rang a few times, but I didn’t answer it. While my mom said she would be there for me if I needed her today, I knew it wasn’t my mother calling to check on me. Somehow Kayden had gotten my number, and had been trying to call me all day. He even tried to talk to me every day since as if talking to him in person would be more likely than over the phone. The first time he called he left a message saying that he’d gotten my number off of Parker’s phone in science class. I remember cursing Parker for letting him get my phone number before he said Parker didn’t know he got the number from her. He must have been looking every time she typed in the passcode to her phone so he could figure it out. To anyone on the outside, it might look like he cared about me, but honestly he couldn’t care less. He just didn’t want everyone in school to think he was a jerk for airing my family’s dirty laundry. He didn’t need to worry about that though, everyone in school thought he was fantastic. They would never turn on him, they would only turn on me for something I didn’t do.
    Every chance he got, he tried to explain that he thought everyone already knew. I never answered his phone calls, or responded to him when he found me in school, but I had turned to him once and told him he still shouldn’t have said it out loud. He agreed quickly and said that it wasn’t his business and he shouldn’t have gotten involved. I told him he was right, giving him a minute of hope that I had forgiven him, but then I added it wasn’t his business and he should have stayed out of it.
    I’d walked away without another word.
    Since then he’d given up contacting me, but I knew he’d eventually try again. Guys like Kayden couldn’t have a blemish on their reputation. He would try to make it up to me, but it would be impossible. There was nothing he had that I needed. I would never forgive him, and if I never saw him again I would be happy. I just wish I knew why he had chosen me to pick on. He could have chosen anyone else to make their life a living hell. What made me so special?
    I shook