Buried secrets, two girls with the same face, and a boy who loved too much.
***
When Travis and Nicole meet on a bus for the first time, he thinks she's his ex, Rachel, who broke his heart two years ago. But he doesn't understand why she's pretendin...
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RAINE STOPPED BY my locker the next day as I prepared for my next class. She looked formidable, with her short blond hair straightened to perfection, her uniform fitting her perfectly, and her lips colored in deep red. I automatically straightened.
"Need some help?" I asked warily. Raine and I do not interact whatsoever outside of dance class, where she bossed everyone around. Her sudden presence had my nerves skittering uncomfortably.
She slipped her hands into the pockets of her blazer. "Yeah, I have a question for you."
"Shoot."
"How do you know Travis?"
I was taken aback, and my question slipped out suddenly. "Why?"
She shrugged, attempting nonchalance. "We're neighbors, and I just got curious, that's all."
"Okay."
She bit her bottom lip and shifted from one foot to the other. "Are you guys, like, dating?"
I shut my locker and focused on her, doing my best to not let my nervousness show. "Why are you so curious?"
"I'm just wondering, that's all." Her flustered look had me wanting to bark out a stream of laughter despite myself. Raine Perkins looked flustered?
"Well, I have a class to attend." I gripped my books tighter against my chest. "See you around."
"You didn't answer me."
"I don't have to."
Her hand shot out, and she grabbed my shoulder, stopping me from walking away. My heart picked up its rhythm.
I looked at the hand on my shoulder, then at her face. "Let. Me. Go."
Raine shuffled till she appeared in my line of sight, not affected by my snarl and not letting me go. "If I were you," she said, eyeing me in a way that made my stomach crawl, "I'd focus on being a better dancer instead of cozying up with Travis."
With a sharp shrug, I jerked her hand off my shoulder. "How's any of this your business anyway?"
"Are you guys dating?"
"I don't owe you any explanation, Raine." My voice hardened. "Goodbye." I stalked away.
The uncomfortable feeling lingered over me till school ended. I wanted to tell my friends about the confrontation, but I couldn't bring myself to.
What was Raine's problem? What did she want?
***
After a physics session with Jahdiel, I changed into a shirt and shorts. Travis's clothes hang neatly in my closet, but I couldn't bring myself to return them. At least, not now.
