YOU CAN'T BREAK ME

Chapter 2

When the bell rang, I gathered my things quickly, ignoring the lingering glances from Cresilda and Abe, and made my way out of the building.

The cool afternoon air hit my face as I stepped outside. I felt better to inhale the cool air. I kept my head down, clutching my bag tightly on my side. I was eager to get away. I wanted my bed, curled up all night, and just woke up the next day. I wanted to be home, where I could be alone with my thoughts.

As I reached the edge of the campus, I saw him—Grayson, standing by the gate, casually leaning against the brick wall as if he had all the time in the world. What was he doing there?

My heart made a wild dance, but this time, it wasn't just from the usual rush of excitement. It was panic, pure and simple. The last thing I wanted was for him to see me like this, vulnerable and on the verge of breaking down.

I quickly turned my gaze to the ground, hoping to slip past him unnoticed. But, of course, fate had other plans.

"Amery," Grayson's voice called out.

I froze for a moment, my heart doing a crazy dance in my chest. I should keep walking and he'd think I hadn't heard him.

But I could feel his eyes on me. I took a deep breath and forced myself to glance up, giving him a small, strained smile. "Hi," I mumbled as I tried to keep walking, my pace quickening slightly.

He stepped away from the wall, and I almost wanted to run. He started walking alongside me, matching my pace effortlessly.

"Heading home?" his deep and husky voice asked casually like it was the most normal thing in the world for him to be talking to me.

"Yeah," I replied stiffly. I didn't know how to handle this—how to handle him. He had always been a mystery to me, someone who seemed so out of reach, yet here he was, walking beside me like it was no big deal.

I could feel my heart racing, my thoughts a jumbled mess. I was afraid to look around and see those glares from women on campus. Why was he even talking to me? What did he want?

"I've noticed you've been a bit quiet today," he continued. I felt him glance at me but did not meet his eyes. Those piercing green eyes of his...seemed to see right through me. "Everything okay?"

The last thing I wanted was his pity. "I'm fine," I lied, hoping he couldn't hear the shakiness in my voice. "Just a long day, that's all." I shrugged, trying to appear indifferent.

He didn't seem convinced, but he didn't push it either. Instead, he walked beside me, making me blush. I hoped my cheeks would not betray me.

I took another silent and heavy sigh. I didn't know what to say, didn't know how to act around him. Why was he walking with me?

But he, for some reason, didn't seem to be in any hurry to leave. We reached the parking lot, and he stopped walking, turning to face me. "If you ever need to talk," he said, his voice softening slightly, "I'm here."

I met his gaze, and for a split second, the gentleness in his eyes made my heart ache. "Thank you," I managed to say. I forced a small smile, then turned and walked away before he could say anything else or worse ask me to take me home in his car.

As I hurried off campus, I could feel his eyes on me, making me weak in the knees. There was no reason for him to talk to me. I believed he already knew the place around the campus after two months.

I remembered the day he asked me for help finding his way to his room. It had caught me completely off guard. He was new, but even then, he carried himself with confidence that made it seem like he had everything under control. I remembered how I had been sitting alone, as usual, absorbed in a book during lunch when he walked up to me.