Whispers of Shadowed Hearts

Chapter 8

Summer Brooks

"God, I hate training sessions and Lydia. I didn't even want to be here!" The only response Alice gave to my grumbling was a distracted smile. She seemed completely out of it, and she hadn't said a word all morning. "Are you okay?"

This time, she turned to me as if snapping out of a daze. "Huh?"

"Alice, if something's wrong, you can tell me." She smiled and shook her head, but it wasn't convincing. All day, she'd been walking around beside me like a ghost with a pale face.

Still, I didn't push her any further.

"What were you saying? Oh, Lydia. You're right, I've had to put up with her since middle school, even before high school started. I hoped she'd change, but she only got worse." I raised my eyebrows in surprise. Seriously, did everyone at this school know each other since middle school? I couldn't believe there was only one school in this cursed town.

"Did you all come from the same middle school?"

She nodded. "Mostly, yes, because Ravenwood Academy is only for well-off families, so with only two middle schools in town, everyone knew each other beforehand."

Maybe that's why I was having such a hard time fitting into this town.

After saying goodbye to Alice, I left the locker room to head to my SUV. The school's parking lot had already emptied out, with just a few cars left. I frowned when I saw the car parked next to mine.

The person I hated seeing most at school was leaning against his red sports car, casually taking a drag from his cigarette, watching me with a relaxed expression. I could swear he parked next to my car on purpose.

I held my breath as the smoke drifted toward me. I always hated smoke. "Rothschild."

"Linwood."

"I was having such a good time not seeing you for a few days. Too bad, now it's ruined." His eyes narrowed slyly, and a wicked grin spread across his lips. This wasn't a good sign.

"I'm so lucky this time that you don't have anything to spill on me." I rolled my eyes.

"What are you doing here?" School had been over for hours. I was sure there wasn't football practice today either. On sunny days, we shared the open field, and the football team was nowhere in sight.

"I'm here to pick up my girlfriend, Linwood. I wasn't aware that was against the rules." He took another deep drag from his cigarette, and God, there was nothing I hated more than that smell. I felt like I was suffocating. He seemed pleased when I waved away the smoke with my hand.

I had stupidly given this jerk a way to mess with me!

"If it were anyone else, I'd doubt a girl could put up with you, but I've met your girlfriend. You two are a perfect match." His grin widened, but it wasn't a happy or pleased grin. In fact, my words seemed to irritate him.

"What do you know, Linwood?" He blew smoke in my face on purpose this time. "You'll never find a guy who'll love you."

I was about to snap back, but I stopped myself. Maybe he was right, but I wasn't about to give him the satisfaction of knowing that.

Before I could respond, an elbow shoved me aside. As I steadied myself against the SUV, I saw Lydia throwing herself into Riven's arms. He didn't even try to move the cigarette away from her hair. Then again, Lydia didn't seem to care. She just wanted to show off in front of me.

Riven didn't return her embrace.

"Was there something you needed, Summer?" Lydia asked, turning to me with that sickly sweet smile I hated most. I felt like I was going to throw up. The two of them really were perfect for each other. They were both disgusting people. A better match couldn't exist.