Good Girls Can Be Fun

5. Like Raindrops on a Windowpane

CHAPTER 5- LIKE RAINDROPS ON A WINDOWPANE

The halls of Roosevelt Heights were vacant. My footfalls echoed loudly as my feet pounded against the tiled floors. I didn’t know where I was going, but I knew I couldn’t stop. The tears wouldn’t stop sliding down my cheeks. I needed to hide. No one could see me. I rounded a corner in hopes of escaping to the girl’s bathroom, a place that had become a sanctuary for times like this. Before I could stop myself, I smacked into an opening door causing me to collide with the floor landing on my back.

“Look who needs to watch where they’re going now,” A patronizing voice jeered. I sat up and glared at the owner of the voice. The boy towered over me and glared down at me, making me feel smaller than I already did.

Tears were still rolling down my face like raindrops on a windowpane. I could only imagine what I looked like now. My eyes were most likely red and puffy, my hair was all over the place because my ponytail had come undone from all of my running. I sighed defeated, not caring if he saw me cry. His expression softened and he blew out a breath.

“Look, sometimes I say dumb things. Like what Blake said earlier it was stupid and it isn’t true. So don’t take it to heart. He didn’t mean it,” Austin said, trying to sound reassuring. If anything it made me even more upset because I knew he was lying. I hated lies.

I started laughing disdainfully, “I think it was pretty obvious that he did mean every last word he said and more.”

“So what if he did mean it? He’s nothing. It’s not worth crying over. So cheer up.” he said, smiling softly, crouching down beside me. Why was he doing this, being nice, smiling at me? Was he playing a joke? I had heard so many stories of how Austin’s heart was black and his stare was as cold as ice. But all I saw was warmth in his intense stare. Was this how he captured so many girls’ hearts, pick them up when they’re down and then drop them when he’s had enough?

“What do you want from me?” I asked, looking at him apprehensively, wiping away my tears. The downpour finally came to a stop.

“What are you talking about?” he asked, wearing a mask of confusion.

“I may not be in your circle, but I still hear things. I know you have a reputation of being a player and I just want to let you know that whatever it is you’re trying to pull won’t work and I will not let you take advantage of me.”

His facial expression was still one of confusion, “Hold on. You think that I’m trying to get into your pants?” he snorted and started laughing, “No offense, but you’re not my type, Pumpkin.”

I felt embarrassment flood through me. Of course he didn’t want that from me. Why would I even mention it? “Then I guess that only leaves one other option to why you’re still here being nice to me. I don’t need pity or want it.” I growled standing to my feet, tired of feeling small.

He stood from his crouched position, his smile slowly falling from his face, “I didn’t mean it like that,” he tried to explain, blocking my path. I didn’t care what he meant. I didn’t care. I just wanted to be alone. I brushed pass Austin. I only took a few steps before he grabbed my shoulder and spun me around to face him.

I glared at the hand that was still rested on my shoulder, but he left it there, “I don’t pity you and I wasn’t feeding you lies to try and make you feel better to make myself feel better. I was being honest. I know Blake and I know that every word he said in that cafeteria is a word that he regrets. He’s just going through a tough time right now. I’m not trying to make excuses for what he did. He was wrong and so was I. You didn’t leave a dent in my car and you’re not a waste of space. You’re actually quite amusing,” Austin said holding out my glasses,” You dropped these.”