Breaking Walls (Lauren Cimorelli)

Chapter 21

Coley's POV

A sharp pain shot through my ankle as I walked up the steps to the front door of my school, with Lauren holding onto me as if I was going to fall. I tried playing off the pain by giving her a small smile, but she could see right through me.

"You should've used your crutches," She said, squeezing my hand. "Maybe I should go back to the car and get them."

"I'm fine, Laur," I chuckled, "It's just a little bit of pain. It'll go away."

She sighed and ran a hand through her hair. "Are you sure?" She asked as we walked to my locker.

"I'm sure," I reassured her, "Now stop worrying. I'll be okay." I heard her laugh as I started to take a book out of my locker.

"You're really stubborn, you know that?" She asked, leaning against the locker next to mine.

"Who, me? Stubborn? You're kidding, right?" I joked.

She rolled her eyes as she took my books out of my hands. "I can carry these."

"You do know I'm perfectly capable of carrying a few books, right?" I asked, closing my locker and starting to walk to my class.

"Yeah, but I still want to. And I wanna make sure you get to class safely."

"Lauren, I'm not dying. You do know that, right?"

She playfully hit my arm. "Yes, I know that, but it doesn't mean I don't care about you."

I smiled. "I'll see you after class, okay? It's literally right down the hall, I'll be fine," I told her, taking my books from her.

"Okay," She sighed, "But if I see Amber-"

"I doubt she'll be coming near either of us anytime soon," I reassured her, "Now go, before you're late to class." She took a step forward.

"I don't care if I'm late," She whispered, closing the gap between us. I smiled before pulling away, playfully pushing her in the direction of her class.

"I love you, but go."

She laughed. "Okay, I'm going. I love you too."

I knew I must've been smiling like an idiot until I got to class, which would explain the weird looks I got. That, and the fact that I was seen with Lauren again, which people still weren't over. My smile quickly vanished after I took my seat and saw Amber walk into the room. She looked surprised when she saw me, but still hurriedly walked to her seat and sat down. She kept looking over at me throughout class, but each time I lookedover at her, she looked away. I couldn't tell how she felt, whether she wasangry or upset, but either way, I wasn't going to talk to her.

Apparently she wasn't going to talk to talk to me either, because as soon as the bell rang, she ran out of the classroom.

------------------------------------

"The doctor said you shouldn't be walking! Why don't you have your crutches?" Katie yelled while Lauren nodded in agreement, picking at her food. "You're so stubborn."

"You're the second person to tell me that today, thanks," I said, rolling my eyes. "It isn't that big of a deal. I can walk, I'm not in that much pain."

"But you're still in some pain," Lauren added. I glared at her until she raised her hands up in surrender and put her attention back on her food.

"Anyway," Katie spoke, "How's everything else? Coley said you talked to you sister," She mentioned, talking to Lauren.