Different

Chapter Five

   'Wasn't that bad' my ass. I distinctly remembered purplish-blue bruises lining his jaw. Ry's face was devoid of emotion as I continued to narrow my eyes at him.

   Things weren't adding up and he knew that I knew. I just wasn't sure what I was going to do about it.

   Was it crazy to believe that he'd crushed a metal pipe with his hand? Yes. Was it crazy to think his face had healed itself quicker than humanly possible? Absolutely. Was it crazy to be sitting here with him instead of running the other way? Probably.

   But here I was.

   I leaned back, studying him. Push it or let it go?

   I folded my arms. I was going to push it. "I'm calling bullshit. It was that bad, Ry. I remember."

   His eyes were cold and my stomach sank. I liked the smiling, laughing, Ry better. "You were seeing things, Brooke. I'm telling you, it wasn't bad." He glanced away from me, towards the door, and I frowned.

"Right. You're right. I'm 'seeing' things." I rolled my eyes. "How about that fence post, huh? Am I 'seeing' that, too?"

His gaze found mine and his eyes softened a bit. Almost like he hated having to lie to me. "It was there before. How could I have even done something like that?"

And that's where he had me. It was a good point. How could he have done something like that?

I waved my hand in the air, struggling to come up with something reasonable. "Well, you know, when people are stressed they-they can become really strong and stuff. That mom lifted a car off her son! In the news!"

He shot me a leveled look. "You're grasping at straws, Brooke."

I huffed. He was right. It was ridiculous to even think something like that. Maybe the dent was there before. There was no way I would've known about it before that day. And maybe his jaw wasn't as bad as it looked. I almost demanded to see his ribs but thought better of it.

Defeated, I sighed. "Whatever. It doesn't matter anyways."

He opened his mouth, probably to ask why it didn't matter, but then closed it. "Back to the important stuff, what are-"

He stopped suddenly, blue eyes focused on something over my shoulder. I turned, seeing only a girl who'd just walked in and a dog sleeping by the door.

Turning back to him I raised my eyebrows. "Ry?"

His gaze reluctantly went back to mine and his eyes darken several shades. "I have to go."

"You- but- what?" I frowned as he suddenly stood. "Where are you going?"

He pushed his chair in and brushed past me. "I'll see you in school."

"But-," he was already at the door, stopping. My stomach twisted as I watch him place a hand on a girl's arm. It was the girl who had just walked in that caught his attention. I snapped my jaw shut as I watched them exchange heated words.

Ry looked furious while the girl merely laughed. Her eyes found mine briefly before they left. Together.

Ouch.

I sighed and glanced down at my ice cream. Five minutes ago, I would've eaten both my ice cream and Ry's, but my appetite was gone.

Who was she? An old friend? A family member? A girlfriend? My expression soured.

Whoever she was, she was special enough to make Ry forget all about what I had thought was an important conversation.

I cleaned up the discarded ice cream and laid down money for the food. I met the eyes of the short girl who'd walked in on us in the bathroom. She smirked. Obviously, she had seen the whole thing. I left with my head held high even though my spirits were down low.