Walking a thin line

Chapter 1

I knew when I saw him in the front of Pikedale High School with a cigarette in his lips, leaning against the building in all his bad boy glory, I should have turned around. I could pretend to be sick! I really think i'm getting a stomach virus or something. I was feeling quite queasy, in fact. But before I could turn around his eyes looked up and aimed directly towards me. So, there I was, spotted, like a deer in the headlights. His eyes narrowed to me as he flicked his cigarette towards the bush by the school steps and straightened up. Well... no playing sick now.

I smoothed my cotton flower pink dress and pushed my glasses onto my face, walking towards the school building, not looking towards him. It was only two months into my senior year, and I didn't need Colton Richardson messing it up for me with his ignorant and belittling comments.

As I got close to the door and him, I prayed that he would let me pass without trouble. Sadly, my prayers were not answered quickly enough,as Colton hopped in front of me with narrowed deep green eyes, looking into my light blue orbs. He rubbed a hand through his disheveled black hair, and gave a tilted grin at me.

"Annie Lewison. Long time, no see", Colton's husky voice spoke, as memories of him flashed before me, of when we used to be friends. But then I got the scent of nicotine on his breath and remembered why we stopped being just that.

"Colton", I said hastily trying to step around him, to only be stopped by his footsteps matching my own.

"Why the rush?" He asked.

I huffed and glared at him, hoping if I looked menacing enough, he would simply disappear. "I need to get to class", I responded moving once more, and took a step, but he hopped in front of me making my books in my hand fall.

I bit my lip, not wanting to say anything rude, although he deserved it, and bent down to pick up my items. I grabbed my Physics book and as I reached for my other book, Colton had beat me to the punch, grabbing it from the ground. I stood and tried to grab it from his hand, but he pulled it back, reading the cover.

He let out a light chuckle. "Still a Bible Thumper I see", I raised an eyebrow towards me. I reached for the book once more, snatching it out of his hand.

"Yes. Still a chainsmoker I see", I shot back. Good come back, I thought to myself.

I nodded his head and laughed once more. "Touche Annie. So. Where you heading this morning"? He asked letting me through, yet following my path. Eyes landed on us in the hallway, most likely shocked to see Colton back in the high school after getting back from Juvie. It has been over a year since everyone last saw him. The night of the Junior winter formal i'm pretty sure was his arrest night. People could of also been staring because he was chasing me down the hallway.

"To class. Why are you following me"? I complained, but remained heading to class.

"I'm not following you. My class is this way". I could just feel the smirk on his face from behind me. Still a smart-alec. I bit my tongue and soon enough reached my english class.

"Annie", he called as I walked into the classroom. I turned around to see him stop at the door.

"We need to catch up. It has been two years or so since we had a proper conversation". For once in a long time, his voice actually sounded genuine. Could I trust him. Did Juvie actually change him.

"Not a chance", I spit back, more meaner than I intended. There was no way he changed back to the friend I knew. Especially after how he ruined my Junior prom last year by being a complete Jerk, hyped up on drugs and stumbling into the building drunk and talking a whole bunch of nothing to me. He ended up throwing up on my dress, and got kicked out. I went home as my grandfather helped me clean up and laid with me that night as I cried out of frustration. That was the last time I truly saw Colton. Until today. But that wasn't where the distrust began between us.