All My Heart (Count On Me Book 4) Read Free Page A

floor that it’s blocking me from getting a full view of his face, but there’s no mistaking the way he’s hunched over when he’s walking.
    The same way Eric used to walk the halls last year. The very same walk I had for my first three years there.
    It’s obvious that whoever this guy is, he’s been on the receiving end of the same t aunting, bullying and pain I have and even though I don’t know him, I immediately feel bad.
    Before he can even make it to a seat, the door swings open again and three g irls enter, two blondes and one with a mixture of red and brown hair. They’re followed by two really tall guys that remind me of Kayden and Dillon. All of them laughing and pointing at the guy as he moves down the stairs.
    It’s the words they say next that get to me most. The ones that slam the point home that college really is no better than high school. The only difference is that the bullies are a little older and the one’s being bullied are a little more broken down.
    Haunted.
    “I didn’t realize retards were eligible to go here.” The one meathead says which just makes my blood boil. That word really bugs me, but before I can react to it in some way, not wanting to sit and take it even if it’s not directed at me, I hear the girls giggle and more information falls into my lap about the boy slumping his way to the front of the room.
    “Isaac is just screwing with everyone. I bet he’s not mute and he does it to get sympathy.”
    Isaac. Mute.
    Blocking out their laughter and hurtful words, I focus my attention back on the guy I now know is Isaac and watch as he finally settles on a seat right in the very first row. Seeing the empty seats and taking the chance, I slide myself out of the seat and I make my way out of the aisle, but not before I hear the jerks speak again.
    “What do we have here?”
    “That one is way out of your league, bro.”
    “Sounds like a challenge, Bry.”
    The other guy laughs and where my blood was boiling a few minutes ago with the name calling, its frozen now. Taking the steps as quickly as I can until I’m directly at the end of the aisle that Isaac is sitting in, I slow myself down until I’m standing to his right. Placing my backpack down onto the floor, I slide into the seat and when he turns and acknowledges me, I smile weakly.
    His head dips down, his eyes locked hard on the floor in front of him and that’s when I decide to take another chance.
    Sliding my notebook out of my bag, I lay it across my leg and scribble out a quick note before ripping the paper out, closing it and handing it over.
    Once he’s run his eyes down the page, I see him reach down into his own bag and when he pulls a pen out, I’m happier than I’ve been since I got here this morning.
    Hello Isabelle.
    It’s only two words but considering how hard it used to be for me to write two simple words like that, they mean everything to me. I’m not sure why it matters since I don’t know him and I’m struggling with my own set of issues being here, but knowing that me reaching out, writing him and saying hello got through, I feel accomplished.
    Like I’ve done something great.
    For the first time today, I’m in a class that I’m going to love and sitting beside someone that might just get what it’s like to be me. I’ve hit the jackpot.
    Maybe I can get through this after all.

Chapter Two
     
    Kayden
     
    After a week full of grueling practices and the torture that was our first pre-season game, I’m more than ready to get behind the wheel of my car and on the open road that will take me back home.
    Hearing back from both Eric and Cadence that Belle seemed off, but more or less okay, it settled me enough to be able to do what I needed to here, but it didn’t lessen the need to see her.
    The more time that passed, I missed her more; even with our conversations every night. I called her again that first night, but sensing she wasn’t up for talking, reverted back to the way things were