Finding Me Read Free Page A

scattered to the floor. Surprised and embarrassed, I bent to help him collect his things.
    Lost in thoughts of what had happened earlier, I hadn’t really noticed the new guy. I snuck a peek at him just as he lowered his head. Our eyes met. Locked. My breath caught. My heart split in two. He was beyond gorgeous. Pull yourself together, Carmichael.
    But it didn’t matter, he was probably like everyone else here. No one had their own mind, no one tried to be an individual…it was always “follow the status quo”. I knew. I was the biggest follower of them all.
    Sorry you got stuck here in high-class hell. This place will eat you alive.
    He glanced up with a dejected expression, his mouth drawn into a straight line, as if I’d said something. I turned my head to glance behind me, thinking his reaction was to something back there. But there was nothing odd, nothing out of place. I didn’t recognize him. Why would he look at me like that? Since I hadn’t uttered a single syllable, “bizarre” seemed the appropriate word. It couldn’t be because I bumped into him. Could it?
    I stole another glance at him while we picked up the remaining books and papers. He wore a black v-neck tee and Astor distressed jeans with black Converse. He was tall, at least 6 feet, with golden blond hair and a chiseled face I was certain should be on the cover of someone’s magazine. The word “hot” didn’t do him justice.
    I knew it was wrong to judge a book by its cover, but he was probably like everyone else. He’d fit in well. Spoiled. Rich. Eye candy. Breathtaking…eye candy.
    I reached over to pluck the remaining book from the floor and he reached for it as well. Our hands collided and an electric current passed through me. Butterflies swarmed my abdomen and a rush of thoughts attacked me. What does that zap mean? Does he have a girlfriend? Does he want one? How is my hair? What the hell’s wrong with me? I snatched my hand away. Shocked. Like when I was zapped and saw Zack dead on the football field. I am not going through that again.
    “Sorry,” I mumbled. And turned to take my place back in line.
    If nothing more, I was a coward to the highest degree.
     

Chapter 4
    I made every attempt not to turn and leer at the “new guy” as he walked away. It was useless. Curiosity was too strong an impulse. I pivoted and pretended to watch something else as I spotted him behind me. However, when I turned, his intense gaze was fixed on me. He held that same curious expression. I couldn’t place it. As if he were pleading, without words, which wasn’t unusual. Didn’t people often beg with their eyes, without ever uttering a word?
    Except…his eyes were staggering. They held a message. Somehow, that frightened me. My mouth went dry at once and my stomach flipped. I didn’t want to know what that message was.
    I diverted my eyes, embarrassed about ogling, and spun to face the front of the line. Those eyes. His eyes. They sent a chill up my spine and my stomach fluttered. My heart quickened. What was wrong with me? Stop that! I ordered myself. Are you crazy, Carmichael? Crazy was possible. After all that had happened so far today, crazy was definitely possible.
    Trevor didn’t glance my way in line again with more complaints. I was thankful. I fiddled with the buttons on my Prada handbag while I waited. My mind cascaded from one random thought to another, trying hard to block what happened earlier and not talk to anyone else.
    Therefore, when my name was called, I didn’t say anything. I didn’t acknowledge in any way that someone had spoken to me.
    I blinked absently at the announcements posted on the bulletin board. Anything I could do to remain invisible and not have to talk with anyone.
    She, this unknown person, continued to call my name, however. Oh my God! Get a freakin’ clue. I’m ignoring you.
    I assumed once she got that I didn’t want to talk, she’d stop calling me. She didn’t. To make matters worse, at least