Alyssa took a seat at the very back. Mia had gone to sit with her own partner, and Parker wasn't there yet. Jason entered. He looked just like the Jason everyone knew; like the person she'd met on her first day of school – crabby, arrogant, violent jerk.
But she couldn't care less. She only needed him the same reason he needed her – for their stupid, yet important history grades.
He walked up to his seat her and slumped down.
Just seconds after she'd been contemplating how she didn't need him or even liked him at all, he said huskily, "You know, perhaps we should give a shot at being friends."
Alyssa's face remained impassive, but her heart started beating louder than ever. Why in the fudging dinosaur's realm would he suddenly want to be friends with her?
***
Alyssa hadn't replied to Jason's proposal, and by lunch break, she was seriously regretting it. She was nibbling onto her brownies, pouting from time to time. She must talk to Jason and give him her answer – Yes. She did want to be his friend. It was just that the sudden offer had shocked her into dumbness.
The cafeteria around Alyssa wasn't much crowded yet. Alyssa sat at her table, alone. She was soon brought out of her stupor, though, by Karson.
"Hey," he dropped into the seat next to hers. She stared at him blankly.
"What? No reply?" he asked, smiling nervously.
Alyssa couldn't stop staring. His smile was so familiar, just like his shocking blue eyes. Damn. Alyssa shook her head, her brain muddled. Could it be that Brodey was correct and she had developed a crush on him? Sure, the connection was nowhere near ordinary, but romantic feeling...? Alyssa couldn't help doubting it.
But her feelings didn't matter here! Karson had figured out about her past, if his words were any indication. How could someone like such a broken girl as herself? No, it was improbable that he would ever return her feelings... if, indeed, she had the so called 'feelings' for him.
Karson bit his lips, playing with the apple in his hands. He threw it up in the air once and caught it. As if he was trying to delay his reply. Or perhaps, he was contemplating what to tell her – a truth, or a lie?
"You know," he eventually said. "I don't think this is the right time for this."
"Why?" Alyssa whispered, her voice croaked.
"Because you aren't ready for the truth yet."
"You don't know that," she said, her tone bitter.
But his was even more bitter as he said, "Trust me, I do."
And for some reason, Alyssa knew he wasn't lying.