The Trail Rules by Melanie Hooyenga

Author:Melanie Hooyenga
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romance, friendship, selfesteem, high school, cycling, biking
Publisher: Melanie Hooyenga

Chapter 17

The next morning, I text Cally. How am I supposed to face him?

Say hi but nothing else.

The three little dots bounce as she writes more. I finish putting on my makeup while I wait.

This is worse for him.

My stomach turns. Of course it is. I’ve spent the last twelve hours dreading school, but Evan’s the one who got dumped, not me. I feel like such a bitch.

It sucks, but you did the right thing. But maybe…

What?

Don’t look too hot today. :P

I pause with my mascara wand halfway to my face. I’ve already done one eye so I have to finish, but maybe I should swap out the skinny strap tank for a t-shirt. Good call.

Gotta run. See you soon. xoxo

xoxo

I finish getting ready, but when I reach for my favorite t-shirt, I pause. The bright blue material reads “Chicks Dig Dirt” and I’ve loved it ever since Evan gave it to me. I toss it back in the drawer and opt for a plain green V-neck. I’ve probably worn it to his house a dozen times, but if I rule out everything he’s seen me in, I’ll have to go naked.

I slink through the front doors of school expecting stares and whispers, but it’s just like any other day. Kids laugh and wave and shove books in their lockers, and no one gives me a second glance. Cally’s waiting for me at my locker, a latte in each hand.

The knot in my stomach loosens—just a little. “Thanks.” I open my locker and take a coffee.

“Thought you could use it.”

I nod, taking a sip. “Have you seen him?”

She shakes her head. “I told Blake, but made him swear not to tell anyone.”

“Thanks. I don’t know what the protocol is, but I don’t want rumors slapping him in the face the minute he gets here.”

We chat until the bell rings, then she wishes me luck and I head to homeroom.

Nothing out of the ordinary happens in my first couple classes, but by the time the bell rings dismissing second period, my stomach’s so twisted I can barely stand upright. I hurry to class to get there before Evan, then open my book and pretend to be reading. It’s stupid—he’ll know I’m avoiding looking at him the minute he walks in, but I stare at the same paragraph until he sits next to me.

“Hey,” I say softly.

“Hey.” His voice is hoarse and I stupidly look up, right into his eyes. My heart thuds, but not from any kind of romantic reaction. This is pure guilt. For a second I consider taking it all back, telling him I still love him, but while that might ease his misery, it’d put me right back where I was. Then he looks away and stares at the front of the room for the rest of class.

In the final seconds of class, Evan slides his notebook into his bag and rises as the bell rings, his bag slung over his shoulder. He doesn’t look back.

I follow my classmates into the hall and go through the motions the rest of the day.

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