Page 79 of Finding Kyler
A strangled laugh slips from my mouth. “I think it’s a little late for that, and I don’t care. Peyton doesn’t scare me. She can go fuck herself.”
A shocked silence spreads over our table at my words. I may have stated that a bit louder than intended, but so what.
Rose cracks up laughing, helping to break the tension. “You’re exactly what this school needs to break Peyton’s hold.”
“I don’t want to break Peyton’s hold. I want to have nothing to do with her. But I’m not going to bow down to that cow either.”
“You can’t say stuff like that,” a girl says at the end of the table. “Even if you are a Kennedy.” Her tone carries an awed, reverential quality.
“Why is everyone so obsessed with my cousins? With”—I make little air quotes—“the Kennedys. You’d swear they were actual royalty.” I shake my head in consternation.
Now all the girls stare at me as if I’ve just snorted fire out my nostrils. The girl beside Rose speaks up first. “They basically are around here. The Kennedys epitomize everything we aspire to be. They can make or break you. If you have their support, the world is your oyster.”
I almost choke on my salad. “That’s the craziest thing I’ve ever heard. They’re only human, same as you and me. And from what I’ve seen of Wellesley, even their affluence isn’t that unusual. I really don’t get it.”
Brad can’t contain the smile on his face. “I’m so glad I transferred to this school. Senior year just got a whole lot more interesting.”
I stick out my tongue, and he laughs.
“You’re frigging insane,” the girl continues. “And stupid not to take advantage of the position you find yourself in. Most girls in this town would kill to be in your shoes.”
Her words rub me up the wrong way. “What? Most girls would love to be orphaned, have to ID the mangled bodies of their parents, and move halfway around the world to live in fucking La-La land with you bunch of crazy ass-worshipers?” I stand up, clutching my tray against my chest. “Yeah, I’m sure they would.” I doubt I’ve made any friends with my impassioned speech, but I couldn’t care less.
“Nice one, Hayley.” Rose glares at her friend as I stride away from the table. Every head in the vicinity swings in my direction, and it’s obvious that plenty of people overheard our conversation. Hostile looks come at me from all quarters, but I ignore them as I dump my tray and head outside.
My heart is thudding against my ribcage and my palms are sweaty as I rest against a small stone wall off the main entrance. Brad chuckles as he drops down beside me. “Way to make a first impression.”
I spin my head around to face him. “Do you believe all that crap too? You’d swear my cousins were freaking immortal or shit gold out their asses the way everyone goes on.”
He roars laughing. “I know them better than most. And, no, I don’t have them on a pedestal.” His laughter fades away.
“What happened, Brad? Did you really hook up with Addison behind Ky’s back because I can’t see it.”
His shoulders sag, and his Adam’s apple lurches in his throat. “I’m guilty as charged, Faye. I betrayed my best friend, and I’ve lost everything, but I deserve it.”
“Everyone makes mistakes at some point in their lives. But it’s how they deal with the fallout that matters. And whether they’ve learned from the experience enough not to repeat the same mistakes.”
Brad looks at me with sad eyes. “I would never do that again, and I want to make it up to him, but he’s shut me out. And I don’t blame him for that. Like I said, I deserve it.”
Before I can question him further, the bell rings, and we have to head back to class.
The afternoon passes by in a similar fashion, and before I know it, the bell is hollering, signaling the end of the day.
I made it through my first day of American high school. I’d like to say unscathed, but my head is still throbbing so that’d be an outright lie.
Brad is waiting for me by my locker. “Do you need a ride home?”
“Max is picking me up, but thanks anyway.”
“I don’t mind picking you up every day if you need a lift.”
I shut my locker and start walking. Brad trails alongside me. “You don’t need to do that.”
“I know, but I don’t mind.”
I stop, pulling him aside. “Look, I know I kissed you, and I shouldn’t have done that, but I meant what I said before that. I’m not looking for anything, so if that’s why you’re offering…”
He goes rigidly stiff. “Seriously?” Hurt glimmers in his gaze. “You’re really starting to insult me now. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
