Secrets of Us A Forbidden Love Romance (Alina)

Chapter 2

Soften The Blow

When I walked into my father and brother's funeral, all eyes were on me.

They stared, and whispered, some with pity in their eyes, but most of them with judgement.

I remember that feeling. The twist of my stomach, the taste of bile in my throat and the pounding of my heart.

As I walk into that first classroom, with Aiden beside me and his arm still around my shoulder, I feel exactly like I did then.

Everyone takes their eyes from the board where Mr. Admas is teaching and they stare right at me like I have elephant ears on the sides of my head. I hear a loud whistle, as if someone is shocked at the sight of us at the door.

I swallow and turn to Mr. Admas, who raises an eyebrow.

He looks us up and down, "Aiden. You're late."

Aiden clicks his tongue and winks, "I have a pass from the office."

Mr. Admas takes the slip from his fingers, reading it quickly and places it on his desk. "Take your seat."

Aiden lowers his arm from my shoulder, letting his fingertips drag down my skin and he squeezes my waist. "I'll save a seat for you."

"Where's your pass?"

I feel my cheeks heat. "I-I don't have one."

He crosses his arms on his chest. "You're late."

"I know, but-" I swallow, ignoring the whispers that echo around the room. "I'm new?"

Mr. Admas narrows his eyes. "I know. That doesn't excuse your tardiness."

I wrap my arms around my waist, grimacing as some of the kids laugh from their

seats.

write you

and my stomach

delay our class anymore

dark gaze and stare at my feet as I walk down to the back of the class. I try to look for an empty seat, but before I can scan the whole classroom, a strong arm bands around

at me, smiling wide. "I told

he wraps his arm around my shoulder. It's enough to make everyone turn around and focus back

I exhale. "Thank you."

pulls back, lowering his hand to my thigh and squeezes it just like how he did with

"They can eat you alive here, but if you stick with me, I can soften

falling into myself as I hunker down and pay attention to Mr. Admas and

his fingers clench. I ignore the heat that travels from the pit of my stomach to the tips of my toes, not wanting him to move

to not notice the way his thumb rubs circles on my thigh. The

on his fingers give truth to his claim on athlete, on apparently being the basketball star

"Where you from?"

his

looking up to Mrs. Reece, who is chewing on gummy worms at her desk. We have Science after English, and, again, Aiden finds a way

Admas, she smiled at me and passed out sheets for us to work on in

"Florida."

"That's a long

I nod, slightly smiling.

"Why'd you leave?"

of blood as I take in

thumb over my scar and blink back to the

eyes study me, they narrow. He doesn't believe me, and he looks to the scar on my wrist. I hide it beneath the desk and I'm thankful

homework," Mrs. Reece stands from her desk, looking up at the clock hanging from the wall behind her. “I have a sign up sheet here for you all. Please sign you and your partner's name for the science fair at the end of

a breath.

be your

up," Aiden huffs as he

slams in my chest.