Secrets of Us A Forbidden Love Romance (Alina)

Chapter 4

It Was Too Late

Mother wasn't even home when went to bed last night.

I had stopped asking myself where she was, stopped asking her to explain herself. Now, I'm used to living my life as if I'm on my own. It's why I asked her to make sure my school is within walking distance.

I can't depend on her for anything.

I leave home early this morning, not wanting to run into her coming home from a drunken night. Yesterday wasn't the best of first days of school, but I somehow convinced myself today would be better.

The walk is short and when I step inside the gated campus, my heart slams in my chest in excitement. I'm going to see Aiden again. I know it's silly to hyper fixate on someone so quickly, but he was nice to me.

Jace's comments yesterday did have me up last night wondering what he meant, but I wouldn't put it past him to try and make Aiden seem worse than he is.

I step into first period, and Aiden is sitting in our seats from yesterday, waving his hands to catch my attention.

"What's up, Florida?" He winks, shooting me a disarming smile and my insides turn into puddles.

"You do remember my name, right?"

He laughs. "Yes, Alina. How was detention yesterday?"

I don't get to tell him how it was, Mr. Admas begins his lesson quickly, avoiding me the entire time as he teaches. Not once does he look in our direction, even when we talk loud enough to interrupt the class.

Everything goes normally until lunch, where I find myself alone. I purse my lips, looking down at my tray of school pizza, applesauce and chocolate milk. I throw it away, taking an apple from a bowl and making my way to the tables they have outside.

I find an empty table, sitting at it as I rub my scar. The apple crunches loudly, and its juices runs down my chin. It's sweet, right at the perfect ripeness.

I hear a loud commotion and my attention is drawn to a large group of people that are crowded around a table. My eyes widen, my heart rate spiking when I spot Aiden sitting on the table with a girl on his lap.

She straddles him, her back to me. She has curves, her shirt riding up to show most of her back. Aiden is laughing, throwing his head back as she wraps her arms around his neck and laughs with him.

He... he has a girlfriend?

I take a bite from the apple, still watching.

and she kisses him. He doesn't stop her, his hands gripping the skin of her back and lowering down to cup

in

by someone like Aiden. Muscular, big hands, handsome. He looks like he knows what he's

in my spot when I catch him looking right at me. Those amber

he moves her, practically grinding her

intense,

I blink out of his focus, looking around to make sure no one is watching me. I toss the apple

He's still watching me.

Still kissing her.

building, searching for refuge in the library. My stomach twists, but I ignore

is mostly empty, so it doesn't take long for me to find a table. I take out my notebook, opening it to fresh page so I can doodle

"Alina."

of that familiar voice. All I wanted today

of me, Jace taking the seat beside him and their other

us to run

more like bad luck," I whisper under my

He chuckles. "Ouch."

lift my eyes to his, forcing myself to not tremble beneath his dark

says nothing as Zaid frowns, pretending to be

my chair as I cross my arms over my chest. "If

curls his lips. "Well, I think it's time I show just how

heart rate

and fishes out his phone. "I did some

don't know where this is going, so I just sit back and listen, eyeing

"Alina Hanson. From Florida."

my lungs, and I dig my fingers into my arms to stop the tears that prick my eyes.

this interesting article about

teeth, struggling to

Hanson, sole survivor of fiery crash that kills both

ears ring and the world around me spins. I have to close my eyes to center myself and I grip the table, feeling bile rise into my throat. Its a pull and a push, like a

me. Burning flesh. My dad's screams, Alex's cries.

screamed. I told them to let me go, to not save