The Weight of Destiny by Nyrae Dawn Page A

with Cody and then Drea, and I sit up front.
    “Who’s in Cliffton?” Tanner asks as we drive.
    “None of your business—ouch. Fucker.” I rub the back of my head where he just thumped it.
    We’re quiet most of the way. I give him directions to her school after looking them up on my phone.
    It doesn’t take too long before Shane pulls up along the curb in front. There aren’t many cars in the parking lot, and none of them are a piece of shit like Shane’s.
    “Dude,” Shane starts but I cut him off, feeling strangely defensive.
    “It’s nothin’.”
    I get out of the car and then bend down to say goodbye. “Thanks, man. I’ll catch you guys later.” Reaching my hand out, I ruffle Drea’s hair. “Don’t let them get in any trouble without me.”
    She jerks her head out from under my hand.
    What the? “Hey.”
    Drea smiles, and the tightness in my chest eases. “Have fun, Ry.”
    “Later.” I stand, and slam the door closed behind me. My friends drive off and I shove my hands in my pockets, wondering what the hell I’m doing here.
     

 
    CHAPTER FIFTEEN
     
     
    ~Virginia~
    There once was a girl who didn’t know her name. One day she found out it had been Lonely. It was the day she discovered that wasn’t her anymore, and then she didn’t know her name again.
    ~*~
    Your school is fucking ridiculous.
    After looking at Ryder’s text, I shove my phone back into my pocket. There’s a slow tingle in my chest as I think about him standing outside. I didn’t expect him to come. Warning bells start sounding off in my mind, because I’m happy he’s here. Really happy, and that’s a dangerous thing.
    I learned a long time ago not to put my happiness in someone else’s hands because you can never trust them not to drop it. If Mom and Dad couldn’t make it as a couple, no one can. I refuse to give up any part of myself to someone else, because no one should be responsible for me except for me. But then I remember how good it felt to talk to him, and how good it felt to kiss him, and how foreign those emotions had been before.
    Not that I’ve never felt good or been happy, but it’s always grown from my achievements and activities—school, FBLA, student council—not from another person. I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or not.
    “Lulu, what’s going on?” Hailey whispers. We’re working individually today, but Hailey and Jamie both sit beside me.
    “What? Nothing.”
    Jamie’s eyebrows pull together. “You’re sitting there all smiley. You look like you’re in la-la land or something.”
    Oh no. No, no, no, no. I shake my head as though that will make a difference. “I was just thinking.” And I was here, right here. I’m not the girl who gets lost in her head.
    “About what?” Jamie still eyes me as though she’s trying to figure me out.
    “Or who? Did Mike talk to you?” Hailey grins.
    What? “Why would Mike talk to me?” I glance toward the other side of the room. Mike’s scanning a piece of paper. Hailey and Jamie always tease me that Mike and I would make the perfect couple. We’re number one and two in our class. He’s involved in as many activities as I am. If I were to fall in love with a boy, it would be a boy like him. Grounded, stable, put together.
    I swear Hailey bursts out of her skin with excitement. “He likes you. I’m not supposed to tell you. I promised him I wouldn’t because he’s going to, but, oh my God, Lu. He is so cute! I knew you were perfect for each other!”
    My heart does this little jump thing, but as quickly as it happens, I take a deep breath and control it again. These are not the kind of things I get happy about. First Ryder and now Mike. I roll my eyes. “We are not perfect for each other.” That’s just not something I think is possible. “No, he didn’t talk to me, but that’s probably a good thing. It’s senior year. I have much more important things to worry about than boys.” Which is something I need to remember. What