CHAPTER 61: KISSING ON HIS CAR

Catherine’s POV

After what I saw Sasha do to Tessa, I didn’t care about being close to her anymore. She was one mean girl, I couldn’t stand being around her. I made sure to avoid her for the rest of the day and luckily, she didn’t try to perch around me either.

By the time school was over, I was drained and just wanted to get home. I rushed out of the hallway, scanning the parking lot for Gabriel’s car, but it wasn’t there. I frowned, walking faster, thinking maybe he was parked somewhere else.

I texted him: Where are you?

A few seconds later, his reply came.

Shit! Left school already.

I stared at the message for a while, my eyes shutting and closing like it would change the text. He left? Without me?

Another text buzzed in.

Had to rush somewhere, don’t be mad.

I let out a sigh and lowered my phone. Typical Gabriel. He always had a reason. How was I supposed to get home now? Hell, Julian wasn’t even an option.

I shoved the phone into my pocket, trying not to feel abandoned, and walked toward the school gate. My mind wandered, bitterly, toward Collins, the only person who would have helped me out.

But oh well, my supposed boyfriend hadn’t reached out since the day he texted me to say he wouldn’t be coming to school for "personal reasons." I’d sent him two messages to check if he was okay, but he hadn’t responded. When I tried calling, my calls went straight to voicemail.

Screw him. Thank goodness I wasn’t in love with him. All these boys were just birds of a feather, disappearing whenever they felt like it, swooping back in when it suited them.

I was halfway through the gate, unsure where I was even headed, when a familiar voice called out, "Hey, baby."

I stopped short, blinking. Collins stood a few steps ahead, smiling like nothing had happened.

I stared at him for a few seconds, then scoffed and turned away, walking back into the school.

"Wait, Catherine, please." He jogged after me, falling into step beside me. "I know you are angry but I can explain, okay? Just listen for a second."

I kept walking, ignoring him. "Explain what? That you suddenly disappeared off the face of the earth?"

He grabbed lightly at my arm, his voice softening. "I didn’t mean to ignore you. I swear. Things just got a bit complicated."

"Complicated?" I repeated with a mocking laugh. "Yeah, that’s a good word for ghosting your girlfriend."

He looked guilty, and maybe that should’ve satisfied me but it didn’t. I wanted him to sweat a little.

"I’m serious," he said again. "I can explain everything."

"Then explain and stop telling me you are going to. Jeez."

"I was out of town," he quickly dropped, glancing down before meeting my eyes again. "My mom got into an accident. I had to travel to see her. She’s been in the hospital."

That one hit me like a slap. My anger drained, at once. "Oh my God. Is she okay?"

"She’s fine now," he said. "But it was bad at first. I didn’t even know how to tell anyone. I’m not that close to her, you know? So it was... weird."

He gave a small nervous, awkward laugh and I found myself laughing too. The tension eased.

"I’m sorry," I murmured. "I had no idea."

He waved it off. "Don’t be sorry. I should’ve told you."

There was a pause, then his eyes softened. "Can I make it up to you?"

I raised a brow. "Make it up how?"

"After exams," he said, smiling again. "Let me take you somewhere. Just the two of us."

I wanted to say no, but I nodded before I could stop myself. "Okay."

His smile deepened, and before I could even brace myself, he leaned closer to kiss me. I wasn’t in the mood for that

"Collins..." I started, but my words trailed off. His face was inches from mine, the sunlight catching in his eyes. For a second, I considered turning away, pretending I didn’t notice what he was trying to do but then, over his shoulder, I saw Julian.

He was walking toward the parking lot, with one hand in his pocket and the other arm casually wrapped around a girl’s shoulders. She was trying to feed that moron something.

Before I could think it through, I turned back to Collins and kissed him.

Surprisingly, this kiss wasn’t light; it was the kind that made a statement. Did he miss me that much?

Well... scratch that, I should be kissing him back. You know why? For Julian to see.

I quickly shut my eyes and my fingers curled into his shirt as if I was lost in it.

Collins pulled me closer, and I let him, just long enough to sell the illusion, and just right on cue, Julian’s voice came. "Can’t the two of you display your nonsense anywhere other than close to my car?"

The kiss broke at once and Collins turned halfway, while I pulled back instantly.

Darn it! We were actually standing close to his car. How on earth did I not notice that?

Collins looked at him with a frown. "Calm down, bud. We weren’t even touching it."

"I don’t care. This school is big enough for you to make out anywhere you want but you both chose to hang around my car."

I straightened my shoulders, forcing out a scoff. "Your car is intact. We were just kissing, stop acting like we were destroying it."

His mouth curved, but there was no humor in it. "Shut your mouth, I wasn’t talking to you."

"Don’t tell me to shut up!" I shot back and his eyes held mine for a heartbeat longer before he opened the car door, got in, and slammed it with enough force to make me flinch.

Collins let out a low whistle. "How do you cope with him at home? Dude’s always paranoid."

"Cope with him?" I scoffed. "I don’t give him attention."