Dissolve Read Online Free Page B

hand through his hair casually.
    “Maybe it’s meant to be.”
    I scoff, and he laughs.
    “Yeah, too corny. My bad. I figured I’d give it a try, if nothing else.”
    “Corny won’t work on me. None of your pickup lines will,” I straighten my long skirt.
    “Oh?” He quirks a hawk-like eyebrow over his green iris. “And why’s that?”
    “Because I’m not looking for romance.”
    He laughs, louder this time, like I’ve said something particularly funny. “What, did you think it’s romance I’m offering to any of the girls? Please tell me you aren’t that naive.”
    I flush. I am that naive. Or, I used to be. Before that night.
    “I’m not stupid,” I growl.
    “I know that, lioness. Naive and stupid are two different things, last time I checked. I’ve seen you studying your ass off everywhere you go. And the faculty can’t stop talking about you while they’re ridiculing me. You’re as sharp as they come.”
    Somehow, hearing it from him makes it different, more vital. Did the faculty really talk about me?
    “I’m not the freakishly smart, like Amanda with her perfect exams, and I’m no good at math.”
    “Comparing yourself to other people will get you nowhere, trust me,” He says. “You’re as smart as you, and that’s all that matters.”
    I frown. “That’s awfully wise and mature for a guy who picks up a new girl every night.”
    He clutches his chest like I’ve wounded him. “The slander! I pick up a girl every two nights. Don’t get it twisted.”
    I wrinkle my nose in disapproval. “Sure, whatever helps you sleep at night. Or not sleep, I guess.”
    He chuckles, and there’s an awkward silence that circuits between us. I said thank you to him, genuinely, not twenty-four hours ago. Why am I being such a bitch now? He saved Trist. But for some reason, his infuriating smirk just sets me off. I can’t control myself around him. Suddenly, he reaches out with long, surprisingly graceful fingers, and picks something from my hair. His touch is so gentle I barely feel it.
    “A twig,” He says. “Hold still, there’s another.”
    His face is so serious as he studies my hair. All his attention is focused on me. I suddenly feel my face warm.
    “It’s fine!” I swat his hand away as it comes in for another landing. “I can get it myself.”
    “I guess even short-haired girls can get things stuck in there, huh?” He smirks.
    “For the record, I don’t like my personal boundaries being invaded. Nor do most people.”
    He holds his hands up as if he’s innocent. “Alright, fair enough. I tend to get too touchy-feely, it’s true. Won’t happen again.”
    “Good. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a class to get to.”
    He snorts. “Alright, lioness. Try not to eat shit on the ice with a random handsome stranger again, okay?”
    I roll my eyes in a clear ‘whatever’ gesture, and he chuckles as we go our separate ways. What’s so funny? I have no idea what he’s laughing about all the time whenever he’s around me. Maybe I’m just hilarious to him - hilariously pathetic. Whatever the case, I shove him out of my mind and head to world history.
    Like some kind of cruel joke, I see Kai everywhere that week. I spot him making out with a different girl in the food court on Wednesday, giving a ride to her on Thursday, and starting the process all over again on Friday with a new girl. Where is he getting all these girls stupid enough to fall for his sleazebag act? Or maybe they don’t care. Maybe he gives them such a good time it’s worth being dumped in the next two days. It’s a mystery I’ll never solve, and frankly don’t want to solve. If I devote any more brainpower to this idiot and what he’s doing, I’ll start losing braincells myself.
    I sit at the bus stop after class, heavy dark clouds looming overhead. I pray it doesn’t rain, but it probably will, because my luck’s never been great. Just as I’m contemplating spending the next few hours in the library to