Theirs Read Online Free

she’d been a non-factor. But Cash and Rusty had mattered.
    A lot.
    Somewhere along the way she stopped seeing them as her best friends and as something more though she dared not admit it because she didn’t want to ruin the friendship they had. It didn’t stop her from stealing glances at them when she didn’t think they were looking. Alex couldn’t help but notice how tall and broad-shouldered they’d become, how well they filled out their clothes. She wondered if something was wrong with her for being attracted to both boys but then she’d tell herself that it didn’t matter, it was just a harmless crush. Besides, all the girls in school were crazy over the Bradford boys. Besides being attractive, they hailed from the wealthiest family. And because she spent so much time around them, Alex had become the target of jealous whispers and bullies. No one would dare say anything when Cash and Rusty were around but when she was on her own, they had plenty to say.
    Someone had even gone as far to say within earshot around her that the Bradford boys only hung around her because they felt sorry for her. It didn’t help matters that Mrs. Bradford implied more than once that it wasn’t a good look for her sons to spend so much time with the help’s granddaughter. It gave Alex doubts and made her wonder if she was clinging to a friendship that had outlived itself. So began to put distance between her and the boys. Alex couldn’t have imagined in a million years what that decision would lead to.
    Alex rested her head against her locker, exhausted from dodging the Bradford brothers all day. She spent the better part of Chemistry ignoring the notes Rusty passed to her. She could literally feel him staring at her throughout the entire lesson which made it a major struggle to focus on the class and sit still through the lecture . Once the bell rang, she dipped out of the room before he could get to her and hid in the girl’s bathroom until almost the last minute before she needed to be at her next class . During lunch when she usually saw Cash as well, she hid beneath the bleachers inhaling second-hand smoke from the Goth kids instead of going to the library as was her normal routine.
    The rest of the day had not gone much easier. She’d had two more classes with Rusty who she could tell was pissed. It was why she stayed behind in her last class for as long as she dared. Thankfully , Rusty had been nowhere in sight when she stepped into the hallway and made a quick dash to her locker.
    “ Hi , Alex.”
    Alex could practically hear the smirk in that greeting. She didn’t need to turn around to see who that voice belonged to. With a sigh, she turned around to see Tabitha Redding, flanked by her two cronies, Sharon Billings and Nancy Glenn. With Tabitha as the ringleader, those three had given Alex grief since middle school, when Tabitha decided she wanted Rusty. She saw Alex as a barrier to what she wanted and from then on had made Alex’s life a living hell.
    “ Hello , Tabitha. What do you want?”
    Tabitha pouted with mock disappointment. “Can’t I just come by and say hello? I was just being friendly.”
    Alex narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest. “Somehow , I seriously doubt that. You don’t like me and I don’t like you, so just say what you came to say and leave me alone.”
    Tabitha flipped a lock of raven hair over her shoulder before giving a secretive smile to her companions. “You see? There are some people you just can’t be nice to . I mean, I only came over to compliment you on your outfit. I recognize that designer. You look good in it.”
    Alex self-consciously ran her hand down her dress. Though she had never particularly cared for fashion, when she’d seen this outfit as she’d browsed through the second-hand shop she had to have it. It was one of the few article s of clothing she actually cherished. “Thank you.” She was cautious in her gratitude but the compliment seemed