Free Chasing Rainbows by Linda Oaks Page A

Addison Hayes was a force to be reckoned with. My mouth gaped at the thought of that; of me perched on the back of this Harley with my arms wrapped around the new hot guy at school while all around everyone whispered and gave us looks. This was so not me, but I liked it, and all I could do was sigh with contentment. Natalie would be proud.
    Wait! My heart stuttered in sudden panic. What had gotten into me? Had the ride changed me so much that I no longer cared what everyone thought? Yes…apparently it had. I was with Chance. But maybe, the time had come to be daring. Maybe, it's time to take a chance. I smiled. Chance had told me to live a little right before he'd shoved the helmet on my head. Maybe, I should follow his advice and throw caution to the wind.
    I'd closed myself off for so long, I'd become afraid to live; afraid to feel anything because it hurt too much when things went to hell. Just maybe, this time it would be different. I needed to be brave.
    I'd forgotten my book. Oh well, I didn't care. Miss York would be pissed when already there weren't enough to go around for the entire class, but she'd get it over. A sense of smugness brought on a smile as I unbuckled the strap and pulled off the helmet then handed it over to Chance. The sun was warm against my skin. I hadn't been this lighthearted in a long time. Life was looking up.
    Chance was still sitting on the Harley smiling back at me when he shifted his gaze to something over my shoulder and murmured, "Busted."
    I turned around and saw an achingly familiar black pickup truck heading straight for us. Then, it dawned on me, the depths of his betrayal. "You lied to me." I was horrified and could only stand there frozen in place and stare wide-eyed back at him. I'd trusted him, and he had set me up only to fall.
    He wore a nasty smirk, and by the look on his face he was either completely unaware of the damage he had inflicted or he didn't care. "You had fun though, Addie. Admit it."
    I couldn't speak even if I wanted to, but there was no way I could stay here with him one second longer. My shoulders curled inward. If there were any way that I could shrink inside myself, I would gladly disappear. My eyes focused on the ground, and I wished that it would open up and swallow me whole. I'd thought he was Chance. Humiliation sent a tear trickling down my cheek, and I turned away before Chase managed to see it. What he had done was despicable. He'd probably laugh and make fun of me. He was horrible. I'd believed that Chance had been trying to manipulate me when he warned me to stay away from his brother. I should have listened, but it was hard to tell who was who when they were both almost identical. I'd made a mistake. I'd followed my heart, instead of my head.
    It was all my fault. I should have followed my rules and never allowed this to happen. I deserved this for thinking that I could ever be normal. I deserved this for stepping outside of my comfort zone. That was what happened to foolish girls who allowed themselves to take risks. They were made a joke of by boys who played childish games. I had been nothing more than a pawn in their sick sibling rivalry.
    Struggling against the squeezing sensation in my chest, I marched quickly across the parking lot toward the school without looking back. From behind me, I heard a truck door slam. Chance and Chase were yelling at one another, but I kept on walking and didn't bother to turn around. My chest ached. There was a bitter taste in my mouth, and I wanted to throw up. His deception hurt, and it was so much worse when compared to the first stinging bite of the razor slicing my skin.
    "Fight!" someone yelled from behind me.
    Tears ran down my cheeks, and angrily I brushed them aside. Brandon and Kara had just pulled in, but my steps quickened. I rushed past Brandon's car. With the condition I was in, I couldn't talk to anyone right now. Let Chase and Chance kill one another for all I cared. Two security guards ran past me