Free Count on Me by Melyssa Winchester

quick.
    If I wasn’t determined to do what sh e told me, seeing her back as she walked away from me would have seriously pissed me off. I’ve never had this much trouble getting close to a girl, let alone talking to one. Usually they climb all over themselves trying to get my attention and that’s not me laying on an ego trip, it’s the truth. When you’re a football player, it’s almost a god given right that every female within spitting distance will want you. At least that’s how it is in Wexfield.
    Isabelle has got to be the most dif ficult girl, no—person that I’ve ever dealt with and it’s got nothing to do with what’s wrong with her. She’s just not like any other person I’ve met before and that’s why I’m so damn determined to get close to her, even if it means blowing up the entire social order of the school to do it.
    I know it’s only a matter of time before word of me t alking to her gets around. By lunch it’s going to be front page news in the school paper for Christ sakes. It’s just the way it works here, but I seriously don’t care.
    It makes me feel things I don’t understand and it’s scaring me.
    She’s not the only one that’s confused by what they’re feeling. She’s also not the only one that’s scared here. This girl, damn. I’ve been going out of my way to avoid her since the day I turned ten. What the hell I’m doing around her now is beyond me. I don’t want to scare her, but I also don’t think I’m quite ready to give up on her just yet. I need to know what it is about her that I can’t seem to walk away from first.
    When I brushed her hand, there was this second where it felt like I stuck my fingers in a wall socket. I was charged with a current so strong I can’t even describe it right. I shook it off p retty quick, not wanting her to see me react, but it doesn’t mean I didn’t notice because I did and I liked it.
    I’m fucking pathetic.
    I walked away from her first because I wanted to make it easy on her, but I’m not entirely sure how much easier it’s all going to be when my final words were that I wasn’t done with her. If she wasn’t completely scared and put off by me before, she most definitely will be now. It wasn’t meant as a threat, but she doesn’t exactly think the way everyone else does, so she probably believes I literally meant it.
    It’s another thing I’m going to have to go back and fix, that is if she lets me get near her at all. I’m determined as hell to see this through and prove to her that whatever it is she saw in me that first day isn’t wrong, but I’m walking a fine line. I remember her serial killer comment well and if I push her too hard, I’m only going to make her think I’m no better and that’s something I don’t want.
    Shit. Why does this girl get to me this way? She’s got a list of issues so long it would take me forever to read throug h it. The right thing to do would be to leave her alone, but just like I’ve always been an asshole, I’ve also been known to be a stubborn one too.
    “Did I really just see you walking with the retard?” I hear from behind me, not even needing to turn around to know who said it.
    Yeah, it was definitely time for the rumor mill to start. By lunch I’d hear that I was screwing her on the hood of my car. It’s something I definitely don’t want Isabelle getting wind of. If she hears it, then she’s going to think it started with me and I can’t let that happen.
    “Yeah, I was talking to her, so what?”
    “I was right about the two of you, wasn’t I? You do like her.”
    “It’s called being nice, jackass. You should try it sometime.” I answer back in response. There’s no way he’s goading me into saying something he’ll use against me later. He can kiss my ass if that’s what he’s after.
    “Maybe I should try it with her.”
    Even though I know he’s joking, I can feel my blood boiling the minute he says it. There’s no way in hell I’m letting