Free The Fundamental Theory of Us by Alyse Raines Page A

was a complication. A sexy, complicated, and super-annoying complication, one she didn’t want or need.
    Lie .

Chapter Ten
     
    A few days later, at lunch, Sawyer scoured the cafeteria for signs of Andrew. She hadn’t spotted him yet, but Rachel and Lola interrupted her search, so he could have been there and she just didn’t see him. The couple dropped down across from Sawyer, oblivious to anyone else in the room. Their lips kept touching, like not kissing was impossible.
    Sawyer frowned at her sandwich. The lettuce and tomato were together with a glob of mayo, which made the tomato slide out and land on her plate with a gross splat. The old her would have seen the pattern around the red circle, would have seen the beauty in it. Now all Sawyer saw was a filling that fell out of her sandwich, one she had to put back, and her fingers would get all sticky and gross because she didn’t grab a napkin on her way over to the table.
    “You look like you’re going to murder your sandwich,” Lola said, a spark in her eyes.
    Sawyer shook her head. “I forgot to get a napkin.”
    Rachel pulled a stack from her tray and set them in the middle of the table, followed by one of every piece of plastic cutlery the cafeteria had. “I figured you would. Your brain has like, totally died lately.”
    “Has not.” Sawyer fixed her sandwich and snagged a napkin.
    “Has too.” Rachel dipped a fry in mayo and waved it around as she spoke. “Look, I’m not saying he was right, but ignoring the guy isn’t the best way to get into his pants.”
    Lola jabbed Rachel in the ribs. They were both laughing.
    Ignoring people was how she coped. So what? Big deal. She grabbed a fork and stabbed the tomato. A person should be allowed to deal with her problems on her own. Without interference from so-called “friends.” And sexy neighbors.
    Sawyer heard a laugh—one she knew well—and looked up. Across the room, three tables away, she spotted Andrew sitting with Emory Daughton from art, and the pair looked pretty cozy. Hot jealousy twisted in her stomach. He was free to do what he wanted. It didn’t make the pain of seeing him happy with another girl any less excruciating. What if he was dating other girls? Hooking up with the entire female population on campus? Sawyer squeezed her eyes shut. He could do what he wanted. She didn’t care.
    Total lie, but whatever.
    Emory giggled and flicked her glossy brown hair over her shoulder. She felt up Andrew’s bicep with the other. Andrew didn’t move away. Nope. She was not going to sit here and watch their foreplay. Sawyer had lost her appetite.
    “I’m going to the library.” She picked up her tray.
    Lola settled her dark gaze on Sawyer. “Why? We were just teasing.”
    “Yeah,” Rachel agreed. “We’ll stop.”
    “It’s not you. I just … need to get out of here.”
    Sawyer turned and her foot caught on the chair. Her tray flew across the room and she ended up on the floor. A moment later, a pair of black boots filled her vision and a hand came down. She hesitated a second before accepting the silent offer of help, thinking, what the hell? When she was on her feet again, Sawyer looked into Andrew’s bright eyes. She snatched her hand away. Emory stood at his side, her hand on his shoulder shooting daggers at Sawyer. The look read “back off, bitch.” Sawyer stepped away, avoiding Andrew’s gaze.
    She didn’t give him a chance to ask if she was okay, because she knew he would. Grabbing her bag, Sawyer swung the strap over her shoulder, her movements jerky and her hands shaking, and left the cafeteria with her chin touching her chest. The room remained silent even after she pushed the doors open and stepped into the crisp fall air. She didn’t stop walking until she reached the library and plonked herself down in a chair and hooked up her laptop to the library’s Wi-Fi. Her hands were still shaking.
    The next day was Saturday. Sawyer watched from her bedroom window as Andrew and