Read Online Breaking Through the Waves by E. L. Todd, Kris Kendall - Free Book Online Page B

for so long. He was perfect for her in every way, her other half, her seahorse. He didn’t mention her horrific past, but she didn’t think about it as often anymore. And she hadn’t had a single nightmare since he started to sleep at her place every night. She felt whole and complete for the first time in her life, like she belonged somewhere. She had a family—Coen was her family.
    Coen looked at her sundress. “You look lovely today.”
    “Thank you. I know this is your favorite.”
    “They are all my favorite,” he said as he dug his fingers into her side, feeling the fabric.
    When the y entered the building, they walked up the stairs until they reached the hallway where their zoology class was located. When Audrey and two other girls walked past them, she knew something horrible was about to happen.
    They passed without incident. But it didn’t slow her beating heart in any way.
    When Henry opened the door for her, she felt hot syrup pour on top of her head, streaming past her eyes and down her clothes. It was so sticky and thick that she couldn’t breathe. She had to rip open a hole in the goo so she could suck in a breath. Henry shut the door and turned around, glaring at Audrey, who was laughing hysterically. Her two friends laughed along with her.
    Coen pushed her against the wall, making her laugh stop immediately. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
    Henry pulled Sydney’s backpack off so she wouldn’t ruin her belongings or her phone. He took her in the bathroom and helped put her head under the sink. Henry helped her wash the syrup from her hair but it hard ened as soon it touched her strands.
    Sydney tried not to cry because she knew it was stupid to cry. She choked it back and concentrated on cleaning herself up. Coen was still in the hallway and she hoped he finally convinced Audrey to start acting like an adult. She had never been bullied in school before. Only when she got home did the violence start. This was nothing compared to that. She kept reminding herself that she would never feel that pain again. This was just a stupid prank that hardly anyone saw.
    Coen burst through the doors then came over to her, helping them both wash the goop out of her hair. “You okay?” he asked as he placed his hand on her back.
    “I’m fine,” she said with a strong voice.
    “I’m so sorry.”
    “It’s not your fault, Coen.”
    Henry stared at him with a har d expression. “Did you get her to apologize or agree to stop?”
    He was quiet for a moment. “No.”
    “I’ll do it, then,” he said quickly. “Chivalry is dead. She fucks with my friend, then I fuck with her.”
    Sydney grabbed his arm. “Let it go.”
    “No,” he snapped.
    “It’s not worth it.”
    “She’s just going to keep doing this to you, Syd.”
    “No , she won’t. She’ll stop.”
    Coen rubbed her back. “I already threatened to kill her. That should be enough for now.”
    She turned off the sink then squeezed the water from her hair. It was still a little sticky but she managed to get rid of most of it.
    “You wanna go home and shower?” Coen asked.
    “No. I’m not skipping class because of that bitch. She’ll have to do worse than that. I’m not obsessed with my hair like they are.”
    Even though it was inappropriate, Coen smiled. “You’re amazing.”
    “You already said that.”
    “You keep surprising me.”
    She grabbed some towels and dried her face and her neck. She stuck her head under a hand dryer and dried the damp strands of hair. She rubbed it with her fingers then straightened out the knots. “Good as new.” She walked out with the two boys following behind her. They went to class and listened to the lecture then took their quiz at the end of the period.
    After their next class, they went to the cafeteria. When they sat down, Sydney spotted Audrey glaring at her from her table. She smiled at her then grabbed Coen and kissed him hard on the mouth, wanting to piss her off as much as possible.