Read Online DIFFERENT (Different Series Book 1) by Erin J. Cross - Free Book Online Page A

I’d raced in and out of the school canteen to buy.
                  I felt like I was falling down a tunnel that never seemed to end. Leo hadn’t tried to make it up with me because Leo didn’t care. He had Megan now, beautiful, popular Megan.
                A girl like me wasn’t meant to have friends. It was amazing that Leo had ever bothered with me in the first place. Had I just been someone to preoccupy his time before he started going out with Megan? Had I ever meant anything to him at all?
                People changed friends, and only the strongest friendships survived. It had been this way back in the care home: kids fell out, some made up and some didn’t, and some went along with others just so they felt like they were included. I had always been on the side lines, watching, but then I came to Oakwood, and Leo found me. He gave me a chance. Good things never lasted forever, especially not for a girl like me. They had to end eventually.
                  I was starting to feel like there was nothing in Oakwood for me anymore. Maybe I was better off on my own, maybe I always had been. At least then it’d be safer for everyone. At least then I wouldn’t get angry and harm them.
    ***
    It was the end of school, and I was rooting through my locker, looking forward to getting out of this place. I slung my bag over my shoulder and was about to join the stampede of students in hurrying up the corridor when Megan appeared in front of me, Leo reluctantly trailing behind her.
                  ‘Hi, Celeste,’ she smiled.
                  ‘Hi,’ I replied, my gaze changing from her to Leo.
                  ‘Right, this is ridiculous, you two are best friends, and you need to sort it out,’ she huffed as she grabbed Leo’s arm and dragged him towards me.
                  ‘Why do you care, anyway?’ Leo mumbled out. He had a point. I didn’t get Megan’s change in behaviour either; until yesterday I’d never even had a proper conversation with her.
                  ‘Because you’re clearly both miserable and it’s giving me a headache. Just sort it out, will you? I’ll be back in a few minutes,’ she said before she walked up the corridor, her ponytail swishing behind her.
                  Leo and I both stared awkwardly at each other. I really didn’t want to have to deal with this right now; I had enough on my mind. Besides, he was only here because Megan made him. He clearly wasn’t really bothered about our friendship because I hadn’t received one text or call from him since we’d argued. I’d needed a friend, and he hadn’t been there.
    ‘Look, I’m sorry, okay? I was a jerk.’ He eventually broke the silence.
    ‘Yeah, you were,’ I sighed as I picked at my nails.
    ‘But you need to stop being afraid that people won’t like you and talk to other people besides me sometimes.’
    ‘Why bother, when I know they won’t like me?’
    ‘Well, you’ve managed to win Megan round, no idea how you managed that one,’ he grinned.
    ‘Me neither.’
    ‘Friends again?’                                          
    ‘Yeah, I guess so,’ I half smiled.
    ‘Good, you two haven’t brutally injured each other, so I’m guessing you’re made up,’ Megan said as she reappeared by us.
                  ‘Yeah, we’re okay now,’ Leo said.
                  ‘Great, you want to come into town with us then? We’re going to get a milkshake,’ Megan said as she grabbed onto Leo’s hand.
                  ‘Thanks, but I can’t today. I said I’d help Louisa with her homework.’
                  ‘Oh, okay. Well, I’ll see you tomorrow then,’ she said.
                  ‘Okay,’ I replied, hoping that I didn’t look as uncomfortable as I felt.
                  Leo gave me a wave