The Best Part of Hello [sample]

04

dedicated to Taylorobrien1 for her amazing comment she left in the last chapter - much appreciated!

Chapter Four

SURPRISINGLY, Sophie jumps at the idea to break into the food court, despite pointing out multiple times that it would mean breaking the law, not to mention be highly dangerous. She didn't seem to consider the fact we'd have to find a way to get there, and that meant finding a way from this building to the main one, and that meant going through the storm. I also made a valid point throughout this conversation that Evan Winters would also be leading this with his master plan (he has yet to share) and thus making the entire thing even more crazier than it already sounds. But Sophie Carson is nothing but trusting, and convincing. So of course, I go.

Damon and Tom Clare are twins, and Evan's best friends. It's like jocks meet the wombats because each of them don't stereotypically mesh together. But it kind of just works. For some reason, that's the allure about them. They have been inseparable since eighth grade when Damon had announced he was gay. It had been one of the most surreal moments of eighth grade. Damon had climbed onto the lunch hall table and bellowed his confession from his chest like something out of The Lion King. Of course, he'd got a lot of sniggers, mean comments and I remember someone throwing something at him, but Evan had watched from the sidelines as usual, even back then, and instead of belittling him like the others, Evan had been the one to support him. For a spilt second, I allowed myself to like him. I admired him.

That feeling hasn't happened since.

Sophie's motherly sigh erupts me from my thinking and she sounds stern. "Seriously Kayla, live a little, we haven't just flown thousands of miles to be stuck in these four walls. We're all hungry and we are doing this for everyone, we can't be selfish." Her lips turn up into a grin and she knows she's caught me out on this one.

"You have a point."

"Of course, I do," she smiles smugly, "so, suck it up baby girl and let's go find the boys."

• •

IT'S HALF PAST eight when the plan is supposed to begin. And I say supposed to because Mrs. Scott ends up recruiting Evan's group in the water run. It revolves around a bucket and a shit load of rainwater which I am not sure is even hygienic.

"Too bad," I said, leaning against the wall with my eyes closed, "guess that means no breaking in." I'm trying not to sound smug, or like a bitch, but I can't deny it makes me feel relieved. I peek a look at her out of the corner of my eye and Sophie's glaring at me with such intensity I feel the urge to shut them again.

"Enough with the sarcasm, Kayla," she fiddles with the ends of her hair and looks over her shoulder at a student who brushes past. "I'm sick of you moping around and being such a Debby Downer. This situation is less than ideal, and I know that you're going through some crap with Ben, but it's important for all of us to eat. We're all pissed and hungry and Evan might be a right prick but he's actually making an effort and you've got to give the kid some credit for that."

"Wow." I breathe out shortly, surprised by her outburst. I shift on the floor, feeling uncomfortable and considering she may even have a point. He was trying, and I guess that's all anyone can ask for.

"Not wow Kayla," she says. "Just help us."

"Okay, I'm down." I hold my hands up in surrender and try to not show my reluctance. I know she's right which only makes me feel worse. I haven't considered the bigger picture and what doing this could mean for anyone else. I've been thinking selfishly and if this was anyone else's idea other than Evan Winters I might have been more for it. I try to show willing, and stand up, eyeing Mrs. Scott from across the room. I can feel Sophie hot on my trail as I approach my teacher and tap her shoulder.