Sea Breeze 01 - Breathe

I’d leaned over to write the page numbers we were supposed to read for homework when the tall guy in front of me turned around.
    “You’re Sadie White, aren’t you?” he asked, grinning.
    I nodded, wishing I could just lie and tell him no. He cleared his throat. “I’m Dameon Wallace.”
    I gave him a small polite smile and searched for the page we were supposed to be reading.
    “Do you speak, or do you have something against me?”
    I sighed and glanced up. He must’ve been unleashing what he assumed was a charming smile. It wasn’t bad, really. He was attractive enough. His blue eyes lacked the intensity of Jax’s steel-blue eyes. His smile didn’t really look sincere. More sure of himself and cocky, maybe.
    “I’m just late for class, and I’m trying to get caught up.”
    He flashed me a crooked grin he also apparently thought was cute. “No worries. You didn’t miss much. So, you single again?”
    My stomach knotted. I gave him a tight smile and nodded before turning back to my book.
    “What are your plans after school? I was thinking we could go get a drink and walk down to the beach.” He sounded so sure of himself and his offer that I had to remind myself I was a good person and not mean.
    I managed a smile and said, “I work after school. Sorry.” I went back to trying to read my page.
    “After work?” He seemed a little unsure of himself now.
    “I’m sorry, but I have to go straight home and get homework done and help my mother with my little brother.” I wanted to add,
I am not going to be dating anyone, so leave me alone,
but I refrained and went back to reading.
    He watched me a few seconds more, and then I heard him sigh and turn back around in his seat. I tried to comprehend what I was reading, but I couldn’t keep my mind on the words. I hated feeling like I was an item to be studied on a display shelf. Everyone wanted to watch and see what I would do. Once the bell rang, I grabbed my books and headed for the door as quickly as humanly possible. I needed to get away. Far, far away.
    “Hey, Sadie, wait up,” Amanda called from behind me. I slowed and turned to see her running to catch me. “What did Dameon Wallace say to you?” she almost squealed in delight.
    I frowned and tried to remember our one-sided conversation. “Well, he asked me out, I said no, and that was about it.” I kept my eyes on the hallway and didn’t think about the people staring at me.
    “He asked you out?” she asked with a hushed reverence. I simply nodded.
    “OMG, he is the absolute hottest guy in Sea Breeze. You do know he is a quarterback, and not only that, he has several SEC schools interested in him.”
    I’d had no idea, and I did not care.
    I shrugged and opened my locker to get my bag out. “That’s great. Good for him,” I replied.
    She stood staring at me, openmouthed. “I can’t understand how you told him no. No one tells him no. Girls dream about him at night. He’s gorgeous. Did you see his arms?” She fanned herself. “Wow,” she added for extra affect.
    I rolled my eyes. “Really, Amanda, if you like him that much, then you date him. I’m just not interested.”
    Amanda sighed and leaned back against the locker. “If he would acknowledge my existence, then I would go after him. But until today I have never seen him interested in a girl in this school. He dates college girls.”
    I slipped my bag over my shoulder. “Well, apparently, he has changed his mind,” I muttered.
    “He’s so cute. I don’t know how you turned him down,” Amanda droned on.
    I liked Amanda, but I wasn’t in the mood for this. I wasn’t interested in this guy. “I need to get to work. Thanks again for waking me up.”
    She nodded, and I headed for the exit.
    My first day back, and I was already hating school.
    If I could just blend in and go unnoticed, this would be bearable.
    I looked up to see Dameon headed my way, and I picked up the pace. I wondered how obvious it would be if I ran to my bike. My faster pace apparently tipped him off that I wasn’t in the mood to talk, because he didn’t run after me. I had to get to work, but first I wanted to call and check on Sam.
    The entire first week didn’t go very well. The only good news was Dameon had taken the hint and left me alone. However, after falling asleep again in the library during lunch, I realized I was going to have to stop going in there. I forced myself to face the lunch crowd. It really hadn’t been as bad as I