Changing Forever Read Online Free PDF Page A

flare as we stare at each other. Maybe I should be scared, but I’m not. Life’s dealt me worse than Drake Chambers. “You don’t know shit,” he growls.
    “I probably know a lot more than you think,” I say, facing front again.
    Very few people have gotten under my skin like Drake. He has irritated me every time we’re within twenty feet of each other, but when I know I’m going to see him, there’s also this level of excitement I’ve never felt before. I like fighting with him. He’s a challenge for me. Maybe it’s the way he carries himself: confident, cute in a rugged I’m-not-afraid-to-get-dirty sort of way, and witty enough to keep me on my toes. I’ve never known anyone quite like him before.
    The constant battle is both invigorating and irritating, but I’m not going to stop until I win. I haven’t quite decided what winning entails, though.
    Professor McGill lectures the entire hour, leaving no more time to banter with Drake … not that I have anything left to say to him. I can feel his eyes burning into me. He’s pissed, but I don’t care. He’s the one who started this.
    As soon as the lecture ends, I pick up my backpack, not bothering to take the time to slip my notebook inside. I just want to get out of here as soon as possible.
    “Emery! Wait.”
    I should keep walking, but I stop, turning on my heel. It’s just the type of person I am. Always trying to do what’s right. One of these days I might learn how to do what I want instead.
    “Look, I can get together tonight after practice, if it means that much to you.” His tone is different than how he’s talked to me during our few other encounters. Monotone. No teasing. No arrogance. It matches the blank expression on his face.
    “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of the whole thing.” Determination fuels me as I walk away. Stubbornness doesn’t allow me to look back, even if a tiny voice in my head is begging me to take what he’s offering. It’s obvious that he’s not a stupid guy, because he’s been playing this game a little too well.
    He yells my name a couple times, but I ignore it. It’s what I wanted … to make him feel guilty for being such a jerk. So why do I suddenly feel like the bitch?
    Having a conscience sucks sometimes.
    Instead of going to the library in between classes like I planned, I decide to run back to my room and enjoy a few quiet moments before I have to head to biology. I’m too wound up about having to work on this stupid project by myself to study anyway.
    When I open the door to my room, Kate is propped on her bed with a textbook on her lap.
    “Hey,” she says, looking up from her homework. The stress must show all over my face because her head tilts as she eyes me carefully. I’ve never been good at hiding my emotions.
    “Hey,” I answer back, attempting to fake a smile.
    She stands, taking a couple hesitant steps in my direction. “Are you okay?”
    “I’ll be fine. Speech was just a little rough today, that’s all,” I answer honestly. It’s probably one of many difficult days I have to come, and I need to learn to deal better. No matter how much I want it, nothing’s ever going to be perfect.
    “Do you want to talk about it?”
    “There’s not really anything to talk about.” It’s a lie, but talking about Drake isn’t going to make things with him better. Right now, I just need a few minutes alone to get a grip on my emotions. I hate when I feel like I don’t have control. “I’ll be right back.”
    She nods, sitting back down in the center of her bed. Her eyes never leave me, though, and I can tell she’s reading right through me as I step out of the room.
    Since I was little, I’ve had this way of dealing with life when it gets overwhelming. Call it my form of meditation—my way of dealing with all the loud noise in my head. I shut myself in the bathroom and lock the door behind me, because at home, it was the only place I could escape to that had a lock. Leaning back