Fall For Me ((The Tate Chronicles #1)) Read Online Free PDF Page A

Ryan said. “What did you do over the holiday break? ”
    “Shut up, Ryan,” she said, pulling out a chair and sitting close to me. First she started berating me, telling me off for even thinking about dumping her. Then she moved on to the crying with a few theatrical sobs thrown in for good measure. I tuned her out and Ryan threw me an unsympathetic look that said, I told you so. All I could think about was Grace.
    I knew she was sitting straight across the room but I was too nervous to look up. What if she wasn’t looking over? Why would she be looking over anyway? It was torture. With my arms folded on the table and my head slightly bowed I dared a peek at Grace. My heart leapt to my throat and I felt a flush run through me.
    She was looking.
    Slowly, I raised my head and met her gaze. I became lost in her eyes. Everything else around me no longer mattered and all I could see was her. Her pale angelic face surrounded by black was radiant, and her cheeks glowed. Grace, I thought as I felt a smile spread across my face. What I saw next was the defining moment in my mind. The thing that helped me to make the decision I did. She smiled back at me and it was like the light from a thousand suns illuminating her. Not just her face but her, all of her. I’d found my reason for breathing, for existing. I knew it sounded clichéd, but she was the one.
    “Ouch!” I cried, turning to Abby. “What was that for?” I rubbed my arm where she’d just pinched it.
    “You aren’t listening to me.”
    “I’m not either,” Ryan said.
    Abby scowled. “What were you smiling at? I’m trying to have a conversation with you.” Her eyes followed where my gaze had been and a funny noise came from her throat. Did Abby just growl at me? Next she’d be hissing like a cat and scratching my eyes out.
    I leant back in my chair and rubbed my face then quickly stood up. I’d had enough.
    Loud enough so pretty much everyone could hear, I said, “It’s over Abby. We’re done. I don’t have anything else to say to you. Please, just leave me alone.” As I walked to the door and out into the yard, I realised how much she actually got under my skin. I felt like punching something again.
    “Hey, Josh, wait up.” I heard Ryan behind me. “You really gave it to her in there. Everyone’s buzzing. This will go down in Hopetown Valley history as the public breakup of the year.”
    “Thought you’d be happy,” I said.
    “No, seriously dude, I just want you to be happy, and you weren’t with her.”
    We walked in silence the rest of the way back to the dorm. I left Ryan at his room on the ground floor then climbed the stairs to mine for the second time that morning. I used the little time I had before class to unpack. It didn’t take long to put the contents of my suitcase into the cupboard.
    The first bell for the day rang causing a flurry of movement and noise in the dorm. The next bell would ring ten minutes later, so I got a move on with everyone else and headed back to the yard. The place was alive with activity; students hurrying here and there attempting to get to class on time. I had my head down with my nose in my timetable so I didn’t see her until it was too late. I clipped Grace on the shoulder and sent her bag flying. She didn’t seem too rattled which was kind of odd. Our eyes connected. A brilliant smile unfolded across her face, and her cheeks flushed a radiant rose colour on her pale skin.
    “I’m sorry, Grace. I wasn’t watching where I was going.” I picked up her bag.
    “It’s ok.” She reached out to take the bag and our fingers brushed, spreading warmth up my arm that made me tingle all over. Why did this girl have such a hold over me? I was vaguely aware that Grace’s friend, Emma Shrove, was standing beside her, but my eyes were fixed on Grace and I couldn’t pull them away even if I wanted to. She was mesmerising.
    “What have you got first up?” she asked.
    I almost forgot how to talk.
    This was more