Hopelessly Imperfect (Imperfect #1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

this.” She was stunned into silence, and her blue eyes widened as I stood and walked away.
    My chest was heaving as I walked outside, and my eyes brimmed with tears. I sat on top of the first step of the school’s front stairs and finally let the tears flow.
    I can’t do this. I don’t want to be here.
    I want Mom back. Tears rolled down as I silently cried.
    “Don’t let them get to you.” My heart skipped a beat as I recognized the rough voice. In my haste to get out, I hadn’t noticed that Nathan was leaning against the wall, smoking a cigarette. I looked up to see him watching me. In addition to his stormy-gray eyes, he had a strong jaw and an intense stare.
    Rubbing my eyes with the back of my sleeve, I sniffed before turning away from him and staring out in front of me again. “They don’t. I’m the ice princess, remember?”
    He stayed quiet for a moment before I heard his forceful strides coming closer. “Shit. I shouldn’t have said that.”
    You’re right, though. I bit my lip, trying to ignore him. Couldn’t he get a clue that I wanted him gone?
    As if on cue, he sat next to me. My whole body tensed. Especially since his body radiated warmth, which was weird and made me feel uncomfortable. I shifted away awkwardly. “What are you doing?” I murmured anxiously.
    Out of the corner of my eye, I could see him passing a hand through his hair. It was dirty-blond with sun-streaked locks of hair. He shrugged. “I’m sitting just like you.”
    “Why?” I turned to look at him.
    “Because I just feel like it.” His eyes were too deep as they studied my face. Suddenly, I felt self-conscious and turned away from his burning stare.
    Grimacing, I looked at my shoes. “I want to be alone.” I worried my lip. “ Please .”
    “Too bad. It’s a free country, and I can sit here if I want to.”
    An annoyed breath left my lips. Seriously? I didn’t want to go back to school. Unlike what Farah thought, I wouldn’t spend lunch in the bathroom. So I glared at the cars in the school’s parking lot, completely flustered at the boy next to me.
    “Why are you doing this?” I muttered, peeved.
    He ignored my question as I let out a frustrated breath. But I wasn’t crying anymore. Despite my annoyance, it felt nice to have someone near. Someone that wasn’t asking questions or pitying me.
    He was just there.
    And that’s how we stayed until the bell rang again.
    Sighing, I stood up and stared at him uncertainly. I didn’t know what to say. His presence had been reassuring in a way, but it also made me feel uncomfortable. I gnawed on my lip as he gazed at me. Warily, I murmured, “See you,” without really looking at him.
    “You know…”
    His voice made my steps falter.
    He pushed himself up as he stared at me. “I’ve always been around. This is just the first time you noticed.” His gray eyes were dark and serious before he half smiled and trotted inside the school.
    My feet were frozen on the spot as I stared after him.
    Who is Nathan Rivers?

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Three
     
     
    Summer was ending, yet the weather was still humid. I grimaced as the warm air caressed my bare cheek, and a small trail of sweat ran down my back as I entered the school grounds. Dad had an urgent meeting earlier, so he couldn’t drop me off like he’d been doing over the last few days.
    In the early hours of the morning, I thought it would be a nice change to walk to school, but I had forgotten how warm Cambridge still was. I had chosen to wear a white, long-sleeved blouse and was now regretting it. However, my scars were still pretty visible, and I just didn’t want to show them to anyone. They were a dark part of me that I wanted to hide, even from myself.
    A few days had passed without any major incident. I’d stayed clear of Marissa and her minions, and I’d avoided that Rivers guy as best as I could.
    Or so I thought.
    My feet stopped, and my heart started to race as anxiety washed over me.