Other Side of Beautiful (A Beautifully Disturbed #1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

Besides, she went to meet your—”
    “If you say my woman I will punch you in the dick so hard you’ll be pissing through your asshole.”
    “I was going to say your good friend, Elly. Someone’s touchy.”
    “We were at the Brew. Branagh showed up.”
    “Did she say something?”
    “Not explicitly. But Elly’s smart. It didn’t take much for her to piece it together.”
    “Why don’t you just ask her out? Like on a date. Collin and I were talking, and we think—”
    “You’ve been discussing me and Elly?”
    “It’s for your own good. Clearly kicking the crap out of an innocent punching bag isn’t helping.”
    “It’s complicated.”
    “All the best things are. Now come on. I want lunch. I’ll even let you buy.”
    After a shower and clothing change, I shoot Col a text to let him know where we’re headed. I’m about to hit send when I tack on at the end:
     
    Please don’t tell Elly.
     
    I don’t know why, just that seeing her will completely undo all the good Errol and kickboxing have done for me.
    When we walk in, Collin pins me with one of those, ‘I’m sorry, you are so fucked’ looks of his, and I follow as his gaze shifts. She’s sitting at a table with Sabrina, so relaxed and laughing at something Bri said. I think she’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen, but I’m not prepared. Not to face her so soon.
    Collin walks up. “Sorry. Errol texted Bri to let her know where he was going. She invited Elly.”
    “I think I just lost my appetite.”
    “Oh, man.” Errol comes to a stop at my side. “I’m sorry. I was just checking in. I didn’t know she’d show up here.”
    “It’s cool. But I think I’m just going to go head home.”
    “The fuck you say?” Both Errol and Collin grab an arm, dragging me further into the café. “You’re buying me lunch. Now get moving.”
    She looks up then, she looks up and smiles, giving a little wave just to me. Then she turns her head slightly, as if realizing she’d just snubbed Errol and waves to him too. But then she smiles back at me again. God, that smile. Of course Errol would see her stealthy move, nudging me in the ribs. I ignore him and head for the prettiest girl in the room.
    “Of all the gin joints in all the world,” I tell them. Both she and Bri laugh, and I can breathe again.

 
    Chapter 6
     

Elle
     
    “It’s a brand new day.” This is the mantra getting me up and dressed, the first morning of the winter semester. It’s the mantra put on repeat during the drive from my apartment to the school. Inside the social science building and after repeating my ritual, I walk into my first class of the semester, staring down at my feet and generally trying to make my size-twelve self shrink from view as much as humanly possible.
    I’m not in a writing or lit class for the first time since entering GHU. I’ve never taken a class outside of Science East until now. But here’s where all my time will be spent, in the social science building, from now until May. Nobody knows me here, not one friendly face to wave me over to an empty seat taking some of the pressure off. Some people prefer the hide in the back of the classroom technique. That doesn’t work for me, because I still have to maneuver my way between the desks to get there. And forget about showing up late one day. Been there too many times in high school, all the whispers and outright taunts at my expense. No thank you. This girl slips into the first and closest seat to the door. Even if it means being called on in class more than the students farther back, I’ll give the answers so long as I can be sitting down when I do it.
    So all my time and responsible planning have gotten me here—the fire pits of hell. A little more of my soul burns away as I take my place at the desk situated between four drab walls, where size-sixes sit to the front of me and size-sixes sit to the back. Although, looking around, there do seem to be a few beefcake jock boys in class,