Sanctuary of Mine Read Online Free PDF Page B

tells me he’s hurt, but he’s trying hard not to show it. I whip my head around to find the culprit and come face to face with Marla.
     
    Goddamn, fucking Marla. God, I wish she’d just drop dead. Her expression is haughty and it’s evident she’s up for a battle. In the corner of the quadrangle, the footy team are occupying a picnic bench while eating their lunch. Already a few nosy parkers are staring in our direction, eager to see what’s going on.
     
    ‘Oh I’m sorry, Jane. I totally didn’t see your friend there.’ She smirks as she takes in her manicured fingers, evidently bored just by being in our presence.
    ‘It’s Mackenzie,’ I seethe, ‘And you did see him, which is precisely why you tripped him up!’ My blood is boiling. I know there is no way I can kick her arse in a fight, she’s probably got about thirty pounds on me, but I refuse to let her see it as being okay to torment a friend of mine. There, I said it. I, Mackenzie Deeks, have a friend.
     
    My body language says it all. Jaw clenching, fists closed tight, shoulders forward. The laughs from the footy table are egging me on too. I can tell they are delighting in the lunchtime show, anything to break up the monotony of school life. Chuck and Benson seem to be particularly delighted by our current predicament. Tyler’s there too, but his back is to me. Levi seems to instinctively know that I’m not about to let this go so easily. I feel his hand place gently on my shoulder.
     
    ‘Come on, Mackenzie. She’s not worth it, let’s just go.’
    ‘No way, Levi. Marla needs to apologise to you first.’ I fold my arms across my chest and jut my jaw out just so, hoping that I intimidate her just a little.
    ‘Are you serious? Like, I’m really in disbelief right now, Mackenzie. I think it’s your big oaf who needs to apologise to me. Sheesh, this is what I have to put up with just because someone else is a klutz?’ The urge to slap her cheek simmers just below the surface. In fact, I can feel my hand twitching to do it, just to ease the adrenalin that is coursing through my body.
    ‘She’s going to apologise, Levi. We’re not leaving until she does.’
     
    My focus was so concentrated on Marla that it’s only now that I see Tyler standing behind her. My eyes find his – Pacific blue stares me down and makes my knees weak. Oh hang on, that could be the lack of food, or the excitement for that matter, but I’m pretty certain some of it has to do with the fact that Mr-Hot-Stuff is giving me the once over.
    ‘Not a chance, Jane.’ Marla sniffs, as though bored with our conversation. She’s yet to r ealise Tyler is standing right behind her.
     
    ‘Everything alright, Mackenzie?’ I really want to kiss him right now, I really do. I don’t think I could be more grateful if I tried. I’m sure he sees the relief I feel at him having stepped in. Marla freezes, only for a split second before regaining her composure. She spins around to face Tyler.
    ‘Tyler! Hey, what’s up?’ His eyes briefly scan her face before returning to mine.
    ‘I’m talking to Mackenzie.’ He sounds totally bored as he dismisses her.
    ‘Marla was just about to apologise to Levi for tripping him up.’ I stare pointedly at her, waiting. She looks from Tyler to me and Levi and then huffs audibly.
    ‘Geez, it was an accident , okay? Sor-ry!’ She stomps off towards the nearest building and disappears through the double glass doors without giving any of us a backwards glance. I can hear Levi sigh with relief behind me.
     
    ‘Seems like she’s got it in for you two,’ Tyler says as he gives his dirty blonde hair a flick, just enough to get his fringe out of his eyes. God I could get lost in them. I know it sounds weird, but they’re really pretty. Mine are a shitty hazel colour that make understated look special.
    ‘I think she’s got it in for anyone who’s not part of her clique, but you really don’t have to keep saving us you know.’ He smiles