Broken Bonds (Unbreakable Bonds #1)

Chapter Thirty-Two

chapter thirty-two

CELINE

The morning after Ryan and I had our heart-to-heart, we faced our parents together, aiming to be a united front. Regardless of our intentions, they were still furious with Ryan, though my mother seemed to be slightly remorseful for her actions last night toward me.

After another screaming match that made Ryan and me late for our first day of class, they agreed to at least think about it, never mind that Ryan had already filled out the paperwork and the United States Military was expecting him January second for training. He was under contract. Legally, there was nothing our parents could do.

Much like my first day of class a year ago, I sat in Ryan’s truck, nerves swirling in my stomach at the thought of yet another first day. Unlike my brother, who wasn’t excited for his last first day, especially as a senior, I couldn’t wait.

Amber and I had been lucky enough to coordinate two classes together, while my other four would require me to either step out of my bubble or embrace the loneliness. Truthfully, I was leaning toward any possibility that kept me nice and safe in my bubble. I knew if Amber hadn’t approached me on the first day in our class, we wouldn’t be friends today. But I just wasn’t in the mood to attempt making friends with anyone else.

The fiery redhead was sitting beside me now, her nose stuck in her phone, a smirk playing on her red lips, nails clicking away at her phone.

“Who are you texting?” I whispered, watching the professor walk into the small room, her hands filled with papers.

“Ryan… duh?” She looked at me with a shrug.

Fighting a giggle, I stayed focused on the woman at the front of the room, who seemed to be talking to herself. “No sexting in class, dork.” She dropped the phone abruptly with a loud bang that had every head in the room turning in our direction.

Glaring at me with cheeks as red as her lips and hair, she discreetly put the phone in her bag and rested her gaze on the woman at the front of the room.

“Geez, way to throw a girl to the sharks,” she mumbled, earning a snicker from me and a strange look from the boy sitting on her other side.

The woman at the front of the room was still shuffling around, arranging her papers on the desk in stacks. Then, she took a sip from her hot pink tumbler before rearranging the papers and mumbling to herself some more.

“You think nutty is going to start class anytime soon? I’ve got to pee.” She leaned her head closer to mine to whisper the last part.

Slapping her arm playfully, I stifled a laugh. “It’s the first class of the day!”

“I had to meet up with your brother before class, and he didn’t leave me much time for the bathroom, you know?” she retorted as if I understood her dilemma.

If only she knew how I wished I were having that kind of problem on a Monday morning.

“You just saw him yesterday. It’s not like much has happened in his life since then or yours, so what took up so much time?” Her cheeks darkened again along with mine this time. “Never mind; don’t tell me!” I whisper-shouted.

Our laughter finally caught the nutty professor’s attention. “Do you two have something to share with the class?” Her voice was shaking with nerves, but her eyes remained emotionless as she glared at us.

“I mean, only if the entire class wants to know about my sex life with her brother,” Amber retorted, earning a few chuckles from the other students, and surprisingly, a blush from our professor. I gaped at her.

“Keep it to yourself, Miss…?”

“Just call me Amber.”

“Very well, Amber. Since you so kindly started the class discussion today, why don’t you share something else about yourself besides the fact that you’re with her brother.” The professor’s pointed gaze landed on me, making me flush.

I expected Amber to falter, but the girl never ceased to disappoint. “I mean, there really isn’t much to know besides the fact my boyfriend is hot as hell. I’m sure you can relate, right?” Without realizing it, I face palmed, not believing the audacity of Amber for speaking to the nutty professor like that.

“Seems like your friend is a little embarrassed by your behavior, Amber. Why don’t you tell us something interesting about yourself?”

And just like that, every pair of eyes turned their gaze from my attention-seeking best friend to me, and I was ready for a hole in the ground to swallow me whole.

“My name is Celine and I—” Just like that, the room erupted into whispers.

“That’s Celine Wilson, Ryan Wilson’s little sister.”

“Did you hear what happened to her?”

“I heard she was trapped in a shelter with Ace Danvers.”

“I heard she forced herself on him in the courtyard, and then, they both disappeared.”

“Didn’t she have surgery last year?”

“She’s dating Ace Danvers, or so I heard.”

My whole world turned upside down, and I stood up on shaky legs, turning for the door just as Amber grabbed my hand. The fierce protectiveness in her eyes comforted me instantly.

“It was a tragic accident,” she snapped at everyone, immediately stopping their whispers. “Now shut up and move on with your pathetic lives.”

All the attention returned to Amber, then to the professor, whose jaw was on the ground.

“I didn’t sign up for this crap,” she mumbled, pulling at her brown hair. “Forget introducing yourself. I don’t care who you are. I’m going to give you the class syllabus.” Amber snorted as I took my seat again. “Please sign it, return it, and then leave. Class dismissed.”

“What a shit show,” Amber said as soon as we exited the classroom, her red locks swishing with every step. “I can’t believe I’m paying for this.” Pulling her phone out of her bag, she instantly started texting, and I could only assume it was my brother.

Guilt pulled at me when I remembered he hadn’t told her about his deployment in January, but it wasn’t my news to share.

“Thanks for saving my ass in there,” I told her, pushing the thoughts of my brother joining the military aside.

She didn’t stop the loud tapping on her phone as she answered, “You’re my best friend, Cece, and nobody gets to talk about you—not while I’m around.” After walking through the double doors of the building, we sat on one of the benches right outside, and she put her phone away, looking at me.

“I wanted to run. I just wanted to get away,” I confessed. “How did they know all of that?” She shrugged as if it didn’t matter, but it did. They knew details about my life, about me, about Ace and me.

How did complete strangers know about us?

“Probably just rumors. Don’t think too much about it. They don’t know you, Celine. They don’t know what you’ve been through and survived. Don’t let your armor crack now, hun.”

If only it were that easy. But with Ace’s disappearance, I felt more fragile than ever. As least Aidan had stuck around until death ripped him from me. Ace had chosen to leave.

We chatted aimlessly for the next half an hour until our next classes started, and then we parted ways, my newfound anxiety crawling up my throat with every step in the opposite direction from her. I found my next class with ease and sat in the back of the room, choosing the corner chair away from everyone. I made sure to be early so I would have the first pick. As I waited for the professor and other students, I pulled out my phone and started scrolling through Instagram.

“Is this seat taken?” Startled, I looked away from the fake world on my phone to see who the deep voice belonged to.

Recognizing the dark-haired boy from my previous semester, I shook my head and returned to Instagram. I heard him settle into the seat next to me, then shuffle through his backpack for his supplies.

“You look familiar. Do I know you?” He pulled my attention away from a video of a puppy learning how to play dead.

“Don’t think so. I started here last year.” I looked at him briefly, then returned my attention to the video.

“Oh, shit—you’re Wilson’s little sister.” I cringed, wishing he hadn’t taken the only seat next to me. Why did everyone suddenly know who I was?

“Yup.”

“I heard you were in an accident. Are you okay?” Looking up from the video that had replayed for the fourth time, I suddenly recognized the guy. He was the one who caused Ace and me to have that huge fight on campus last year. Well, screw me.

“I’m fine. Thanks for asking.” I couldn’t hide the bitterness in my voice. The professor thankfully waltzed in at that exact moment.

“Everyone up!” The aging man commanded as he set up his iPad on the podium, and we all stood. “When I call your name, please tell me why you are taking this class and what your plans are for graduation, and then sit.”

It’s a required class, genius.

Slowly, the professor started calling names, and the answers varied, some making the class laugh while others were inspiring.

Julian, the guy beside me, naturally had some wise-ass comment. “Yo, prof, I’m forced to take this class because it’s a core one, you know. But really, it’s a waste of my time because I’m going to be in the NFL, and I don’t need to know about all the religions in the world, you feel me?”

The laughter that erupted in the room was short-lived when the old man spoke. “You know, Jules, I’ve never liked the NFL or its players because of their lack of education, so no, I don’t feel you.”

Note to self: do not mess with this man.

He was only about halfway through the room when the familiar cramp crawled up my leg, reminding me that I would never fully recover from the surgery. Shifting uneasily, I tried to bend and massage the cramp from my calf. The professor’s eyes snapped to mine when I lost my balance and landed on my ass. My cheeks flamed red with embarrassment.

“I didn’t realize standing was so hard.” His cold voice cut across the room.

The cold, tiled floor bit into my hands as I tried to stand, only to lose my footing, falling again. My cheeks instantly flamed when I heard laughter from the front of the room.

“Stand up, young lady, this instant!”

I tried to stand again, but a cramp seized my leg. I bit down on my tongue to stop the whimper from coming out. Closing my eyes, I fought the embarrassing tears, willing them not to spill down my cheeks.

Celine, get yourself together. You can do this.

Two warm hands slid beneath my arms, lifting me from the floor. Opening my eyes in shock, my eyes met Julian’s.

“Since you need everyone’s attention on you, why don’t you come to the front of the room and teach this class?” I shuddered under the professor’s harsh gaze.

“I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to.” The words came out with a tremble as I stood and stared at the old man.

“I don’t have time for football players and attention seekers. Wait your turn.” I focused on the ground, wishing it would open up and swallow me whole.

“She was in a terrible accident last year and had surgery on both her legs. I don’t think she deserves to be embarrassed by you for that, sir.”

The room suddenly went so silent that you could hear a pin drop. The professor narrowed his gaze on Julian, then turned to me.

“You may sit if you need,” he said, his voice less stern and much more forgiving.

Shaking my head, I remained standing until I was the last one, and he finally called my name. “You must be Celine Wilson?” He looked up from his iPad to me, his cold eyes softening slightly.

“Yes.” I cleared my throat. “I’m taking this class because it’s not only a core class but something I believe will make me a worldly individual, and I want to be educated in other topics besides business. Once I graduate, I plan to help my brother and father run our family business.”

The man nodded, and I finally settled into my cold seat with a sigh of relief.

“Don’t let people bully you, Wilson. You’re a survivor—not a victim.” Julian’s soft voice was yet another surprise. And I didn’t know what to do about it. He’d been such a jackass the last time we’d spoken. Why was he being so kind now?

After class, the professor stopped me on my way to the door, raising his finger to beckon me over to his podium. I drew in a deep breath and turned his way, hoping he wasn’t about to lecture me.

“I apologize for my actions; I didn’t realize your circumstances, Celine.”

I blinked in surprise at his apology. With that, he turned and walked out the door, leaving no room for me to answer. Sighing, I headed for the door, but just as I grabbed it, Julian held it open for me, a smirk playing on his lips.

“I don’t see your boyfriend around anymore,” Julian said, making me frown at him. A pang hit me right in the heart at the mention of Ace. “How about that date?”

I sighed heavily. “He was never my boyfriend, Julian.” The words felt like acid on my tongue.

His smirk turned to a smile. “Is that a yes?”

I rolled my eyes, shouldering past him. “In your dreams.”

Julian was in my next four classes, much to my dismay. Eventually, after he asked me out for the fifth time, I gave in. How could I not when I had Amber in my ear telling me I just had to go out with the hot football player? To give him a chance? To not let Ace and Aidan define my future relationships?

I just hoped I didn’t end up regretting this.