Rebirth of the Broken Luna A Second Chance at Luna's Heart novel Chapter 95

Chapter 95

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I followed him into the break room, carrying my lunch bag in hand. He was sitting at one of the small tables, staring at his bag with

an expression I’d never seen on his face before, it looked like hunger filled with shame.

“Riley?” I said softly, not wanting to startle him since he seemed to be out of it. “Are you okay?”

He looked up at me, and for a moment, his mask fell off. I saw tears that were gathering at the corners of his eyes, and I saw his

hands clench into fists as he tried to control his emotions.

“I’m fine,” he said, but his voice broke on the words.

“Do you… do you not have lunch?” I asked gently, wondering why Sophia would forget to feed her child. Didn’t she know to give him

lunch.

“Because I have extra. Mama always packs too much food, and-”

“I said I’m fine,” Riley snapped, hitting his hand on the desk, but I could see him swallow hard, could see the way his stomach chose

that moment to growl loudly.

I reached into my lunch bag and pulled out half of my sandwich, it was peanut butter and jelly, cut exactly the way Mama knew I

liked it.

“Here,” I said, holding it out to him. “Please. I’m not that hungry anyway.”

For a second, I thought he might take it and eat. I knew he was hungry. I saw the way his eyes were fixed on the sandwich, saw him lick his lips unconsciously. But then something changed in his expression, and the mask slid back in place as he hardened his face.

“I don’t want your charity,” he said, and then he did something that shocked me so much I couldn’t react.

He slapped the sandwich out of my hand, sending it flying across the room to splatter against the wall. Peanut butter and jelly smeared down the painted surface, and pieces of bread scattered across the floor.

“What the hell is your problem?” I shouted, my voice loud enough to be echoing in the small room. All the confusion and hurt and frustration I’d been carrying all day because of Riley came pouring out and I couldn’t control my feelings.

“Why are you acting like such a jerk, Riley? I’m trying to be your friend, and you’re treating me like I did something horrible to you!”

Riley just stared at me with that same blank expression, like my anger and pain meant nothing to him.

‘I thought we were friends,” I continued, my voice getting louder, as I clenched my hands into fists. “I thought you wanted to be friends with me. I thought you were happy when you slept in my house. But you’ve been treating me like garbage all day, and I don’t

understand why!”

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20:58 Wed, Jan 21

Chapter 95

“We’re not friends, Riley said flatly, acting unconcerned about my outburst as he didn’t even feel bad about it. “We’re competitors.”

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“Competitors?” I repeated, feeling confused and both surprised at what he just said to me. “What are you talking about? We’re in the

same class, we’re supposed to help each other!”

“I’m better than you,” Riley said, his voice was empty, not carrying any emotion.

“I’m smarter, faster, more focused on winning than you. I don’t need your help, and I don’t want your friendship.”

“That’s not true. And even if it were, it doesn’t matter. Friends don’t compete with each other like that.”

“Then I guess we’re not friends,” Riley said, standing up and zipping his empty backpack.

I was so angry and hurt that I could barely think straight. But as Riley moved past me toward the door, I was attracted by something weird. The necklace he wore, the one I’d noticed before but never really looked at closely – was glowing a bit in the break room.

“What’s that?” I asked, pointing at his chest, curiosity taking over my anger as I added stepping close. “Your necklace. It’s… it’s

glowing.”

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20:58 Wed, Jan 21

Reborn From Regret A Second Chance at Luna’s Heart