I nod and rush out of the class. I need to be alone, so I can shove all the emotions back down from where they’re creeping out of the darkest parts of me.
As soon as I step out of the building, someone grabs the paper out of my hand.
“What do we have here?” Michael says, an egotistical smirk plastered on his face as he begins to read my essay out loud, “I chose history because it’s easy.” He lets out a bark of laughter and gives me a condescending look. “Wow, I think my IQ dropped from reading that,” he taunts.
The second his eyes turn back to the paper, I lunge forward. I grab the essay back, and at the same time, my fist connects with his jaw.
I do my best to avoid violence because I fucking abhor it. Still, for this parasite, I’m willing to make an exception.
Michael falls to the side from the blow and grips his jaw as he climbs back to his feet. He lets out a chuckle that sounds more like a warning. “Now you’ve pissed me off.”
Stepping into his personal space, I growl. “I already have blood on my hands. Want me to add yours as well?” I see the hesitation creep into his eyes and spit out, “You’re nothing but a joke.”
Mr. Donati comes out, and I expect to be sent to the office, but instead, he snaps, “Break it up, guys. Go home.”
I bump my shoulder against Michael’s as I push by him and clench my jaw while I fight to regain control over the rage boiling in my chest.
Climbing into my truck, I throw my bag and the essay on the passenger seat. Slamming a hand against the steering wheel, I let out a frustrated growl.
I shouldn’t have hit him. I should’ve kept calm.
But I lost my shit just like my father.
God, I don’t want to be like him.
The taste of regret and shame is bitter in the back of my throat, and I shut my eyes as I suck in a deep breath.
I’d rather die than become a monster.
The rest of the week is tiring as fuck. Michael has zero survival instincts because the parasite keeps looking to start shit with me.
I gained another enemy because I stepped in to help Brie when a guy named Sully was giving her trouble. It’s done nothing to silence the rumors. Most of the students have made up their minds that I’m a psycho, and I’ll most likely end up murdering Michael or Sully as well.
Can’t say I’m not tempted by the idea, but all I really want is to be left alone.
“Hey, asshole!” Sully calls from the end of the hallway.
Knowing he’s probably referring to me, I grab my English book from the locker and slam the door shut.
Sully catches up to me and throws his arm around my shoulders. “How’s my favorite asshole today?”
I shrug his arm off, but the guy is like a fucking tick because he nudges his shoulder against mine. “Come on, no hard feelings. Let’s be friends.”
Yeah, I need him as a friend as much as I need to be castrated. “Ain’t gonna happen,” I grumble as I walk into the classroom.
“Sure?”
I sit down and drop the book on the desk. Sully comes to stand by my desk. “Last chance.”
I slant my eyes up, giving him a fuck off and die look.
He shrugs. “Your loss.”
Brie sits down, and it catches Sully’s attention. He begins to squeeze past the front of my desk, and knowing he’s probably going to pick on her, I shove my desk forward, and it sends Sully stumbling into the chair in front of me.
The class bursts out laughing, and I lean a little forward. “Oops. My bad.”
“Settle down,” Mrs. Ramsey calls out.
“You’re dead,” Sully snarls before he walks to his desk.
“Heard that shit before,” I mutter. I pull the book I’m reading from my bag. I finished The Art Of War, and I have to say, it’s helped a lot in dealing with Michael and Sully.
I’m now reading Unbroken, and damn, what Louis Zamperini went through is unthinkable but also encouraging. Knowing that he survived against all odds gives me hope.
Mrs. Ramsey comes down the aisle, handing back our graded work.
She stops at my desk and looks at the book, then says, “Another good one. I have a couple I can recommend if you’re interested?”
“Sure.”
My reply makes her smile, then she adds, “Keep up the good work.”
I haven’t received much praise in my life, and it causes a foreign sensation to spread through my chest.
Chapter 5
BRIE
The past week has actually been… nice. I finally got my wish because the past couple of days, I’ve been invisible, and it’s been amazing.
Michael, Sully, and Colton have been too busy picking fights with each other to pay any unwanted attention to me. It’s been an enormous relief.
All the rumors I hear between classes are about Colton and not about me, but he doesn’t seem to care at all.
I wish I could be like him and just not bother with what people do or think.
Maybe one day.
My mother left for LA yesterday to visit my grandparents. I’ve never met them, but I’m so grateful for the reprieve it’s offered me.
But my mother will be back tomorrow.
I let out a sigh as I walk into school. I’m soaking wet from the rain pouring outside and need to get to my locker for the dry uniform so I can change before class.
My foot hooks against something, and unable to catch myself, I sprawl over the floor.
Laughter explodes around me as I scramble to sit up and make sure my skirt covers everything.
“Weinstock, you gotta watch where you’re walking,” Sully chuckles.
Ugh… I knew it wouldn’t last.
A hand appears in my line of sight, and glancing up, I see it belongs to Colton.
Yeah, sure. I’m not falling for that trick.
With my luck, he’ll yank away as soon as I reach for it. Ignoring him, I climb to my feet and straighten the wet fabric of my skirt that’s clinging to my legs.
Colton picks up my bag, and apprehension bleeds into my chest. He holds it out, and as I reach for the strap, my eyes dart to his face. He glares at me and shakes his head. “Stop letting them walk all over you,” he grumbles before he stalks toward Sully.
I don’t stick around to hear what they have to say to each other because my face is on fire with embarrassment, and I just want to get away from them.
No one asked him to interfere, and then he makes me feel like I’m an annoyance?
His comment actually hurt. It reminds me of all the times my mother has told me to grow a spine and stop being a zombie.
If only they knew how hard it is because whenever I stood up for myself in the past, it only made them all more aggressive.
“Damn, Brie,” Lindy, one of the cheerleaders, calls out, “looks like your mother tried to drown you.”
Her friends snicker as I rush past them. Stopping at my locker, I quickly open it and pull the bag with dry clothes out. When I shut the door and turn to walk away, Lindy blocks my way.
Her eyes scan over me with a look of disdain. “If you ask my opinion, the likes of you shouldn’t be allowed to attend Black Mountain Academy.”
I didn’t ask.
“I noticed a couple of new outcasts joined this year, but it doesn’t look like any of them wants to be your friend. Doesn’t it suck being so unpopular?”