She laughs. "You're hilarious. Let's chat." She motions me to follow her.
"I'm not talking to you." I turn to go inside.
She races in front of me. "Don't be like that. Just hear me out."
I stand there, my arms crossed. "What do you want?"
"Sorry about yesterday. It's just that I have a reputation to protect. It's nothing personal."
"Actually it is. You can't say we're friends and then treat me like that." I go around her. "Just leave me alone."
When I'm in the building I go straight to my locker, not even looking at anyone I pass in the hall. I don't want to see their sneers or watch them whispering to each other. I hate them. Each and every one of them, except maybe Alyssa. She was being nice yesterday, although it could've been an act.
Walking to class, I hold my head high, shoulders back. I'm going to pretend I own this school. And if anyone gives me shit, I'll give it right back.
Nobody seems to notice me when I walk in the classroom. I was expecting to be stared at but instead they're all looking at their phones or talking. Maybe they're afraid of me after seeing that story on the news saying I'm an accomplice to a murder.
Lit class is boring, as usual, and when the instructor calls on me, I don't even try to guess the answer. I just tell him I don't know.
My next class is just as boring and I'm tempted to skip the rest of the day. But Jackson is right. Leaving school is letting them win. It's what they want. I can't do that. I can't let them win.
At lunch, I grab a tray and go through the line. I notice an empty seat at a table way in the back where the same three girls always sit and read while wearing headphones. They won't bother me. They won't even notice I'm there.
As I'm walking to the table, I stop and decide to do something else. I turn and look at Braden's table. My spot is still open. I stride over there, drop my tray on the table and take a seat. Grabbing a fork, I dig into my taco salad, today's entree.
The guys are all there, plus Alyssa. Kristen's chair is empty with Kade's crutches resting against it. The guys were talking when I walked over but quieted down when I took my seat.
"Rumor!" Braden barks.
I ignore him and flip through my phone.
"Rumor, get the fuck out of here!"
I look up at Dante across from me. "How's it going?"
"Okay," he says, glancing at Braden.
"How about you, Kade?" I take a bite of my salad. "How's the ankle?”
"Um, better."
"It's not better," Braden says. "It's fucked up. You can't even play."
I look at Kade. "Sympathy isn't his thing."
Alyssa laughs, then covers her mouth.
"What the fuck you laughing at?" Braden says to her.
"I wasn't laughing," she says. "I was coughing." She coughs to prove her point.
"If you're sick, get the fuck away from me," Braden says. "I have a game coming up. I can't be sick."
"Seen any good movies?" I ask Dante, smiling at him.
He smiles back. He loves my smile. He's told me that more than once.
"Saw one last week," he says.
