And my nerves shatter when someone nearby says, “No fucking way.”
6
CHIAMAKA
Tuesday
In my soon-to-be four years at Niveus, I’ve encountered many secrets, whisperings, and rumors. While some of them have been about me, they were certainly never enough to ruin my reputation. The worst gossip was always about some other poor soul who would either drop out from the weight of having to face their mistakes every day or have a mental breakdown, leave school for a week, and come back with a new nose or handbag. And if I’ve learned anything during my time here, it’s perfecting the art of making a rumor work in your favor—and coming out unscathed.
So it comes as a surprise when I walk through the double doors—later than usual because my hair straighteners were acting up—and everyone stares at me like I’ve got something to be ashamed of.
My stomach flips as I walk toward Ruby, who is by my locker, scrolling through her phone.
“Hi, Ruby.”
She looks at me, a smile slowly forming, her ginger hair wrapped around her head in a braided crown.
“Hey, Chi.” There’s a playfulness in her eyes, like the look a wolf gets when it’s hunting for prey.
I open my locker and push my bag inside. “Is there a reason, other than eternal jealousy, for all the stares this morning?” I joke, trying to seem unbothered. I pretend to search for something so that I don’t have to look at her. “It’s like I shaved my eyebrows off or something.”
Her head cocks to the side. “It’s probably just about the Jamie thing.”
I close my locker and look her dead in her cold green eyes.
“What Jamie thing?” I ask. It could be anything…
Her smile widens. “Everyone’s saying he rejected you yesterday at lunch.”
Oh.
“Well, you heard wrong, Rubes,” I say, giving her a tight smile.
Her red-stained lips make an O shape.
“It must be people telling fibs,” she says with a shrug.
My eyebrows furrow together. “Who?” I ask, because she clearly knows more than she’s letting on.
“Well, you didn’t hear this from me, but”—she leans in—“Ava’s been telling people you thought he’d ask you out even though everyone knows he’s dating Belle now. Of course, I told people that it’s just a rumor…”
Ava listened to me talk about Jamie while knowing all along he was dating Belle? I should have known better than to talk to anyone about anything personal. I feel really out of the loop, like there’s so much going on that I should know about but don’t. This past summer, I was so caught up with Yale prep, I must’ve missed this. I must’ve missed everything.
“Didyouknow he was dating Belle?” I ask.
Ruby’s smile fades a little. “Just found out.”
I nod. Ruby’s always been a terrible liar.
“Thank you, Ruby. I can always count on you,” I say, thinking of ways to get back at Ava.
“You know I’ll always have your back, Chi.”
These girls are as loyal as scorpions. As I glance up, I see Ava walking toward us. She looks as white as a sheet, fear written all over her features. Sometimes the lingering threat of plotting to get someone back is better than actually carrying anything out. I smile at her and wave.
“Hi, Chi—” Ava starts, but I cut her off.
“Tell Sam I say hi,” I sneer, before marching down the hallway toward Jamie’s locker.
