Fuck them.
Fuck this place.
Fuck this weird sort of world I’ve entered.
I want nothing more than to scuttle back to Oklahoma. At least there I have friends, and I have Coach.
But for now, I need to show they haven’t gotten to me. Honestly, how hard could it be to get through a school day?
* * *
Lily looks up when I enter, but then she quickly looks down at her desk. She’s cleaned up, and she smells fine. I wonder how many showers it took to get rid of the smell.
I open my mouth to say something, but then close it. Lily got in trouble for talking to me. I look around at my classmates. They’re talking to each other, writing things in their notebooks, but they keep glancing back at me.
What little snitches. They probably tattled on Lily yesterday.
So throughout Calculus, I ignore Lily. She does the same. Not even a glance in my direction. It stings a bit – it’s not like I’m expecting a thank you, but it seems like we’re caught in the crosshairs of the Elites.
When the bell rings, Lily jumps up and nearly sprints away. All heads swivel back to me – even Mr. Brayburn stares. There’s a feeling building up inside me – What! I want to shout. But instead, I slowly gather my things and exit, refusing to give them the satisfaction of a backward glance.
* * *
I keep my head high throughout the morning. I get strange looks. Pitying looks. And I hear my name in whispers. I don’t see any of the three guys, nor do I see the two girls. I do pass by Jason, though, and he breaks up laughing. My senses are on high alert – something has happened, and I don’t know what.
During a bathroom break after third period, two girls fall silent when I enter. The sneers on their faces are mixed with contempt and pity. My cheeks redden– I know they’re talking about me.
When I enter the stall, I hear one of them whisper to her friend. “Do you think she knows?”
My pants are halfway down my ass. I pause, hoping they’ll say something else. But they titter out into the hallway, leaving me with my heart in my mouth.
Do I know what?
They have my phone. Maybe they unlocked it, maybe they discovered how to access my data without it. The sinking feeling grows. I try to think of the things I have stored on my phone, but I’m running a blank.
And then the door opens, and I hear the distinct sound of a click. Someone’s locked it. My heart races, and I look underneath the stall, but it’s just a pair of nice girl loafers.
“Ophelia?” comes Lily’s voice. “Ophelia, I know you’re in here.”
I open my stall door. Lily’s hazel-green eyes fall upon my neck, and she winces, giving a small sound of sympathy.
“Do you want makeup to cover it up?” she asks, nodding to my injuries.
I shake my head. Her sudden gesture of affection and sympathy unsettles me. “No. I won’t show them I’m afraid.”
Her eyes meet mine. “Good,” she says. “You’re much stronger than I was.”
“They did this to you too?” I ask, intrigued. I wonder how Lily got mixed up in all this mess.
She winces. “Not exactly. It’s hard to explain, really.”
“I’m all ears,” I say, walking to the mirrors. The bruises are becoming darker, and I feel a sick sort of satisfaction wearing them. I will not cover them up. Lily joins me, and our eyes find each other in the mirror. “I’ve literally got nothing else to lose.”
Lily winces again, and she bites her lip. “It’s complicated.”
“Do you want to tell me or not?” I try not to sound irritated, but it comes off harsher than I expected. I sigh. “Sorry, I’m just very... I’m in a weird spot right now.”
She nods like she understands, and again, I try and think of what she’s gone through.“The Elites don’t exactly like my family.”