“What? I feel left out.” Ronan kicks his friend’s leg. “First, King flipped his shit at practice yesterday, then Knight does some fuckery behind our backs, and now, Frozen is speaking to us. You’ve got to admit that there’s nothing normal about this.”
Only one sentence remains playing like a loop in my head.
King flipped his shit at practice yesterday.
What the hell is that supposed to mean? Aiden is an exemplary player and student. He doesn’t just flip his shit.
Does this have to do with what he did yesterday?
“Someone fill me in.” Ronan stares between his two friends. “Someone? Anyone?”
“Stay away from Kim,” I tell Xander with as much venom as I can manage.
“Or what? You’ll stop me?”
I’m about to reply when, unfortunately — or fortunately, it depends on how you see it – the teacher comes into the class. Everyone takes a seat and I find an empty one near the back.
My gaze meets Xander’s playful one. He sits in the row beside me, throws me my phone, and smirks.
I shudder. Arsehole.
“Oh, look. Kimberly isn’t in class.” The boastful tone he uses grates at me.
“Mr Knight.” The teacher, Mrs Stone, calls. “Class started, I’d appreciate it if you pay attention.”
“You’ve got all my attention, Mrs Stone.” He gives her a dimpled smile and opens his notebook.
Mrs Stone starts enumerating the class’s curriculum. I retrieve my pen and notebook and start scribbling notes.
Our English Literature teacher is probably the oldest in the school and will probably retire soon. Her grey hair is tied in a conservative bun and her glasses are held by those golden straps that no one uses anymore.
The door opens. The entire class falls silent. Even Mrs Stone stops talking.
I pause mid-scribble and lift my head.
A flushed Kim peeks from the door, her hair in disarray.
Snickers and laughs erupt in the class.
“You’re ten minutes late, Ms Reed,” Mrs Stone scolds.
“I… um…” Kim stumbles upon her own words.
I wince, feeling her discomfort under my skin. She always hated being put in the spotlight.
“What’s the matter, Berly, did you lose your tongue along with the fat?” Someone taunts from the side.
Mrs Stone shoots him a glare. “Another word and that’ll be detention for you, Mr Robbins.”
His face turns ashen, and I want to get up and hug Mrs Stone. She’s probably the only teacher who doesn’t turn a blind eye on the bullying. At least from insignificant people like Robbins. I doubt she’d do anything if one of the ‘Elites’ were involved.
A shadow appears behind Kim’s fidgeting body.
I stop breathing.
It’s like the earth has opened and is now sucking me into its depths to be buried alive.
Aiden places both his hands on Kim’s shoulders.