“You’re welcome,” she answered, coming up beside me. I glanced at her out of the corner of my eye, and she smiled nervously. “You don’t remember me, do you?”
This had me turning my head to get a good look at her face. I searched every curve, the jade color of her eyes, the pin-straight penny-colored hair. “Should I?” I asked, putting the cap back on her stain removal pen. I held it out to her, and she took it back slowly.
She snorted. “No, I’m not very… memorable.”
I wished I could say the same about myself, but thanks to my parents, I’d always be remembered.
The girl tucked her hair behind her ears and shifted nervously on her feet. She was wearing expensive-looking black shoes, their shine catching my eye as she moved farther away from me. “We went to middle school together before you moved.” She half-rolled her eyes. “I actually moved shortly after you but made it back here before my junior year.”
“Oh,” I muttered, wringing out my now stain-free blouse. Fuck you, Madeline.
“I’m not surprised you don’t remember me.”
“Why is that?” I walked over to the hand dryer but waited a beat so I could hear her answer.
She shrugged, staring at the bruise on my face. “You didn’t seem to pay attention to anyone, except for…” I finished for her. “Christian.”
She glanced over to my cut lip. “Yeah. Plus, I wasn’t the most popular person.”
I ran my blouse underneath the air dryer for a few seconds, getting some of the water to dry before putting it back on over my tank top.
“Well, I’m not the most popular either. Not anymore.”
She gave me a half-smile, and I returned it. I didn’t necessarily want a friend, but at the same time, it would be nice to have someone to go to for a stain removal pen, because ten out of ten times, the bully won’t just strike once. I was certain Madeline would do something else to torment me. That was how girls like her worked. I’d been to four different high schools, and there was always one girl who enjoyed tearing down others. The school may change, but the girl never did.
“I know you already know me,” I said, sticking my hand out, “but I’m Hayley.”
Her smile grew as her palm collided with mine. “I’m Piper.”
The bell rang, breaking our handshake. “What’s your next class?” she asked.
“Poly sci,” I answered. “With Mr. Lincoln.”
“Follow me; I’ll walk you.”
“Only if I can use you as a human shield when Madeline throws more food on me.”
Piper stopped and looked back at me with wide eyes. “That’s who ruined your shirt? Sorry, but you’re on your own with her. I was the butt of her jokes my entire junior year. I don’t mess with them.”
“Them?” I asked as we began walking again. I kept my eyes peeled for anyone else who wanted to mess with me, but no one even glanced in our direction.
Piper stopped in front of a classroom, and I assumed it was poly sci. “Yeah. The it crowd.” She shook her head. “Meet me outside by the front doors after school. I’ll drive you home and fill you in on English Prep. You didn’t just walk into a prep school; you walked into a kingdom. And you and I? We’re just peasants.”
“Oh, I don’t think you want to drive me home. I live—"
She shook her copper hair before I could finish. “After school. I’ll see you by the doors.” Then she turned around, disappearing into the hall. Okay then. When I moved to find a seat, my heart dipped when I was met with a familiar pair of blue eyes—Ollie.
Did he hate me as much as his big bro? He blinked once, twice, three times as I stood frozen at the door, waiting for his glare. But it never came. Relief pooled around my body. I didn’t even know why I cared. I was here for education so I could get the heck out of this shitty town. I hadn’t seen or talked to anyone in this world for several years. I shouldn’t have cared what they thought. I shouldn’t have cared that Christian hated my guts. So what?
If I allowed myself to feel, it would have hurt a little. Stung like a hornet on my very heart. But my feelings were off. Always.
My shoulder lurched forward as someone rammed into me from behind. I gasped when I turned around, but my anger was replaced by a surge of shock when I saw that it was Christian. He brushed past me quickly, the heat of his anger wafting all around us. Ollie looked from me then to Christian with a bemused expression. I was right there with him. What is his problem?
Nonetheless, I sucked it up and walked into the classroom with my shoulders square and spine intact.
I’m ready for round two.
Chapter Four