Pandora’s box is officially open.
Just as I reach the doors, I hear Blair’s screeching voice yelling my name across the lot.
Fuck my whole life today.
I contemplate pretending I don’t hear her as my hand finds the handle and twists. But she screeches again, and this time she’s closer, so it’s louder.
Delightful.
I take a deep breath and prepare myself for more emotional warfare. I turn and find Blair at the bottom of the steps, practically foaming at the mouth. “What do you want, Blair?”
Her eyes go wide at the blatant lack of fucks in my tone. Her hands clench at her sides, and I can’t help but wonder what’s gotten her so worked up. It’s not like it was her fake sex tape everyone was watching yesterday. “Why the fuck did you ride in with him?”
You have got to be fucking kidding me. “That’s seriously why you were screeching my name like a banshee? Because I got a ride to school with Lincoln?”
She climbs the steps so that she’s face-to-face with me. I’m glad I put my heels on today otherwise she’d be looking down at me. Fuck that.
“Answer the fucking question.” She practically spits the words at me. “I warned you before the year started, he’s mine.”
I burst out laughing because I just can’t help myself, and she slaps me across the face, shocking the shit out of me. “Don’t fucking laugh at me.”
She practically vibrates with anger, and her eyes are wild. Apparently laughing at the self-appointed queen of ECP isn’t something that happens around here. A crowd gathers around us, but the last thing I need is another video of me circulating. I take a deep breath and try to calm myself down so I don’t retaliate, because breaking her new nose isn’t going to help me right now. “I needed a ride to school because my house is a circus right now.”
“That better be all it is. Next time, call the pathetic, depressive dirty emo puppy you’ve adopted to save you.” My sight bleeds red at her words, and I shove down all of my good intentions and punch her square in the face. The crunch of her nose, followed by her scream and the gush of blood, makes me feel better for about two seconds until the reality of the situation seeps in.
Never start the fucking fight, Octavia.
I turn on my heel and walk into the school while she wails on the front steps. Her bitch squad fawns over her and leads her away from the school. Her nose probably isn’t broken, right?
I close my eyes and take a deep breath—Icansurvive this day. And maybe if I do actually survive the day, I can survive the year.
I open my eyes and head to my locker. My stomach bottoms out when I catch sight of them… Dozens of stills from that fucking video are taped all over the walls and lockers.
You have got to be fucking kidding me. Could this day get any worse?
I start tearing them down before anyone else heads inside, but I’m sure if they’re here, they’re everywhere. I throw a ton of them in the trash before realizing that it’s a waste of my time. The video is already out there. The pictures are just another taunt.
Fuck it, I’m not wasting any more time on this bullshit.
I drop my stuff off at my locker before going to find Indi.Please fucking Christ let this day get better.I don’t think one fucking good day is too much to ask for.
I strut into the library to find Indi waiting at the table for me with the biggest Frappuccino possible topped withso muchwhipped cream that all of my bad mood disappears. Well, at least for the moment.
She hands it to me, her grin matching mine. “There is nothing that whipped cream can’t fix.”
I take a sip of the sugary goodness, wondering how I ever came around to this drink, and sigh. I think she might be right.
I look up from the drink after a quiet moment, and my eyes catch on a trashcan stuffed to the brim, realizing after a moment that it’s full of pictures from the sex tape. Indi blushes a little and shrugs when she notices me looking at it. “I took down as many as I could on the way here and then all of the ones that were taped up in here too. I know I couldn’t get them all, but I figured the more I got the less there were for you and everyone else to see.”
I hug her tight, and she squeaks a little. I fucking love this girl. She has my back without me even needing to say a word. “It’s official, you are my ride or die, bitch.”
She grins at me enthusiastically and nods when I let her go. “You had me at ride or die.”
* * *
English with Ms. Summers is always a dream, but there’s a rock in my stomach as I walk to Business. I need this class so badly, but I literally can never focus. Mr. Peters’ voice is so dreary and monotone. And after having already focused for a whole lesson, it feels like my brain just won’t engage during this time period.
It sucks.