“Come on, let’s go get you a new uniform,” Indi says, trying to pull me away from them when Blair leans in.
“I told you this was my school, Octavia. You should leave because this isn’t going to get any better for you. If anything, it's only going to get that much worse. Don’t say I didn’t warn you because this is the only warning you’ll get.”
“That’s enough, Blair,” a male voice shouts across the cafeteria, but Blair pays no fucking attention.
I shrug out of Indi’s hold and lean in closer, making sure she can see the fire in my eyes. “Blair, you have no fucking idea what I’ve lived through. A vapid little bitch like you isn’t going to scare me.”
She laughs loudly, like I’ve told her some hysterical fucking joke, before turning and flicking her hair in my face and walking away. Brittany’s at her side like a perfect little lap dog.
Fuck this shit. I walk towards the doors of the cafeteria with my head held high. I won’t give them the satisfaction of my tears. They’re just angry tears, but they won’t fucking know that, and they wouldn’t believe it anyway. I refuse to let them see me cry.
“Are you okay?” the blond football player asks, pulling me to a stop before I reach the exit. I turn to look up at him and I try my best to smile though really, I’d just like to get cleaned up.
“I’m fine, this uniform sucks anyway.” He offers me a megawatt smile, and I think Indi nearly drops dead beside me. I think she’s actually holding her breath, her hands shake at her sides before she sucks in a breath and clasps her hands together, looking at him all googly-eyed. It’s like she’s star struck.
“It does, but you rock it. Even with the additions.” He shoves his hands in the pockets of his slim fit jeans, and his megawatt smile only brightens as he says, “I’m Raleigh.”
“Octavia.” I smile back, not wanting to be rude since this is the only guy who stood up for me. I glance around him into the cafeteria. I don’t want to be dismissive, but I really want to get the hell out of here.
“I have a spare uniform in my locker, come on.” Indi swoops in and saves the day, like a fucking superstar. I wave at Raleigh as she loops her arm through mine, pulling me into the hallway.
“Definitely didn’t think you’d be into the jock type,” I joke as she leads me in the opposite direction of the cafeteria.
“I’m so not, well usually anyway, but dude, that smile. Exceptions can always be made.” She fans herself, making me laugh as she leads me to a bathroom. I strip out of my shirt as she disappears and do the best I can to get the soda out of my hair. I tip my head under the hand dryer, but it's a useless effort, so I focus on drying my bangs and put the rest up into a ponytail.
It doesn’t take long for her to get back, handing me a shirt as she leans against the wall. “This isn’t the first time this shit has happened, so I tend to keep at least three spares in my locker at all times.”
I’m pretty sure my jaw just about hits the floor, but she only shrugs in response. “Like I said, I know what it’s like being the new kid.”
I’m not sure if I’m more pissed off for her or for me at this point, but I make a vow to myself right then.
I am not letting these assholes win. Not now, not ever.
Chapter Three
Indi meets me at the door after I finish my AP French class, and we head to the locker rooms for Gym. We’re the last ones to arrive, and I groan internally at all of the bitchiness I can already sense swirling around in here. It’s just a fucking gym class, not the Olympics, of course we all look like shit. I tune everyone but Indi out as we get changed, and since we were the last ones in, we’re the last ones to head to the gym. I’m so glad this is the last period of the day. It feels like I’ve been here for twelve hours.
As I push the door open to the gym, I hear, “Is that you, V?”
No fucking way.
I look up and find Easton Saint grinning at me. His startling gray eyes light up as he watches me. I take in a grown up East, raking my eyes over his mouth-watering… everything. Tall, broad, and ripped as fuck. His once long and floppy dark hair is now short on the sides, and longer on top, and I can tell from looking at it that he's been running his fingers through it all day. He has that mussed, just woke up, I don’t give a fuck, look going on.
I head straight for him and practically jump on him. He catches me and spins me around before putting my feet firmly back on the ground. “East, what the fuck are you doing in this hell hole?”
He belts out a laugh before taking a step back. That’s when I notice the whispers, the phones pointed in our direction… and what he’s wearing. “Picked up a job till Linc is out of here. Just something temporary, and the school board was desperate after Coach White quit suddenly just before the semester started.”
“You’re my freaking Gym teacher?” I groan, and he nods, the glint in his eye dimming a bit. “So, I guess wrapping myself around you like that is going to really help with these assholes all calling me a whore.”
He leans in, glaring over my shoulder before whispering. “Fuck them, V. You know who you are, and you always have.” He pulls back, his megawatt grin firmly back in place. “Now line up, it’s track day.”
The round of groans around me makes me smile real hard. I don’t know if he did it for me, or if it was already his plan, but I’ve always loved running. It’s never been a secret among my friends. I follow everyone outside and line up on the track. East winks at me, and I get the feeling we probably weren’t meant to be out here, but fuck yes.
“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?” Indi moans, and I nod.
“Hell yes, there is nothing quite like running on a clear track.”
She rolls her eyes at me, and I laugh softly. “This is the peppiest I’ve seen you all day, so I’m not going to rain on your parade. Move up front, Running Barbie. Leave my slow ‘I don’t wanna’ ass back here. Might as well get some joy out of the day.”