Chapter 2
I watched him scrub his hands like I was contagious.]
I tried to slip away from this trainwreck.]
Suddenly, Vivian stuck her foot out and tripped me.
“Think you can just steal my lipstick and walk away, Zara Bell?”
“I didn’t-“]
Blake cut me off: “Look, being poor’s whatever, but Christ–didn’t your parents teach you not to steal?”
My eyes filled up.[]
He was right.
My parents never taught me anything
They died when I was seven.]
“Stealing and playing victim? Since your parents never taught you basic decency, let me educate you.”
Vivian stood up, lipstick aimed at my face]
I backed away but her friends grabbed me tight.]]
The lipstick dragged across my cheek.[]
Four words appeared.]
I AM A THIEF
Everyone whooped when she finished. Phones came out, snapping away.
Vivian’s smile turned vicious.
I’d seen that look in movies–pure evil
“Oh, we’re just getting started. That lipstick? Five hundred bucks. You’ve got three days to pay up.”
Five hundred?]
That was half a year of groceries.]
She smiled wider seeing my panic.
1 lunged forward, shaking. “It wasn’t me… please, it really wasn’t…“]
She shoved me off. “Then why’d you ditch the PE? Pretty convenient timing“]
“Yeah! Who else were here!“]
“Speak!“]
I clenched my fists, thinking of that five hundred dollars.[]
“Because… my shoes are falling apart.“]
Dead silence. Everyone stared down at my feet.
My canvas sneakers gaped open, sole flapping loose.
Ready to fall apart completely.[]
Someone snickered
Then everyone was laughing
The bell saved me. Finally.
Blake walked back to his seat and shoulder checked me.||
Second time he’d ever touched me.
-0
Blake wasn’t a bad guy. At least, I used to think so.
First week of school, someone started shit because I was poor.[]
Posted stories about how my “broke ass vibe” was stinking up the classroom.]
I was crusher
Spent lunch crying at my desk.
Blake walked over.
Touched my head gently and said:
“Hey. Not your fault.”
I looked up and he jerked his hand away, bailing fast.
When did everything change?]
Must’ve been when II crossed Vivian
Whatever r she did worked–soon the whole class was targeting me
Blake used to text me: “You okay?”
Then he’d delete them right after sending.
Finally stopped texting altogether.[]
That’s when I heard Blake was chasing Vivian.
Suddenly it all made sense.
Enemy of his future girlfriend is his enemy, right?
100
