against her chest, using it as a physical shield
kend plans in Aspen or complaining about their personal tutors. Dawn kept her head down, her chin tucked into the collar of her uniform b
n corridor, where the long rows of metal lock
ly against the linoleum floor as
a burst of loud, raucous male laughter. It was a sound she recognized instantly. It
chest. If Freddie was
locker in the row. She held her breath, making herself as thin and invisible as possible. The metal lockers actd to listen to the conversation
leazy curiosity teenage boys used when discussing girls. "I've noticed you looking toward the front of the
e window, doing those extra credit problems like her life depends
way. Her eyes widened in terror. She hugged her books tighter, her fingernails diggi
s question stretched out for what felt like an eternity. The only sound Dawn co
Arlo
dibly arrogant chuckle that vibrated through the, dripping with absolute incredulity. It was the tone of
n a boring little nerd like that?" Arlo conti
against the lockers, running a hand through his expensive hair
Arlo finally added, his voice laced with pur
ith the kinetic forc
sister. Boring littl
mashed it directly into her chest, shattering her ribs a
of old ash. A sharp, agonizing pain flared in her chest, so intense that she physically
r her. She pressed her hands flat against the cold metal of the locker behind her, her fingernails scraping desperately against the steel
sion. But she refused to let them fall. She tilted her head back, stari
chorus of loud, mocking laughter. They quickly moved on to
er second of it. She couldn't
e like a criminal. As she reached the stairwell, her blurred vision caused her to misjudge the distance. Her foot caugh
nce against the handrail and kept running, pushing t
ink. She gripped the porcelain edges with white-knuc
ed-rimmed, and a tiny drop of blood smeared her lower lip. She looked
e cupped her hands, catching the freezing water, and splashed it hars
was red and raw. She stared into her
with a newly forged, desperate rage. I will completely, utterl
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