PRETTY WHEN YOU'RE MEAN

a's

art wasn't

face after she threw it out, her friends laug

ething deeper than just cruelty. Because if it didn't mean anything if that night at the café meant nothingthen I'd imagined it all.

s st

've know

a said gently. "Like, ful

on my bed, staring up at the

ut a word. She always did thatshowed love in these tiny,

edge of the bed. "And not your usual daydreamin

just trying to help, El. You've been spiralling sinc

remin

s what happened. Like, really hap

admitted she used to feel something for me in high school, and I believed her. And thenp

uttered. "Emot

's... actually kind

smoothie cup. "And part of me does. But the other part the traitor

o soft," Kate said. "That's the p

your kindness," Lela

d. Maybe I'd just projected too much onto her. Maybe tha

ybe it

was what kept

y's

d the li

olled through study notes. I used to scoff. Now I missed it missed the casual way she'd g

crav

ast she was l

didn't exist. No reaction. No flicker of ange

was

one to blam

rushing lip gloss onto her bottom lip.

red," I

dn't want your complicated truths. They wanted you to stay glossy and sharp,

maybe

d ruin

s curled around her cup when I told her the truth.