Tangled. love
SA'S
ear
d on about cell membranes and osmosis, but my mind was nowhere
lder. And still, every bit th
ld talk a teacher out of homework and a smile that looked like it belonged on magazine covers. And me?
cond skin for four years and it wa
her clique cornered me behind the cafeteria. My books had been kicked down, my glasses knocked
em off. Pu
never really been comfortable
indness? It had been enoug
entless, always dragging me into corners,
the heck was she. Does she even know my fat
mes in my elementary school. I had made a silent promise to myself:
ade, the last time Vanes
irst, thick, sour, like rotten milk and sewage mixed together. My
aring nose masks like they were in a lab. Ev
saw t
very step they took toward me. My l
ric
d,
My balance slipped, their laughter echoed, and then Vanessa was in front of m
perfume makeover," she
sed m
I hea
out of yo
han I'd ever heard it, sn
standing over me ontall and furious, gripping Vanes
e bowl, his face twisting in disbelief. "Are
"Relax, it's just the stinker.
collected the bowl from Vane
h her again, not even your daddy's
The rest of her crew backed away
dn't wait.
hesi
d, get
e backed down. She liked him too and it was obvious
zen on the f
e, his eyes softeni
reached up immediately
pered, too stunned
Don't thank me for
eside him felt like I was living a different life. And that moment, the fee
remember I c
held onto that memor
y, I made
ld te
more wondering. I
le. Michael sat laughing with his friends, carefree and glowing under the fluor
red my
Mic
and smiled. G
ey
met mine. Calm.
ou? Privately?" my voice was
rets here. Don't worry, you c
to hear what I had to say. I g
.. that day two years ago even before then you had always defended me. Even thoug
ssed his face. "Wait. You're
And yeah Vanessa hasn't bull
e than enough thank-yous by
back to
ed. Do it
heart hammering,
is fork pau
ait
ould hear the buzz of the