Stolen Genius, Reclaimed Fate

ed. I was walking towards my beat-up old car i

"Sarah, let me give you a ride home. You loo

t another, colder part saw an opportunity. Keep him

Ethan.

handle, his phone rang. He gl

nswered. "Chloe? What' s w

"Brenda' s friends? They' re threatening you? Wh

expression torn. "Sarah, I... I

e and sped out of the parking lot, leaving me standing ther

in my stomach. This was

y tears. And then I saw them. Brenda Lexington and he

enda drawled, blocking my path.

anned out, su

hip is gone, Miller,

d you can' t afford her medicine now,"

ing with malice. "You thought you cou

said, my voice shaking despite

d me hard. I stumble

paint. My old car wasn' t much, but it was ours,

" in big, ugly red letters across the windsh

backpack, emptied it onto the asphalt, my books and papers scattering. She stomped

h stab. I just stood there, helpless and humiliat

Brenda' s convertible and sped of

down my face. But through the tears, a cold, hard resolve forme

d back into the parking lot twenty minutes la

ed? Are you okay?" He rushed t

he scattered book

hispered, my

u." He looked genuinely distraught, his eyes scanning

part of the worried

st posted a new picture: her and Ethan, beaming, his arm around her, ca

minutes ago. While I was being to

focating. I pulled aw

voice devoid of emotio

gather my things. The ride home was silent, fi

ace pale. Chloe was there. Sitting at our kitc

weak. "Chloe was just telling me how brave Ethan was

ine smile. "It was really scar

racks on my face. "Goodness, Sarah, what happened to yo

uldn' t handle any more stress. Knowing I wouldn' t dare reveal what re

e simmered, threat