Invisible To Her Bully

e

ke, he'll have some comment locked and loaded about my clothes

e he is-my twin, my other half, my betrayer-all

s, eyes flicking over m

I just shoulder past

t be so sensitive,

e when his words cut deep, like i

y most mornings, and I can't decide if I'm grateful or jealous. Grateful

downs it like he's in some athlete commercial. I

urse, the devil

Car

still damp from his shower, all six-foot-two of golden-boy arrogance. He's wearing hi

ces the curve of his jaw, the way his damp hair curls at the edges, the c

nshine," he

es. "Don't c

me." His grin widens, like he know

ists with him. "Ignore her

ces at my toast, eyebrows li

ously? Do you ever get tired

s. "Don't min

. God, I m

a cold piece of toast and the familiar ache in my chest

my twin-my best frie

esn't get better

lick my way. Whispers. Snickers. The same

igger than the

ts more tha

n't stab me. But they do. Every single one leaves

. He's too busy soaking in the glory of being the starting qua

Always

akes the hair on the back of my neck stand up. When he smiles, girls mel

I've noticed

ntire female population of Crestwood

ried deep down, remembers what it felt like to have

od thing that came out of all this-the girl who saw me breaking a

r someone," she says, tucking a stra

mutter.

You'd think after all th

enting me is his favorite s

l, senior year, ri

almost feels

worst. Alwa

tball table. But no matter how far away I am, Noah still finds me

lfway through my sandwich wh

your food or Jess will ea

table. Jackson doesn't

urning, praying no one else j

someone says. "Put her in pads

howl with

ble, her eyes flashing. "I

g doesn't m

gine standing up, marching over there, and telling Noah exactly what he

don'

He'd smirk. He'd say something sharper. A

like

g in bed, I star

ar of Jackson pretending I don't exist except when it's conveni

dy will know me as Jackson's sister or Noah's favorite target. Nobody

just

not Noah's insults that replay behind my eyes. It's his face. Hi

te mysel

peats. Jackson teasing, Mom ab

here's a shift. Not big,

hes me

on the way his T-shirt stretches across his chest, on the strong line of

hazel eyes

nd, I can'

o sharp edge. Just Noah lookin

one. Replaced by the same

you see,

rns. "In y

ker stays wit

e more than all hi

oy who's made my life hell for yea

te most is the one I

if he k