Chapter One

I hate school.

Not in the way an average teenager hates it, no. My hatred for school was borne out of the literal need to survive torment every single day of the week. Thankfully, I’ve managed to find a few worthy reasons to endure the nightmare.

One of said reasons, Maya James, waves at me from across the cafeteria. “Over here,” she mouths, her blue eyes twinkling with excitement.

Smiling back, I clutch my food tray tighter, adjusting my unzipped backpack as I head in her direction. I’d been in such a rush leaving art class that I didn’t bother with zipping it, and after the incident with my locker last week, I know better than to leave my personal things in there anymore.

I keep my head down, ignoring the ends of my brown hair falling over my plate, as I pass the table. A screeching chair sounds to my right, and I make the mistake of looking up.

Tyler Brooks’ lips curl into a predatory smile that sends shivers down my spine. Averting my gaze quickly, I continue on. But I don’t see the Spawn of Satan casually sticking his leg out until it’s too late.

I tumble forward, my mouth opening in a silent scream as I try – and fail – to stop myself from crashing onto the dirty floor. My food tray and backpack clatter in tow, spilling fries, vegetables, and books everywhere, but it’s the sight of spilled ketchup on my sketchbook that causes my eyes to sting.

Laughter erupts throughout the cafeteria as everyone suddenly focuses on me. They point and whip out their phones, which is soon followed by flashes and the humiliating sound of shutters capturing a moment I want erased from my memory. No doubt, in the next five seconds, pictures of me in this sorry state will flood the seniors’ gossip page created for moments just like this one.

I blink back tears and raise my head, only to be met with Tyler smirking right at me. That and the sound of everyone else at his table snickering tells me it was intentional. And even though I already knew, it gives me confirmation that he was the one who spray-painted my locker with the words “nerd,” and proceeded to spill spoiled milk all over the inside.

He probably had someone do it for him. After all, the entire school was so desperate to curry his favor that they’d lick his feet if he asked them to.

“Didn’t see you there, nerd,” he says, raising a brow like he’s daring me to challenge him.

‘It’s my fault,’ I think as I look away from his piercing gaze and shove my books, even the soaked ones, back into my bag.

After three years of being subjected to both mental and physical torture from Tyler and his friends, I should have known better than to walk past their table during, well, any period really. I should have gone the longer route, round the hall, to take my seat beside Maya.

Footsteps approach me, and shortly after, I feel arms wrap around me. “Come on, Lila,” Maya says as she helps me stand. Then, she crouches and scoops the spilled food back onto my tray. “Ignore them,” she whispers once she’s standing beside me again.

I raise my chin and turn around as she leads us out of the cafeteria. Just a few months and senior year will be over, I remind myself. And I’ll be damned if I let Tyler Brooks see me break.

“Are you okay?” Maya asks, tossing my food into the trash can by the door. “I can ask the lunch lady to serve you another. You know she likes me,” she winks.

I laugh despite myself. “Everyone knows Mrs. Greta doesn’t like anyone.”

My best friend scoffs, tossing her blonde hair over one shoulder. “She smiled at me yesterday. You saw it too.”

Pressing my lips together, I throw an arm over her shoulder. “That, my good friend, was a grimace.”

“Whatever, it still counts.” Maya rolls her eyes, dumping my tray on an empty table. Then, she shakes her head. “I can’t believe that jerk did that to you,” she says, throwing a glare over her shoulder.

“We’re ignoring him, remember?”

“Yes, but…”

Before she can finish her sentence, my phone vibrates in my pocket. I pull it out and stare at the text from Mrs. Danvers – my art teacher and neighbor.

“Hey, Lila, I’ve got a job for you. Parents are going to be out of town for fifteen days, and they need a babysitter. Pay is six grand!”

My lips curl into a wide smile. Not even Tyler’s antics can quell the joy of having such an addition to my college savings.

Surely, things can’t possibly get worse than today.