CHAPTER 10

CALLIE

I stared at my phone for like the millionth time, reading Brielle's message over and over again.

Common Grounds. Noon.

Was I really about to do this?

Yes. Yes, I was. Because I needed to know what Nathan was up to. And if Brielle knew something, even if she was the worst person on planet Earth, I had to find out.

I finished my pancakes super fast, mumbled something about going to the library to study, and grabbed my keys. Mom was too busy loading the dishwasher to ask questions. Dad was still buried in his newspaper, but I felt his eyes on me as I walked past.

"Be safe," he said quietly.

"Always am," I lied. Again. I was getting really good at lying lately.

The drive to Common Grounds took fifteen minutes. Fifteen minutes of me gripping the steering wheel so hard my knuckles turned white. Fifteen minutes of me practicing what I would say. Fifteen minutes of me telling myself this was probably a terrible idea.

I parked in the lot and sat there for a second, staring at the cute little coffee shop with its brick walls and big windows. Through the glass, I could see people sitting at tables, drinking their fancy lattes, living their normal, drama-free lives.

I wanted to be them so bad.

Taking a deep breath, I got out of the car and walked inside. The smell of coffee and fresh pastries hit me immediately. It was warm and cozy, with soft music playing in the background.

I looked around, searching for Brielle's jet-black hair.

She wasn't here.

I checked my phone. 12:03. I was late by three minutes, but still. Where was she?

I ordered a vanilla latte because standing there doing nothing felt weird, and then I sat down at a table near the window. I could see the parking lot from here. Maybe she was just running late.

Five minutes passed.

Then ten.

Then fifteen.

My phone buzzed.

Brielle: Change of plans. Meet me behind the building. Need to talk privately.

My stomach did a weird flip thing. Behind the building? That sounded... wrong. Everything about this sounded wrong.

But I was already here. And I needed answers.

I grabbed my latte and headed for the door. The barista called out, "Have a nice day!" and I gave her a weak smile.

The alley behind Common Grounds was narrow and kind of gross. There were dumpsters and empty boxes stacked against the wall. The smell was not cute. Not cute at all.

"Brielle?" I called out, my voice echoing slightly.

"Over here."

I walked further into the alley, and that's when I saw her. Brielle was leaning against the brick wall, her arms crossed over her chest. She was wearing tight jeans and a crop top, her makeup perfect as always.

But she wasn't alone.

Three other girls stood behind her. I recognized them immediately. Sophie, Madison, and Jenna. Brielle's little squad of mean girls who followed her around like lost puppies.

My heart started beating really, really fast.

"Hey, Callie," Brielle said, and her voice was all sweet and fake. "Thanks for coming."

"What's going on?" I asked, taking a step back. My fingers tightened around my latte cup.

"What's going on?" Brielle repeated, pushing off the wall. She took a step toward me. "What's going on is that you ruined my life."

"What are you talking about?"

"Nathan!" she screamed, and I flinched. "He won't stop texting me! Won't stop calling me! He's obsessed with you, Callie! He keeps asking about you, about who you're seeing, about where you are!"

"That's not my fault—"

"YES, IT IS!" Brielle's face was red now, her eyes wild. "He was supposed to be mine! But no, even after he cheated on you, even after he picked me, he still wants you! What do you have that I don't have, huh?"

I opened my mouth to answer, but Sophie moved closer, blocking my path to the street.

"You think you're so special," Madison said from behind me. I spun around, my heart racing. They were surrounding me. Actually surrounding me.

This was bad. This was really, really bad.

"I don't think I'm special," I said quickly, trying to keep my voice steady. "I didn't do anything to Nathan. He's the one who—"

"Shut up!" Brielle shouted. She was right in front of me now, so close I could smell her expensive perfume. "I'm so sick of hearing your name! I'm sick of you acting all innocent and perfect! You're not perfect, Callie!"

"I never said I was!"

"You didn't have to!" Brielle shoved me hard, and I stumbled backward, my latte splashing all over my shirt. The hot liquid burned through the fabric, making me gasp.

"Brielle, stop—"

But she didn't stop. She shoved me again, harder this time, and I fell. My butt hit the concrete, pain shooting up my spine. My phone flew out of my pocket and slid across the ground.

"Get up," Brielle said, standing over me. "Get up so I can knock you down again."

I tried to scramble to my feet, but Jenna kicked my phone away. It slid under a dumpster.

"Please," I said, and I hated how scared I sounded. "Please, just let me go."

"Let you go?" Brielle laughed, and it was the meanest sound I'd ever heard. "No. No, I don't think so. You need to learn a lesson."

Sophie grabbed my arm and yanked me up. Her nails dug into my skin, and I tried to pull away, but Madison grabbed my other arm.

They were holding me in place.

For Brielle.

"This is for making my life hell," Brielle said, and then her fist connected with my stomach.

All the air left my lungs. I couldn't breathe. Couldn't think. Pain exploded through my body, sharp and hot and awful.

"And this," Brielle said, hitting me again, "is for being such a little bitch."

I tried to scream, but Sophie slapped her hand over my mouth. Tears were running down my face now, hot and fast. This was really happening. This was actually happening.

"Hit her again," Madison said with a smile, sounding excited. "She deserves it."

Brielle's fist came at me again, but this time I managed to turn my head. Her knuckles grazed my cheek instead of my nose. It still hurt like hell.

"Stop moving!" Brielle yelled, and Jenna grabbed my hair, yanking my head back. Pain shot through my scalp, and I cried out against Sophie's hand.

"You're pathetic," Brielle hissed in my face. "Absolutely pathetic. No wonder Nathan got bored of you."

She raised her fist again, and I squeezed my eyes shut, waiting for the impact.

But it didn't come.

"What the hell is going on here?"

The voice was a deep, familiar one.