Jade

I walked into school and immediately noticed the difference. Before, people had been trying, unsuccessfully, to hide that I was the center of their attention. Today, they stared openly, and I instinctively hunched my shoulders, as if that could help me hide.

Crap. What am I supposed to do?

I looked around but didn’t see either one of my friends. It was still a bit early, and classes didn’t start for another thirty minutes, at least. Where could I hide out until then?

“Jade!”

I froze in my steps, and my heart thumped hard. I realized a second later that I knew the voice and knew there was no reason for me to be afraid. Serena appeared at my side before I could turn around.

“Jade, what’s wrong?” She asked and stood close, as if to protect me.

“Can't you tell?” Veronica said, coming up to us. “Everyone is looking this way and staring at her like she’s got the plague or something. I guess everyone’s heard the rumor by now, and everyone believes it.”

“Can we get out of here?” I murmured, I