“Bianca should’ve never let you get away with that attitude,” the lip gloss girl finally spat, chest heaving. “You’re a disgrace. To this school. To her.”Ah. There it was.So it was Bianca.I grabbed the closest girl by the arm and shoved her just hard enough to send her flying out of my stall, stu
LioraBy all accounts, the day should’ve been suspiciously… fine.The halls were still sticky with that faint perfume smell, the flowers in bloom outside only adding to the sickly sweet air, and Mia had successfully braided my hair while walking—a party trick I still wasn’t over.“I don’t like this,
BiancaLet me set the scene.The cafeteria was too bright. Like, migraine bright. Like, who-approved-these-light-fixtures bright. The tables were buzzing with chatter, metal trays clattered every five seconds, and the air smelled like perfectly cooked meat and desperation.I sat in my usual seat—the
“I mean,” he said, shrugging, “apologizing for my parents trying to expel you feels like a decent reason.”I crossed my arms. “You have that look.”“What look? You don’t know my looks?”“Oh, I so do. It’s one that says you’re holding back questions. Get it out already—I’m getting cold.”His lips pre
Liora I wasn’t sure when I’d passed out. But when I woke, it wasn’t morning yet.The rain had stopped. The wind no longer rattled the windows. The dorm had settled into silence, except for the horror movie still murmuring from the forgotten TV.Mia was curled beside me on the narrow couch, one arm
“You didn’t have to do this,” I said quietly.“I wanted to. I know you act like you don’t care. But we see you, Liora. We all do.”The lump in my throat didn’t make it all the way up. I swallowed it down, hard.“Happy whatever-this-is,” she added, grabbing the cracked candle with both hands and ligh