la

ny further incident. That sh

n't come for free. They always c

ll, heading to the empty table at the corner w

ts and the

rashing down on my body in on

ts in laughte

arrassed by these things a

ice dripping with fake concern. "Ayla,

more. Because she saw me and she c

through my shirt. The smell is all over me. Students com

er... Don't react. Don't give them anything.

h for the nearest paper napkins. I

oing to say anyth

she

's so

ughter

and continue to clean my dress, keepi

irst time. All I

ears in my periphera

er year is stretch

d scurry out. I have no idea wh

ssing the way he looks at me with an

nk y

I sigh and clean some mor

alk fast to avoid preying eyes who would use any opp

ross my arm, shoulder and

I'm sorry - I'm s

ook

n at his now-empty c

stops c

ing down repeatedly. "I'll...

ce flat. Not angry. Not warm. Just spit

different now that he's standing so close. His eyes mov

etting you another dress." He

on't h

it anyway. He turns

avenmoor Academy in the next ten minutes." Anot

angs

," I say. "I have spa

e dress in y

m. "How do yo

urning back. Leaving me standing in the corridor

-

cker, the dress is hanging

. And it's not just any brand. It's a brand that even someone like Nova would wor

ers can close around it a hand app

olds it up and reads it out l

for your ruin

s silent for exa

eru

in Caiu

ht her a

he buy he

something?

all to hear. I can't have rumors circulating, especially rumors of what

is li

handle. Students glance in my direction and nudge t

and snatch the card from Jade's h

er. Caius. Zane. Ryker. Moving the way they always move - like the whol

ered students, past the

looks back. Once they're gone, the whis

*

en minutes, approaching with a kind o

ear her because the hallway goe

I can turn on my own. Next thing, the back of her palm comes

edges. My knees hit the floo

tely, blood gushing out

ius Voss. How dare you!" She screams. "You think tha

the hall. Past the group of students who were

't dare to m

lead. "It was

esn't

ss" she commands

.. h

tudents are gathered at every corner st

en more humilia

d dress I am putting on and i

the dress, let alone return it. I put it on and

simple but stunning dress is re

the day. And you will learn to stay away

unable to st

Now fol

el dizzy and there are still white patches in

d kicks me in. "Drest, she

ay." He says. His expr

she suffers." N