brick facade cold and unwe

k straps tighter and sprint toward the entrance, keeping my head

tions and avoiding eye contact. Lila Morrison's laugh echoes from so

see me. Please

ing into my usual seat in the back corner. The hard plastic chair

an a marathon," Mrs. Henderson says w

d on my desk. "Sorr

of the throbbing in my ribs. The other students scribble notes half-heartedly, but I write down

ises on my arms. She turns away quickly, like looking too lon

and still invisib

s, I pack my things slowly, waiting for the room to emp

t look up from her pa

classes. I need to get to the washroom before second pe

rrison laughing with her usual group. My stomach clenche

he bathroom. S

d dart toward the nearest bathroom. My heart

and I lean against it, gasping. The fluorescent lights buz

th trembling fingers. For a moment, there's ble

hroom door c

s voice bounces off the walls, dripping

s. I hold my breath, prayi

oor slams open wi

umps into

come. Someon

crashes open.

Bang

. I pull my feet up, balancing on the toilet

meone come

tall door ex

y stay upright. There's only on

to find me. S

s open so hard it b

s in the doorway like an avenging angel of cruelty. Her blonde hair is p

s over me like

hair and yanks me off the toilet seat. I stumble forward, m

a, p

stall by my hair, and I fall to my knees o

o other girls I barely recognize. They form a

Lila sneers, still gripping my hair.

my jeans, my face bu

wn until we're eye level. "You can't even do a simple fa

ha

ek so hard my ears ring. "I t

she continues, pacing around me like a predator.

sping. "Yeah, you think you're so special with your

u some humility,"

th my ribs, my back, my arms. I curl into a ball on the

on't let them

anding a particularly vicious kick to my

e there and take it, counting the tiles on the

de pants, stepping back. "

ting my head. "Maybe this wil

st the edge of the sink

Pain explodes through my skull, white-hot and blindi

ands like she's watching a circ

oom tilts dangerously. I c

s her skirt and checks her reflection in the mirro

ls as they leave, the door swingi

I finally manage to sit up, my reflection in the mirror is a horror show. Blood streams fro

You have

*

le into her office. Mrs. Patterson sits behind her

e sighs, not looking

k. I clear my throat and try again. "

lip curling in disgust. "Su

es have poisoned everyone against meeven the woman who's su

n the sink. The cold water stings the cut on my forehead,

ns to her nails, dis

nother word. She's already forgotten I

*

s silence broken only by the soft hum of fluor

the. The smell of old books and furniture polish wraps aroun

section and ancient encyclopedias nobody uses anymore. It's hidden

ne is alr

ing at the floor. He looks up when he hears my footsteps, and

ieter than usual, lackin

ody tensing. 'Is this another

?" I keep my distance, r

tly as if approaching a wounded animal.

h his wordssomething I've never heard from him before. My chest tightens with an u