Tangled. love

SA'S

ear

d on about cell membranes and osmosis, but my mind was nowhere

lder. And still, every bit th

ld talk a teacher out of homework and a smile that looked like it belonged on magazine covers. And me?

cond skin for four years and it wa

her clique cornered me behind the cafeteria. My books had been kicked down, my glasses knocked

em off. Pu

never really been comfortable

indness? It had been enoug

entless, always dragging me into corners,

the heck was she. Does she even know my fat

mes in my elementary school. I had made a silent promise to myself:

ade, the last time Vanes

irst, thick, sour, like rotten milk and sewage mixed together. My

aring nose masks like they were in a lab. Ev

saw t

very step they took toward me. My l

ric

d,

My balance slipped, their laughter echoed, and then Vanessa was in front of m

perfume makeover," she

sed m

I hea

out of yo

han I'd ever heard it, sn

standing over me ontall and furious, gripping Vanes

e bowl, his face twisting in disbelief. "Are

"Relax, it's just the stinker.

collected the bowl from Vane

h her again, not even your daddy's

The rest of her crew backed away

dn't wait.

hesi

d, get

e backed down. She liked him too and it was obvious

zen on the f

e, his eyes softeni

reached up immediately

pered, too stunned

Don't thank me for

eside him felt like I was living a different life. And that moment, the fee

remember I c

held onto that memor

y, I made

ld te

more wondering. I

le. Michael sat laughing with his friends, carefree and glowing under the fluor

red my

Mic

and smiled. G

ey

met mine. Calm.

ou? Privately?" my voice was

rets here. Don't worry, you c

to hear what I had to say. I g

.. that day two years ago even before then you had always defended me. Even thoug

ssed his face. "Wait. You're

And yeah Vanessa hasn't bull

e than enough thank-yous by

back to

ed. Do it

heart hammering,

is fork pau

ait

ould hear the buzz of the