nth

lle Hig

er, heart flutte

nth since Zeke an

ed at in the hallway, had picked me. And now, mayb

ey pocket jumpsuit looked plain. My hair wasn't styled. My sho

art full of lo

. It wasn't fancy, but I'd saved up for weeks to

y,

broke through

y covered anything. Her blonde hair bounced in perfect curls, her lips glossed, her lashes

" I smiled, clutching

ront of me. "My dad finally got me a ca

No way! Tha

t hope your mom gets one for you someday. Wel

fr

ng what she'd said but no

e. "Our water got c

dened. "For

om couldn't p

n't she work as a babysitter? What

e. She covers rent, electricity, f

"Well, can't

ff-brand for most places. And my mom

t dressing cuter, like m

Most of my clothes ar

you're wearing that on y

rrassed. "It's

en smiled. "Don't worry, as

ks, b

-

ab

and the

e green eyes that made my stomach flip. He wore a green swe

smiling wide

. He shifted. My lips c

ir

oday is, right?" I a

versary," he replie

held out the box. "

ow, smirking. "Lem

d. "Just

a small antique locket pendant, silver-

face

is silence

ike it?" I aske

here was no warmth in

think we sho

rld st

I blinke

secure. You act weird when we go out. Yo

llowe

the pendant. "What is this,

at him,

he said. "I just needed help

e and it hit my shoulder

n my chest. "

unbothered. "But

"I don't understand... Ar

beside me, her hand sli

er, heart plum

guilt, no hesitat

n front

-

ing sha

-

y vision as the

ered. "How coul

ore than you do. And honest

w l

using me?" I cried in

" Zeke said

s hugging me. Laughing with me. H

n friends since

and it's been cute. But Zeke

ought someone like me would

ld. "You're a poor, p

, sweetheart. You'll find

issed

g in me

-

ned a

to the girls' bathroom. I locked myself in

y knees to

clawed at

ould

coul

just hu

shat

e worst day

-