a P

hispered, the name tasting

eyes that had haunted my middle school years. That same perfect blonde hair that had whipped ar

girl who had made my life h

ssing my stepbrothe

e cut through my sho

around Cassandra's tiny waist. I felt like I was going to t

ad ever seen on his face. "This is Cassandra. She just transferred here f

hool. My old middl

eyes, but her expression was pure fake sweetness.

e my skin crawl. Like she was

r Lila," Ryan continued, completely clueless

ssandra said, her voice dripping with false warmth

She called

d bad. Who had made me eat lunch in the bathroom because I was too scared to sit in t

med. "This is perfect! My girlfriend a

out. I felt like I was drowning in memories of

assandra said, her smile shar

had changed. She was still the same evil girl who had de

ily. "I'll leave you two to catch up. I

He couldn't leave

e was already walking away, whistling

ssandra's fake smile melted away like ice in fire.

tor circling its prey. "Look what the cat dragged in. Little Lila

blow. I was thirteen years old aga

, her voice filled with disgust. "I thought I was finally free of

coming here," I whispered

. "You never know anything useful, do you? Still

king so badly I could barely hold them. I just wanted to

a wasn't done

et. "Does your stepbrother know what a freak you really are? Do

lone," I begged, still t

You see, I worked very hard to reinvent myself for high school. New s

ainfully tight, her nai

with venom, "if you even think about telling him how things really were between us

my eyes as her

stand me?" Cas

tically, too s

me make something else very clear. Ryan is mine now. He's my boyfriend

er," I said weakly.

middle school. Because if I catch you trying to get between us, if I see you flirting wi

e to my ear, her brea

re won't be any teachers to save you.

her perfect hair, transforming back into th

said loudly, just as Ryan's footsteps echoed dow

corner, freshly showered a

" he asked, wrapping his arms

elting into his embrace. "Lila an

Ryan's shoulder, and

was falling apart. In one night, Derek had my secrets, Ryan had br

sweetly, my heart broke all over again. The boy

e exit, my legs shaking. I j

the door, I heard Cassa

and

d around

smile from middle school. The smile th

ast," she said sweetly, "I'll make sure he know

going to lie about everything. Ma

ster," Cassandra whispere