Chapter 2:The Rules Of Life 2
636 Words
The cafeteria doesn’t stop staring for the entire lunch period. (47 minutes)
I count.
Josh stares like I grew a second head. Kathy stares like I stole her lip gloss. Cindy and Asha stare because Kathy does.
I look around for Damon.
He doesn’t stare. He watches. There’s a difference.
He looks at me like he knows something.
A little voice in my head worries: _What if I went too far at school?_
When the bell rings, everyone shoves up to go to their classes. I leave my half-eaten apple on the tray. I lift my head — and look right at him.
Now that I’m this close, I literally see it. Even from across the cafeteria, I notice Damon’s eyes trailing after me.
---
*Third period: English & Literature.*
Mr. Davis, our English and Literature teacher, takes attendance.
The class goes quiet when he gets to the M’s. The kind of quiet that happens before a storm.
“Ava Miller?”
I don’t look up from my notebook.
Everyone points at me. “Ava, are you deaf?”
I stand up. I look up, correcting Mr. Davis. “Ava Moretti, sir.”
Mr. Davis blinks. “Excuse me?”
“Moretti,” I say, louder. “Ava Moretti. There was a mistake on the roster.”
Kathy snorts. “Since when?”
I turn. Meet her eyes. “I don’t think that’s any of your business.”
Her smile drops. Just for a second. Then it’s back. “Right. _Moretti._ Like the deli on 5th?”
“No,” I say. “Like the ones who own it.”
Everyone stares at me.
Josh’s chair scrapes. “Ava, what the f**k is wrong with you? Why are you talking to Kathy like that?”
“Present, Mr. Davis,” I say, cutting him off, and open my textbook.
Mr. Davis clears his throat. “Right. Moretti. Present.”
I could hear people whispering,they were in shock,they had to be,not everyone first name is Morreti.
From the back row, I hear a sound.
I look up.
It’s Damon.
He isn’t sketching anymore. His notebook is closed.
And he’s looking at me like he’s trying to solve a problem.
Not like he knows I died.
Just like I’m a problem he wasn’t expecting.
---
*Fourth period: Gym.*
Kathy corners me by the lockers. Cindy and Asha flank her, phones down for once.
“Listen, _Ava_,” Kathy says, popping her gum. “I don’t know what game you’re playing, but Josh is mine. Got it?”
In Life #1, I would’ve cried. I would’ve apologized for breathing his air.
In Life #2, I step closer. “Funny,” I say. “He was telling me the same thing about you last year.”
Kathy’s face goes white.
“He didn’t,” Cindy gasps.
Asha’s mouth opens. No recording. No evidence. Good.
“He didn’t _what_, Cindy?” I ask. “Cheat? Lie? Or choose me?”
I push past them before Kathy can slap me. She won’t. Not here. Not with the gym teacher watching.
But as I walk away, I feel it.
Eyes.
I turn.
Damon is leaning against the doorframe to the boys’ locker room. He wasn’t in my last class. He shouldn’t be here.
He doesn’t say anything. He just nods once.
Not at me.
At Kathy.
Like he’s taking notes.
---
*Last period.*
My phone vibrates in my bag. We’re not supposed to have them out, but it’s not Josh. I deleted his number before first period.
*Unknown Number:* _You’re not supposed to be here._
My blood goes cold.
I type back under my desk: _Who is this?_
Three dots. Then:
*Unknown Number:* _Wrong lunch table._
I look up, sharp.
Damon is gone. His seat in the back is empty.
The bell rings
- Writer
