Chapter 2
495 Words
“…and then I woke up,” I finished, tucking my hair behind my ear as Kayla and I slowed near the front steps of Millburn High. “Sweaty. Confused. Slightly traumatized.” Kayla stopped short and stared at me. “Again?” Then she laughed, bumping her shoulder into mine as we started walking. “I don’t know who this mystery dream guy is, but lately you seem to be getting more action than me.” “Oh my god, shut up,” I said, shoving her back, both of us laughing hard enough that a couple kids glanced our way. We carried it with us down the hallway, voices overlapping, still giggling as we reached our lockers. I was halfway through opening mine when the laughter shifted, tightened because the air around us changed.
“Well, well, well,” a voice drawled behind us. “If it isn’t the Socially Invisible Club.”
I sighed before I even turned around. “What do you want, Amber?” Kayla asked flatly.
Amber stood there with her usual entourage fanned out behind her like backup dancers, perfectly styled and perfectly cruel. She looked us over slowly, lips curling. “Just observing,” she said. “You know, it’s fascinating how you two manage to take up space without actually mattering.”
Kayla opened her mouth, but Amber’s attention shifted to me, sharp and sudden. “You,” she said, stepping closer. “I saw you staring at Cory in chemistry yesterday.” My stomach dropped. “He’s my boyfriend. And unless you want a very unfortunate accident to happen to your little duo”-her eyes flicked pointedly to Kayla-“I suggest you find something else to set those pretty little eyes on.” Before I could respond, she brushed past me hard, her shoulder knocking into mine. My books spilled across the floor, papers sliding everywhere. Amber didn’t look back. Her friends followed, giving us matching dirty looks as they went, laughter trailing behind them like smoke.
Kayla crouched down immediately, grabbing my things. “She’s such a psycho,” she muttered. I swallowed, forcing my hands to stop shaking as I knelt beside her, the echo of Amber’s words ringing louder than they should have. Kayla scooped up the last of my papers just as the warning bell shrilled through the hallway. “Come on,” she said, shoving them into my arms, “let’s get to class before Mr. Seiford gives us another write-up.” I huffed a weak laugh and nodded, slamming my locker shut as students surged around us. We took off down the hall, dodging backpacks and half-closed doors, but Amber’s voice still lingered in my head, sharp and threatening. I told myself she was all bark. She always was, but as we slid into class just before the final bell rang, my pulse hadn’t slowed, and for the first time all morning, Millburn felt smaller than ever
- Writer
