They Kicked Me Out, Now They Beg Me Back

Chapter 3 Because I Hate You

"I didn't—" Before I could finish, Krystal broke down—sobbing as if her world had ended.

Her hands shook as she pulled up her sleeves, then lifted the hem of her shirt.

There they were—bruises, purple and blue against her fair skin.

Some had already turned yellow, like old wounds. Others were still red, like they'd just happened.

I gasped, my eyes widened.

"Margaret, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." Krystal could barely breathe between tears. "I just can't take it anymore. I can't keep covering for you. It hurts too much. Why—why do you always hit me? Did I do something wrong?"

"What are you talking about?" My voice cracked. "When did I ever—"

"She just didn't want you dating so young!" Lorraine cut me off, her face dark. "And this is how you treat Krystal, Margaret?"

Nelson's eyes went cold, too. "No wonder your grades are falling. Where's your head even at?"

I shook my head. "I'm not dating anyone! I said no to that guy—I told Krystal everything!"

Krystal sniffled, pulled out her phone, swiped a few times, and handed it to Nelson and Lorraine.

On the screen was that boy handing me the letter. But the angle was tricky. It looked like we were kissing.

"Krystal took this because she was worried about you," Lorraine said, her voice shaking. "She wanted to help. And you did this to her?"

I opened my mouth—wanted to explain how I kept passing out at night, how I didn't know why I'd gotten so angry lately—but Lorraine shut me down before I could get two words out.

She asked, "You're throwing your own life away, and now you're making excuses?"

I couldn't believe it. I looked back at Krystal—curled up in Lorraine's arms, still shaking—and suddenly felt ice cold.

"Go to your room." Nelson turned his back on me. "Think about what you've done."

After that, everything changed.

Rumors started spreading at school.

At first, it was just saying, "The top student is already dating." Then it turned into, "She's seeing multiple guys at once." Finally, the rumors said, "She's sleeping with older men outside school for money."

People whispered as I walked by and shot me dirty looks.

Then one day after school, I finally stopped Krystal.

"Why did you fall that night? And the rumors—was it you?" I asked.

Krystal looked up.

For a second, I didn't even recognize her.

That sweet, shy face was gone. In its place was nothing but cold, naked hatred.

Krystal said, "Why? Because I hate you, Margaret."