I looked down at the canvas in front of me, eyes scanning the soft curves of Renee’s neck in the sketch I’d been working on. The classroom was quiet. Everyone seemed to be hovering over their textbooks, deep in reading. No one bothered to mention or even notice that a classmate was missing.
Renee was not here today, but I was not really surprised. Fat chance she’d show up, too, if the rumors of what Carly did were true.
I pushed my pencil to the paper, adding a few more flowing strings of silky hair. I wanted to make things right with Renee. I wanted to be there for her, comfort her, and ensure she was okay. But I couldn't. None of us could. She hadn’t given anyone the opportunity.
“Dude,” Jake said, elbowing me in the ribs. “That picture is super weird.”
Annoyed, I slipped the sketch
