Donovan was nice enough to pick me up the next morning. With a pillow to my chest and my body tucked under the messy black and white covers, my eyes fluttered open to my own private pole dance featuring my best friend.
"You sleep like the dead, you know that?" His teasing wink and amused grin a deadly combo to a teen girl's heart and, if I wasn't already nose deep into my love story with Hero, it would have had my heart racing in a split second. Instead, it plummeted at the sight of him, and I couldn't tear my eyes away fast enough.
He caught on to it, the way my lips trembled and my eyes watered, and his hand dropped from the pole, the corners of his mouth tilting slightly downward.
"What's wrong?" He sounded so worried, I almost forgot that I was supposed to be mad at him. Almost.
His question was answered with a shake of my head as I pulled the covers off and slipped my feet into my hedgehog slippers, ignoring his presence. My journal was tucked under my arm, all my anger and sadness having been jotted down when the rest of the town was asleep.
He didn't pick up on it, perking up again and continuing on as if he hadn't abandoned me to the wolves for the entirety of yesterday.
"How are we supposed to get Hero's attention when you're always sleeping?"
I shrugged at that, blocking out the rest of the conversation and humming every other second so he wouldn't catch on that my mind was far away, filled with thoughts of Hero. Specifically, the way he had pulled me into his warm body and held on to my hand as if I actually meant something more to him. As if he didn't view me as just Cash's sister.
I tucked my journal away on my book shelf and swayed to the pole, leaving him no choice but to step around me and, without a word or look at him, I slipped down to the hallway and made my way to the bathroom to get ready. A second later, he swished down the pole behind me.
"Hey, about yesterdayâ"
"I need to get ready, Donovan." I murmured, panick setting in at his mention of what I was trying so hard to avoidâany conversation that would expose my hatred for the girl he likes. I shut the door before he could say anything else.
I grabbed my Paranorman toothbrush, a complete contrast to Cash's rainbow-colored one that he now kept in his room unless he needed to use it.We had both learned from the gray incident and took the necessary precautions to prevent a repeat of it.
They were at it again, the voices in my head. Judging my behavior, telling me Donovan didn't deserve any of my rotten attitude.
I didn't deserve him abandoning me yesterday without a call or text. I didn't deserve what Riley did to me. I didn't deserve to have my own mind against me on this.
Donovan was laying on the hood of his car when I came out of the house, his legs swinging in the air and his hair swishing with every sway of his head. He was nodding along to a song I held close to my heart in an attempt to cheer me up. It made me want to forgive him.
He showed no signs of knowing what had transpired at school in his absence and I had little to no motivation of ever bringing it up.
I still haven't told him about my progress with Hero and, since he hadn't made mention of skipping school yesterday with Melissa, I couldn't tell if he even wanted to talk about it.
But that's just my own selfish excuse for not checking up on my best friend.
He clearly noticed what appeared to be my lack of interest in inquiring about what he had been up to. His relief at my nonchalance was clear, yet there was an undertone of hurt in his eyes. I brushed it off with the reasoning that he hadn't asked how my day had gone either.
I didn't owe anyone anything. I have no reason to feel guilty about what I haven't done when more pressing matters of what I had done were still lingering in the school air.
As a result of my carefree attitude, the drive to school was thick with tension and for some reason, my more than overly preppy best friend didn't try to bridge the clear gap that had now formed between us.
He did, however, fill the silence by humming the lyrics to an overly played pop song. Unbeknownst to him, this eased my nerves a little and even stopped me from chewing anxiously on my nails as a distraction from what awaited me at school today. If Donovan picked up on this, he paid no mind to it and the spark of anger I felt began to fester into a burning flame.
"I sent you a text yesterday. Were you busy or..." He trailed off, sounding as cool as a cucumber. I held my tongue, literally, and shifted my body towards the door.
"Harley?"
I let go of my tongue.
"Hm, yeah, I guess I didn't see it." When he speaks, it's smooth sails and sandy beaches but when I speak, it's TV static and bad network. Why did my voice have to crack? "That might have something to do with Principal Hemsher seizing my phone."
His lighthearted chuckle was a blow to my heart. I was having difficulty pushing down the lump in my throat. Nonchalance had long abandoned me and I couldn't help but fidget badly in my seat.
We were so close to the parking lot.
"Twice in one month?" His focus was on the road. Mine, as blurry as a fogged-up windshield,was on him. I was so close to bursting into tears. "Are you trying to get suspended?"
"I'm not trying to do anything, Donovan. It just happened, okay?"I snapped, wiping at the stubborn tears rolling down my face just as he parked and turned to me. "It just happened."
He looked taken aback by my weakness as I buried my face in my folded arms on the dashboard and stopped fighting it. His hand was on my back, his gentle pats the kind of comfort I had needed yesterday. But, instead, he had been turning it up with someone who loathes my very existence.
I let out a shaky breath, brushing his hand off.
"That was totally embarrassing." I played it off with a laugh. "I guess all that homework's finally starting to get to me."
"Harley, are you okayâ"
"I need to see the principal so I guess I'll see you in class." I cut him off, still sniffing like a loser. My next words were mumbled. "If you're not too busy, that is."
I had already gathered my things and had one foot out the car when I felt his hand wrap around mine. I still had my back to him. I hated having to deal with my problems head-on. I didn't know how to.
"Are we good?" He sounded worried and uncertain. I was feeling uncomfortable. I didn't feel like talking to Donovan right now so I gave him an answer he'd want to hear.
"Yeah, why wouldn't we be?"
"You're acting weird."
I knew what he meant when he said it but that didn't make me feel any better. I've been called weird way too many times by others but hearing it from him hurt more than all of those combined. He tugged on my hand once more and I reluctantly slid back into my seat.
"If it's about yesterday, Mel needed my helpâ"
"Yeah, I heard." I cut him off again.
Mel this and Mel that. Come on, her name's Melissa. While it's true that I don't particularly like being called Potato, it was something I held dear to me because it had been our thing.
I mean, Donovan hates nicknames to the point he only ever calls Cash by his given name. But I guess Melissa's the exception to this now. He throws her nickname out every chance he gets.
"Your fanbase were really chatty about you skipping school with a girl. It's not a problem. Just, maybe shoot me a text next time or something. I felt pretty stupid hearing about you from other people."
"What are you talking about?" His brows scrunched, his honey-colored eyes filled to the brim with confusion. "Right before Mel and I left, I texted and told you I'd be at her place."
"Well, I didn't get a text from you." I muttered, watching him pull out his phone and scroll to our messages. His frown deepened as we both stared at the absent evidence he had been searching for. I smacked my lips, pushing down the hurt. "See? You didn't. You probably forgot since you were so busy with Melissa."
"But I did text you. I swear, I did." His insistence bothered me to no end. It's not like him to forget and it's definitely against his nature to lie about anything. Growing up, Donovan was one of those kidsâthe ones who parents trust to always tell the truth, the reliable one, the goody-two shoes.
"The proof is right here." I pointed at the phone screen dejectedly. "Look, it's not a big deal. Can we just drop it? Please?"
It already happened and there's no rewinding time. I'd rather just let things be instead of making something out of nothing.
Donovan ran a hand through his hair, his brows creasing in frustration. He wasn't the type to just let things be. I knew he wouldn't listenâthat he'd drag it until I snapped at him so I made the wise decision of parting ways before things got even more tense.
"Harley, I watched the message get sent to you. I'm not making this up."
"Maybe it was bad network or something." Was my over-the-shoulder reply. I was already out the car and a few steps away from Donovan when Melissa came barreling towards me in a rush, her shoulders bumping mine as she zoomed past. I stood there at a loss for words as she slid into the front passenger seat and began ranting about something my mind had chucked up under, Waste of memory storage.
"Mel," Donovan placed a hand on her shoulder and she immediately quieted down. "When you had my phone yesterday, was there any problems with the network?"
"No," she drawled out with a slow shake of her head, looking over her shoulders at me. My heart sank even lower. So he really had left me in the dark all day yesterday. "Why? Did something happen?"
I ignored her and left them to explore more of whatever they had going on.
I huffed, shoving my hands in my hoodie pockets as I trudged up the steps at the front of the building where Richard was spinning a basketball on his index and watching me intently, a hidden message of his dislike for me buried under his impassive stare.
"Morning," I mumbled as I sped past him to avoid his unwarranted jabs. I should have known it wouldn't work but I still had enough hope to compete with Jonah and I always relied on it even when I knew I shouldn't.
"Hedgehog," He called out loudly, his smirk reminding me of the petrified squirrel I had tried to domesticate as a toddler.
I bit back my annoyance and tried to walk away. He threw the ball at me.
It bounced off my back and rolled off somewhere behind me.
I gave up on walking away, preparing myself for whatever Richard had strained his brain to come up with this time. There was no point in running. He'd just follow me.
"Heard you managed to piss off Bunny." He began as he retrieved his ball from where it had rolled off to. "How'd you pull that off? Aren't you two supposed to be friends now or something?"
Wow, he has so much interest in my life nowadays. It must have done a number on him, not being able to attack me whenever he felt like, if it had him keeping track of my standing with the Populars. He had probably been waiting until he could find an opening in which it was okay to go back to spitting on my existence.
And he finally found one.
I shrugged, my will to speak nonexistent. I knew that whatever I said to him would most likely be used against me in the near future. I'd rather avoid that, thanks.
"Whatâyou're too good to talk to me now?" He leaned on the wall, kicking his foot up behind him.
Always, but in this moment, more than ever, I would say. I don't particularly feel like talking with a bully. Not after I nearly killed myself because of one.
I tried to move past him. He pushed off the wall, ceasing his ball spin, and stepped in my way. His nods of irritation formed knots in my stomach and I took a step back from him.
"You know what I absolutely hate, hedgehog?"
Can't say I care.
Thank God, he can't hear my thoughts. I'd be in the infirmary by now if he could.
"Freaks like you thinking they're better than others."He muttered. "How is it fair that a girl like Riley gets suspended for defending herself and a freak like you gets away with getting drunk off your ass? Looks like Hemsher's more interested in the daughter than theâ"
I punched him.
Or rather, I tried to punch him. He dodged it effortlessly, a laugh of incredulity resounding within the hallway, drawing attention to us from other students.
"Did you actually just try to punch me?" He gripped my arm so hard, I thought my bones would break but, despite the pain, I kept a straight face and that seemed to annoy him even more. He shook me. Hard.
I grimaced, doing everything to get out of his grasp. He didn't do much but kept a firm grip on me which confused me enough to stop resisting and risk a glance at him. His gaze was fixed on something behind me.
Confused, I turned to get a look at what had him frozen like a deer in headlights and got a dose of nirvana in the process.
Hero
He kept his eyes on Richard as he approached us, his expression as neutral as ever. I thought he'd pass us and go about his day like yesterday never happened. Instead, he pulled me behind him and got in Richard's face, his eyes sending more of a message than words could ever express.
When Hero finally spoke, his voice was low, a whisper meant only for Richard's ears. I just happened to be in hearing range.
"How much do you like being on the team?"
One question, several meanings. Richard's vengeful gaze slowly tore off Hero and settled where I had been standing. Except, I was already bending the corner at the far end of the hallway so all he met was air.
I snuck a look over my shoulder, watching his gaze melt from rage to confusion as he searched the crowd for me. I managed to somehow slip through the bustle of students unnoticed and safely reached my destination.
I felt guilty leaving Hero to handle Richard all by himself but students had started piling in from every which way towards the commotion and the last thing I needed was getting blamed for Richard being kicked off the team.
Besides, I had bigger things to worry about. Things like the possibility of me getting expelled for my actions.
Compared to that, Richard's behavior felt like nothing but a little scratch to the knee.
I reached for the doorknob, dread filling me as I opened the door to Principal Hemsher's office.
It was time to face the music.
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