At least that was how it felt. When I first moved here, I’d been nothing but problems for him. Making friends with his sister, asking way too many questions, almost getting myself killed…twice. Plus discovering their big secret, and all the times I’d ended up with a trace.
I frowned as I slid out of my car and slammed the door behind me. No wonder Daemon had been such a douche canoe those months. I was trouble. So was he, but still.
Late for bio and out of breath, I raced down the nearly empty hall, praying that I’d be safely in my seat before Mr. Garrison strolled in. As I reached for the heavy door, it swung open with a powerful rush and slammed against the wall. The noise echoed down the corridor, drawing the attention of a handful of other late students.
Blood drained from my face, inch by inch, as I heard the startled gasp from behind me and knew I was busted. A million thoughts ran through my numb brain and none of them was worth a damn. Closing my eyes, fear settled like sour milk in my stomach. What was wrong me? Something was—something was really bad.
“These damn drafty hallways,” Mr. Garrison said, clearing his throat. “They’ll give you a heart attack.”
My eyes snapped open. He straightened his tie while he clenched his brown suitcase tightly in his right hand.
I opened my mouth to speak and agree. Agreeing would be a good thing. Yes, damn drafty hallways.
But nothing came. I just stood there like a damn fish. Gaping and gaping.
Mr. Garrison’s blue eyes narrowed, and his scowl deepened until I thought it would leave a permanent mark on his face. “Miss Swartz, shouldn’t you be in class?”
“Yes, sorry,” I managed to croak.
“Then please, don’t just stand there.” He spread his arms and ushered me inside. “And that is a tardy. Your second.”
Unsure of how I earned my first tardy, I shuffled into class, trying to ignore the giggles from the other students who’d apparently heard my ass getting chewed out. My cheeks flooded with color.
“Skank,” Kimmy said from behind her hand.
Several more giggles erupted from her side of the class, but before I could say anything, Lesa shot the blonde a look. “That’s real funny coming from you,” she said. “You are the same cheerleader who forgot to wear her undies during the pep rally last year, aren’t you?”
Kimmy’s face turned blood red.
“Class,” Mr. Garrison said, eyes narrowing. “That’s enough.”
Passing Lesa a grateful smile, I took my seat next to Blake and yanked out my textbook while Mr. Garrison began reading off the attendance, making small swipes with his favorite red pen.
He skipped my name. I was sure it was on purpose.
Blake nudged me with his elbow. “Are you doing okay over there?”
I nodded. There was no way I was going to let him think that Kimmy was the reason my face had gone albino white. And besides, Kimmy calling me a skank probably had something to do with Simon, which wasn’t even worth my anger right now. “Yeah, I’m perfect.”
He smiled, but it looked forced.
Mr. Garrison flipped off the lights and launched into a stimulating lecture on tree sap. Forgetting about the boy beside me, I started replaying the door incident over and over again in my head. Had Mr. Garrison really believed it had been a draft? And if he didn’t, what was stopping him from contacting the DOD and handing me over?
Unease squirmed in my belly. Was I going to end up like Bethany?
Chapter 5
Carissa was waiting for me by my locker after biology. “Can I just go home?” I asked as I switched my textbooks.
She laughed. “Having a bad day?”
“You could say that.” I thought about elaborating for a second, but what could I tell her? “I was running late this morning. You know how that just screws your day up from there.”
We headed down the hall, chatting about the party on Friday and what we were going to wear. I really hadn’t put much thought into it, figuring I’d just wear jeans and a shirt.
“Everyone is dressing up,” she explained, “since we don’t get a lot of reasons to actually wear something nice around here.”
“We just had homecoming.” I groaned, knowing I didn’t have anything dressy.
Carissa launched into the routine conversation about what colleges I was going to apply to. She was hoping I would send an application into WVU. Most of the students were applying there.
“Katy, you really need to start applying,” she insisted as she grabbed a plate of what appeared to be Salisbury steak. “You’re going to run out of time.”
“You know, I hear it from my mom every day. I will when I decide where I want to go.” Problem was I had no idea where I wanted to go or what I wanted to do.
“You don’t have forever,” she said, quick to remind me.
Dee was already at our table, and I launched into my own tirade the moment I sat down. “So I can’t wear jeans to the party? I have to wear a dress?”
“Huh?” Dee blinked and looked at me.
“Carissa told me I had to wear a dress on Friday night. I didn’t really plan for that.”
Dee picked up her fork and pushed the food around on her plate. “You should wear a dress. We get to be pretty princesses for the night and dress up for the party.”
“We’re not six.”
Lesa snorted and repeated, “Pretty princesses?”
“Yes, pretty princesses. You can borrow one of my dresses. I have enough.” Dee poked at her green beans.