against her chest, using it as a physical shield

kend plans in Aspen or complaining about their personal tutors. Dawn kept her head down, her chin tucked into the collar of her uniform b

n corridor, where the long rows of metal lock

ly against the linoleum floor as

a burst of loud, raucous male laughter. It was a sound she recognized instantly. It

chest. If Freddie was

locker in the row. She held her breath, making herself as thin and invisible as possible. The metal lockers act

d to listen to the conversation

leazy curiosity teenage boys used when discussing girls. "I've noticed you looking toward the front of the

e window, doing those extra credit problems like her life depends

way. Her eyes widened in terror. She hugged her books tighter, her fingernails diggi

s question stretched out for what felt like an eternity. The only sound Dawn co

Arlo

dibly arrogant chuckle that vibrated through the

, dripping with absolute incredulity. It was the tone of

n a boring little nerd like that?" Arlo conti

against the lockers, running a hand through his expensive hair

Arlo finally added, his voice laced with pur

ith the kinetic forc

sister. Boring littl

mashed it directly into her chest, shattering her ribs a

of old ash. A sharp, agonizing pain flared in her chest, so intense that she physically

r her. She pressed her hands flat against the cold metal of the locker behind her, her fingernails scraping desperately against the steel

sion. But she refused to let them fall. She tilted her head back, stari

chorus of loud, mocking laughter. They quickly moved on to

er second of it. She couldn't

e like a criminal. As she reached the stairwell, her blurred vision caused her to misjudge the distance. Her foot caugh

nce against the handrail and kept running, pushing t

ink. She gripped the porcelain edges with white-knuc

ed-rimmed, and a tiny drop of blood smeared her lower lip. She looked

e cupped her hands, catching the freezing water, and splashed it hars

was red and raw. She stared into her

with a newly forged, desperate rage. I will completely, utterl