a's

the school gates, I knew i

because if I didn't, I would think about the burning across my skin. My father had

I'd have to lie. If I lied badly, they would call him. So I locked my knees

the awning when I hea

he side. It was full

and tasted like the inside of a clogged drain. A clump of wet lint slid between my teeth. It soaked throu

well. If it i

elonged to someone who had n

hite cheerleader jacket with a big 'B' on the chest. She smelled like vanill

g her nose. "I did you a favor.

ed. I heard the click of thei

. "You're making a mess, Isla.

up, but the water mad

the

tch. Nobody said anything

enge, and that meant a ruined uniform, things I couldn't explain to the teachers. S

tory my father wanted. If she complained, my father would punish me worse than usual. He had told me to get on their good side. I didn't know

aid. "She's actually s

e air c

the base of my spine and rattled my teeth. My hands began to shake agai

ddox. Col

heirs. The boys who had made m

ent of rain and gasoline rolling off him. He gave his

y one. His scent reached me, and my heart dropped. O

nning from one finger, mint and

rm with pure disgust, pine needles

ove, my first kiss. Then someone close to my father spread a vicious rumor about me, and Maddox believed it. He didn't just stop loving

w. Maddox, are you mad to see your l

said, eyes completely

d me, and I flinched

he said. "If I see you near me, I won't ignore yo

just break. It

urned in the back of my throat. But my father had made me swea

stared at his boots.

bathroom. I just needed to hide. I stayed in a

e door

n here like a wet rat." Bel

ng and pressed a

aid. "Is it true what the

niest part? Colt thinks he was my fi

ed open in th

suspected," Bella said, la

dangerous secret, the

, and my sneaker sq

lking

" Bella said, her vo

roperly, it was yanked open. H

re list

got here. I didn

pulled me forward. My head knocked against th

t h

ged me to the sinks. Bella picked

like wate

he basin. I thrashed. "No! P

and filled my ears, cold and chemical-bitter. I ch

bbed the back of Bella's jacket and

. When I wiped my eyes, I saw Bella st

stop

orway sto

had run all the way here. His eyes found me on the wet tile,

His voice was low. I

spying on

essure dropped, and the other girls pressed thems

bruise forming on my cheek, and his jaw

shaking with a rage I didn't unders

ou care?" Bella

looked dangerous. Unstable.