WE'VE GOT

the tile walls, slightly sending a tremor through my already shaky legs. I spun around, heart hammering

e whose face shot up the terror rippling within my veins. It's M

ed me stare in utter silence. Annah starved me of the classroom

ical jokes. I could also see the tomboy Annah showed me earlier. I didn't struggle to get her name: Jill. She's the perma-grumpy girl with a build

mischievous glint in his eyes. One I haven't seen befor

felt a blush creep up my neck. "I'm not a doll" I

etness. "Heard you like to play dress-up, little doll," he rumbled, his voice drip

phant glint in her eyes. She lunged for my backpack, h

e bag with all my might. A tug-of-war ensued,

d but she wouldn't l

t felt like tim

Then, with a sickening yank, the straps slipped from my grasp. Jill s

d Carrick only s

. "Ooh, sparkly" Jill panted, tracing a finger along the sequined keychain attached to

and unexpected, bubbled up within me. "Giv

ld feel the metal biting into my shoulder blades with a sharp clang. Before I could regain my footing, Carrick shoved

kpack with a flourish. Just then, Annah burst into the locker room with

he cried, pushing past Jill to

the backpack, narrowly missing Annah as she stumbled back. But Annah wasn't giving up. With

seeing his opportunity, shoved me into Annah sending us both tumbling to the flo

em. Poor fi

pped her easily, his laughter echoing in the confined space. Carrick, meanwhile, rummaged

locker room door swung open with a bang. Mr. Gonzalez, our stern-f

's en