Scarred (Bullied Series #5) (SAMPLE)

Chapter 3

"Earth to Mel."

I tore my gaze from my plate. "Si? Oui? Ja?"

Mateo leaned his elbows on the table across from me. "What's up with you? You're unusually quiet today."

I picked at my quesadilla. We were sitting in Mateo's favorite Mexican restaurant, and it was supposed to be a fun night out, but all I could think about was Steven. I planned to look for him at the track and a few of the gang's fighting places later, but I knew it was a long shot. Thanks to him, I was sure that my hair was going to go gray. It was just a matter of time.

"It's because of some weird alignment of the planets in the Blah Blah Blah system."

He arched his brows. "You don't say."

I nodded fiercely. "Yep. It happens once in never, and it affects humans at the molecular level."

He looked at me as if I'd come from Mars. "You're weird."

"I know. You tell me that at least once every few hours." I bit into my quesadilla, and the cheese melted in my mouth.

"Is it because you're suspended?"

I managed to grin. "Absolutely not! My life is so good I wish I'd gotten suspended sooner. Seriously, you should try it."

"Yep, you're definitely weird." He let out a deep chuckle, his eyes for once reflecting something close to amusement. Usually, they were clouded and sad, and his smiles were forced more often than not.

Ever since Sarah had broken up with him last year, he was an echo of his former self and incapable of moving on. For someone who had once been Rawenwood High's playboy, he'd surely changed his ways. Girls practically threw themselves at him, but he refused them all, and was on a certain path to becoming a hermit. I was almost tempted to just tell him to go to a monastery and become a monk already.

Even now, the girls around us looked at him like he was the main course—no, the dessert—and I could see why. Mateo Diaz was charming and handsome, with his angular jaw, light-brown eyes that held hints of mystery and allure, and curly hair brushing his shoulders. He was a hot Latino from head to toe.

But I saw beyond his appearance. He wasn't just some trophy boy. He was caring and considerate, and he was my first guy bestie, having broken through my barrier of distrust toward guys. Maybe, if my life had been different, I would've been able to crush on him, too. But that was a whole other reality, and I stopped wishing to turn back time long ago. It was pointless.

His smile faded. "Then what's going on?"

"You really want to play Freud?"

He winked at me. "What are friends for?"

I sighed, wondering how to put everything into words without sounding as though I was sinking. I wasn't sleeping well, I didn't have any appetite, and I was biting my nails and downing Red Bulls more than ever.

All because of Steven and his addiction.

"It's Steven. We had an argument, and now he's who knows where. Probably searching for his brain. Or a solution to his smelly farts."

With a laugh, he reached for his glass and took a sip of pineapple-flavored Jarritos. "Why did you argue?"

I propped my elbow on the table and rested my chin against my hand. "The same old. Drugs. But this time it was worse because he insulted our mom and I punched him. I think I broke his nose."

"Damn."

"But wait, it gets better. The principal chose that exact moment to show up. She immediately pegged me as a delinquent and sent me to this program for problematic students that's supposed to reform the devil out of me."