Burning Bridges ✷ Gale Weathers

08. SEE RIGHT THROUGH YOU

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First period was always the worst.

It was the only class Harriet had with Gale, and the sole reason why she dreaded walking through the door every morning. Gale always found a way to pester her, whether it be taping a nasty note to her desk or shout that she was cheating for the whole class to hear, including the teacher.

In that class, Gale's favorite pastime was getting Harriet in trouble. But today, she ended up scoring them both an hour of detention after she ripped up Harriet's homework and the girl ended up doing the same back to her.

When the bell rang at the end of the day, instead of rushing out of the building with everyone else, Harriet and Gale dragged themselves to detention. But Harriet seemed to be the only one who was truly upset that she had to spend her afternoon in detention.

Gale inspected her nails at the desk beside Harriet, looking not at all bothered by the situation she'd gotten them both in. It was as if she spent every day in this room and didn't mind it one bit.

But Harriet did mind it. She'd never received detention before. It would go on her permanent record, and then every college that she applied to would know she wasn't a perfect student. It was all Gale's fault, and she was going to do something about it.

"Do you have no shame?" She spat into the awkward silence.

Gale glanced up from her nails. "That's a very random question, Harry."

Harriet gritted her teeth at the embarrassing nickname. "Don't call me that. And you should be the only one sitting here. I don't deserve it. I did nothing."

"You ripped up my homework," Gale pointed out with a fake sigh.

"You ripped up mine first!"

"I'm really not in the mood to argue right now," she said, her tone clipped. "Besides, there's to be no talking in detention. Why don't you study or something?"

"Why don't you take those fake nails of your and shove them up your ass?"

Gale stiffened, but a smirk curled on her lips. "You're getting better at your bitchy replies. Have you been taking notes from me?"

"God, you're insufferable." Harriet turned away from her, her face red with anger. She wanted to kiss her face with a fucking uppercut.

"I'm sorry for getting you detention," Gale said suddenly, not sounding sorry at all. "But I had to. You're easy to mess with, and I didn't want to go home. It's a win-win for me."

"So, what? You try to get detention everyday?"

"Mhm," Gale answered noncommittally. "Home may be a safe place for you, but it isn't for me."

Harriet realized that was the only time Gale had ever given any insight to her home life. She had assumed things, of course, but Gale was now openly admitting to the abuse. Not directly, but Harriet knew.

"Is someone hurting you at home?" Harriet asked, already aware of the truth, her voice just a tad bit softer than before.