"Why are you here?" was the first thing said, and it wasn't from Emma. It was Niki, her voice laced with venom.
Reina rolled her eyes, her gaze sliding past Niki and settling on Emma, who reluctantly gave a small nod for her to come in. "I came to bring Emma's homework she missed from today," she said, walking inside and closing the door behind her. Reina moved closer to the bed, ignoring the intense glares Whitney and Niki were giving her.
Kandy looked between them, her brow furrowed in confusion. "Am I missing something here? Who is she?" she asked, looking at a visibly uneasy Claire for answers "I'll tell you later," Claire whispered, and Kandy nodded, her focus shifting back to the scene.
Reina placed the box of chocolates on Emma's lap. "You were always more of a chocolate girl than a flower girl," she said, offering Emma an awkward, tight smile. Emma was so confused as to how Reina had found out she was in the hospital; she knew Blake definitely wouldn't have told her, knowing their history. Emma picked up the box. The front of it read "Get Well."
"Thanks for the chocolate and for bringing my homework," Emma whispered, stealing a glance at Blake, who had his arms tightly crossed. Reina walked over to a nearby table and sat her backpack on top. "I know you don't want your GPA to drop just from being here," she joked, looking through the bag.
Blake stood up and walked closer, his glare intense. "Does everyone at school know she's here now?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous. One glance at Chris, and Emma knew he was ready to jump in if need be.
Reina turned her head to look at him. "Of course not... I'm trying to change, you know. Not act like a bitch anymore."
Blake didn't look impressed by her comment. Reina picked the books and papers out of the bag, walking around him and back to Emma's bedside.
"What's with the sudden change?" Whitney asked, her voice full of suspicion.
"Being pregnant made me realize I haven't been a good person to a lot of people..." she said, her eyes meeting Emma's. "Especially Emma." Niki let out a huff, not believing a word Reina said. Reina sat the schoolwork on Emma's bedside table. "I know you still don't trust me, Emma, but I hope you get better soon. I'll see you at school." She gave a small smile before turning, picking her bag back up, and walking out the room, Niki watching her closely the entire time.
Claire turned, looking back at Emma and pouting. "You're friends with her after how she treated all of us that day at the mall?" Emma shook her head, looking down at the box of chocolates on her lap. "No, I'm not her friend or anything like that, but I'll hear her out. People can change." Claire pursed her lips and crossed her arms. All of her friends seemed to be against Reina.
She couldn't blame them; Reina had been cruel to them. But Emma believed anyone could change. She wasn't saying they would be having slumber parties at her house or anything, but who knows, maybe they could be close again one day. At first, she didn't even want to think about being close with her again, but the near-death experience had changed that.
"It wasn't her," Niki whispered, her eyes still on the closed door, making all eyes turn to her. Emma looked at her, confused. "What do you mean?"
"She wasn't the one that pushed you into that pool," Niki said, her voice filled with certainty.
"How do you know?" Whitney asked, shrugging her shoulder. Niki's eyes turned to Emma. "Remember how I said I punched the culprit from behind? They fell on the cement hard, holding their ankle. They may have sprained it. Well, Reina just walked out of here perfectly normal."
Chris clapped his hands, clearly impressed with the observation. Emma hadn't even noticed that detail.
Kandy leaned back, crossing her arms. "What if she was just faking it?"
Niki nodded, agreeing that it was a possibility. She didn't know Reina well enough to know her behaviors.
Emma thought it over for a minute before saying, "Nah, one thing about Reina is she's not good with pain. I remember when we were kids, she had a paper cut and acted like she couldn't even pick up her pencil. If that still holds up, then Niki could be right." She remembered finding her so funny at the time.
Blake looked over at her before sitting back in his spot, a grim look on his face. "That's two down. Our top two suspects are out. Who is doing this?" Emma shook her head, because she had been asking herself the same question for months.
YOU ARE READING
It Started With Hello
Romance***** Emma Pear knew she wasn't the most popular girl in high school. Her nose was usually buried in a textbook, and her grades were as spotless as her reputation for always following the rules. "Nerd" was a label she'd long since embraced. Her pare...
