This World That Divides Us

CHAPTER 37

"Made your favorite for lunch today," dad says, coming up to where I'm standing on the lunch line in the cafeteria.

I glance my head toward the heated counter and notice the grilled cheese sandwiches that are lying there. It looks like a fancier kind of grilled cheese than I'm used to, which is no surprise, because everything at Sinclair Prep has to be creme de la creme. But hey, cheese + any form of bread will always be the best meal to me, no matter what it looks like.

"I see that," I tell him and he gives me a little shake of the shoulder before walking away.

"Oh, this is too good," Jordana remarks from where she's standing.

I reach for a grilled cheese sandwich and place it down on my tray before looking at her. "What are you talking about, Jordana?"

"You and your dad. Almost forgot he was a part of the help at this school." She's talking loudly, and I notice a few students look our way. Leave it to Jordana to attract unwanted attention.

"Whatever," I mutter, going to walk past her.

"I'll buy you an apron. You can join him in the kitchen next time."

I turn around and make my way back to her. "What's your problem? You have Jack again. Shouldn't you be happy now?"

"Again?" she repeats. "Sweetie, Jack has always been mine. It's funny how you think otherwise." I give her an eye roll and a scoff, but that doesn't keep her from calling out to me when I begin to walk away again. "You didn't actually think that the two of you were going to work out, did you?" I stop in place but refuse to turn around. My hands are gripping the tray so tightly. "Pay attention to where you stand around here. You're not one of us. You never will be."

"I don't know if you've noticed, Jordana, but the last thing I'd ever want to be is you."

"Right. I'm sure that's exactly what you were thinking when you stole my boyfriend from me."

"It's not stealing when he isn't yours."

The frown on her face foreshadows her next move, which involves shoving my shoulders. Thankfully, I manage to balance the plate in my grip. I set it down on the nearest table and then meet her level of immaturity, and push her back.

"Keep your hands off me," I growl.

"Then keep your hands off my boyfriend," she shouts back.

Suddenly, my dad intervenes. "Hey, hey, hey. Girls, stop it right now," he says, inserting his hand in between our bodies. Jordana and I are both glaring at each other.

"Well, well, well, look who came to save the day? Daddy dearest," Jordana mocks.

I notice everyone around us start to laugh and I can't help but tear up. "Shut up, Jordana."

"C'mon, Anastasia, let's go," my dad softly says, and just as he's about to turn us away, I hear a voice shout:

"Back off, bitch."

I immediately whip my head around to see Molly standing in front of Jordana.

"What did you say to me, Lawson?" Jordana asks in a disgusted tone.

"You heard me. Or maybe 'bitch' was too nice of a word."

"It's probably the only word in your very tiny dictionary."

"You know for the real piece of shit that you are, your threats are pretty tame."

"I'm warning you, Lawson. Back away now or you'll regret it."

"Appreciate the warning, but does it look like I actually give a shit? Now, why don't you leave Anastasia alone? Crawl back into that little dark cave you came out of and mind your own business. Because jealousy is a terrible look on you. In fact, it's worse than the self-tanner."

The tables have turned and now everyone's laughing at Jordana. She notices and tries to compose herself, but it's obvious that she's freaking out inside. Her reputation is being threatened, and we all know that that's not acceptable to her.

The laughter gets louder and Jordana stands there blankly before huffing and finally storming off.

I hesitantly walk up to Molly. Not because I'm scared to thank her for sticking up for me, but because I'm afraid that this was a one-time exception and she'll go back to ignoring me.

"Thanks, Mol," I say with a sheepish grin.

"Hey, what are friends for?" She grins back at me in the same manner.

I go in to hug her and she meets my embrace, and not that I ever doubted it for a second, but I feel so happy to have a friend in Molly.

***

After school, Molly and I agreed to meet up for ice cream.

"I'm sorry again, Mol," I tell her as we stroll down the sidewalk holding our cookies and cream-filled cones. "For the whole Henry thing."

"About that, Stassie...I know you stopped him from kissing you. It wasn't you I was mad at. It wasn't Henry, either. I can't control who he likes. I guess that's why I was mad. Because I just wish he would like me back."

"How do you know he doesn't? He told me you never talked to him. I didn't tell him how you feel, but I did imply that you were feeling something. He asked me what but I told him that he had to ask you."

"I don't think I can have that conversation with him, Stassie. I rather risk not knowing how he feels than face rejection."

"I don't think that's true," I tell her. "Look, Mol, it's okay to be scared. Scared is normal. But I think you owe it to yourself to tell him how you feel. Don't do it for me, or for him. Do it because you want to. Because you deserve to know how he feels back. Whichever way it goes, just remember how amazing of a girl you are."

"Thanks, Stassie," she smiles at me.

"Thank you, Mol."

"What for?"

"For being my friend when no one else wanted to be."