The next day at school, it was as if the world knew exactly how to push Samantha St. Onge further down into the dirt. Everyone knew it, and I could feel the energy shift as we all filed through the hallways, everyone whispering, everyone watching. But Sam? She was already a few steps behind the rest of us, eyes glued to the floor, her arms hugging her books tightly as if they could protect her. They couldn't.
I passed her on purpose, of course. I didn't even glance at her as I pushed by, my shoulder brushing hers just enough to send a shockwave through her fragile body. I heard her squeak out a little breath, her shoulders tense, but she didn't dare look up.
She never dared look up.
"St. Onge," I said, my voice soft and cold, just loud enough for her to hear.
"Maybe you should just drop out of the team, you know? Save yourself the embarrassment. The championship isn't for everyone, after all. You've got nothing to offer."
Her eyes flickered, but she kept them down. Her glasses were slightly askew, and I could see the tremble in her fingers as she adjusted them.
And then Jake-my 'boyfriend' Jake-passed by, winking at me. He was a solid wall of muscle, all strength and swagger, and he knew exactly how to make me feel like I ruled the world. He and Maya both exchanged a quick smile before heading off to their own classes, their laughter ringing in my ears. They had no idea what it was like to be stuck in Sam's shoes, to feel the sting of constant isolation.
But I knew. I was the one who had made sure of it.
The bell rang, signaling the end of the class period, and we all filtered out toward the cafeteria. I spotted Sam again, hunched over as she made her way to her locker. Her brown eyes were always darting around, searching for an escape that wasn't there. I swear, it was like I could hear her heart pounding from across the hall, the way it always did when she was close to me.
But there was one person who didn't let Sam disappear into the shadows. Hannah.
Hannah, the little freshman, was one of the only people I actually had to watch out for, though I wouldn't admit it aloud. She had this knack for standing up for Sam, like some kind of knight in shining armor. Cute. But that just made it all the more fun to break them both. I had to smile as I watched Hannah rush over to Sam, giving her a quick hug, as if she could protect her from all the cruel things the rest of us said. Hannah, you poor, sweet thing.
I walked toward them, slow and deliberate. It wasn't that I cared about Sam's little moments of comfort; I didn't. But the look on Sam's face when she saw me coming was enough to send a shiver down my spine. She couldn't hide the fear. She never could. It was written all over her.
"Hey, shrimp," I called to Hannah, my voice dripping with mockery.
"You know Sam here's gonna mess everything up for the team, right? You might want to start making other plans for the trip. Don't want to be stuck with her, do you?"
Hannah didn't back down. I could see the flash of anger in her eyes, but she didn't say anything. Instead, she stepped closer to Sam, putting herself between us like a shield.
"Leave her alone, Scarlett," Hannah said, her voice firm. "You don't have to be like this. Sam doesn't deserve this. Nobody does."
I raised an eyebrow and crossed my arms, enjoying the little tension in the air. Oh, how cute. She thinks she can stand up to me. I could see the way Hannah's hands shook a little, how she was still trying to protect her friend, but it was so clear she was outmatched.
Sam, of course, was quiet. She always was. Her eyes were wide, and I could see her lips trembling as she looked at me, then at Hannah. But she didn't speak up. She never did.
"You know what?" I said, pretending to consider Hannah's words. "You're right. I don't need to waste my time on a freak like St. Onge. You should know, though, that there's nothing that will make her a real part of the team. Nothing."
The last part was meant for Sam, a sharp jab I knew would hit home. I watched as her eyes fluttered shut for a moment, the tears threatening to spill but not quite making it past her lashes. I loved it. I loved how easily she fell apart.
But then, as if by some miracle, Coach Willis appeared, and the tension broke. Sam still didn't move. She didn't even flinch, but Hannah stood tall, glaring at me.
The bell rang again, signaling the end of lunch. We all started heading for our next classes, and I shot one last glance at Sam. Her eyes were red, and her face was pale. She was hurting, and that made me smile.
For the rest of the day, I couldn't stop thinking about her. Her fear was like a drug to me, and I couldn't wait for practice later. There, I could really make her suffer.
And the best part? Sam didn't have a single clue what I had planned.
