When The World Turns

Chapter 12 (Official)

I scrubbed at the last stubborn spot in my locker, wiping away the residue Adrianna had so graciously left behind. Most of the mess was gone now, a miracle, considering the damage. Some of my notebooks had been salvageable. Some hadn’t. I'd already thrown the ruined ones out.

Just as I started reorganizing my books, a voice broke through the quiet.

"Who's the boyfriend?"

Jason.

He leans lazily against the locker beside mine like he had all the time in the world. I ignore him, slipping another book onto the shelf, but before I could do anything else, he slammed my locker door shut right in front of my face.

I sighed, already tired of him, and turned to find his usual smug expression waiting for me.

"He's not my boyfriend," I muttered, more annoyed than anything. "Leave me alone."

His smirk only widened. He shifted closer, too close, until there was barely any space between us. "You act all cold," he said, voice low and cocky, "but I bet if someone touched you the right way, you'd melt like nothing."

I stepped back immediately, disgust rolling through me like a wave.

Jason, of course, stepped in closer, each inch feeling more invasive than the last, slow and deliberate.

A sickening rush of nausea twisted in my stomach, shoulders tensing, sending a wave of revulsion down my spine

Just then, the bell rang, loud and sharp, cutting through the tension. I jumped at the sound, my whole body flinching instinctively.

Jason laughed, not loudly, not obnoxiously. It was worse than that. It was low, and amused, and far too knowing.

As he turned to walk away, he tossed a wink over his shoulder. It sent an icy shiver crawling down my entire body.

I clenched my fists at my sides, forcing my legs to move. Forcing myself to head toward class like nothing happened.

Just as I walked through the doorway, a foot shot out in front of me. I stumbled hard, hitting the floor with a dull thud.

The room burst into laughter, not the kind you could laugh along with. It was sharp and mean.

I didn’t need to look to know it was Adrianna, her snickering joined by Carla’s. They leaned into each other like this was the best part of their morning.

I lifted my head and shot them a glare, a real cold one. The laughter faltered. The whole room shifted into an uncomfortable silence. A few nervous coughs broke the air.

I stood up slowly, brushing off my knees. The teacher walked in right then, calling everyone to their seats. The class scrambled back into order.

Throughout the class, I kept my eyes glued to the board. If I lock in hard enough, maybe everything else would blur out into nothing.

It didn’t stop Adrianna, though. Small, crumpled pieces of paper kept hitting the back of my head, one after another, like she was daring me to react.

I clenched my jaw and kept writing notes. I wasn’t going to give her the satisfaction.

From behind me, I caught whispers carried by little snickers. "Oh my god, did you see that bag?" Adrianna said with a cruel laugh, loud enough for me to hear. "It looks like she’s been carrying it for years," Carla added, snorting.

I tightened my grip on my pen but stayed still. My eyes flicked back to the board, reading the same line three times before it finally sank in. Focus. Just focus.