Borderline

Chapter 24

The next few days passed in a similar fashion. Eli and I would walk toward the hellhole I called an elementary school, while simultaneously trying to distract ourselves with jokes and laughter.

There were times when I had almost forgotten why we were doing this.

Almost.

Then it would all come back to me and I would have to stop myself from sobbing my eyes out in the middle of the road.

We reached the town at around 11:30 am on Friday, which still gave us time to find the school. It wouldn't take very long, since it wasn't a very big town. I'm still surprised that it's even on the map.

As we walked past the sign, Eli elbowed me. "I didn't know you grew up here."

I rolled my eyes. "You didn't know I was a girl until I was half naked, either."

He blushed slightly, and I felt the ghost of a smile on my lips. "Yeah, sorry about that."

I shrugged. "Whatever."

We walked in silence for about 20 minutes before I saw the edge of the downtown area, if you could even call it that.

"Great," I muttered. "I wonder how many people will recognize me."

I grabbed Eli's hand and dragged him along behind me, keeping my head down.

"Don't. Say. Anything," I warned. He just nodded, probably deciding it was best not to argue with me right now, which was a smart assumption.

I picked up speed as we walked, weaving through the forming pedestrian traffic.

I didn't see her until it was too late.

It happened so fast. I blinked, and I was on top of a girl. We were laying on the concrete, and she looked pissed.

I took one look at her face and my eyes widened.

It was Olivia Bransen, and she still had her two bitchy little friends in tow.

"Get off me, you freak!" She screamed. "You'll ruin my outfit!"

I had let go of Eli's hand during my fall, which allowed me to quickly pick myself up.

Olivia's appearance hadn't changed much since elementary school. She had grown some breasts, and her face was caked with twice as much makeup, but not much else.

I stared at her while she continued whining about how I had somehow ruined her outfit.

It was pretty ugly to begin with...I think I actually made an improvement.

I felt Eli tug on my arm. "Come on, Ryder. Let's go."

I nodded, and started to turn around when I heard Olivia stop talking.

I looked back quickly, which was a mistake.

"Ryder? As in Ryder Morgan, the biggest freak in school?" I saw her glossed lips turn up into a predatory grin, and I froze.

She was one of the only things that scared me, and I was a little bit ashamed that it still got to me.

Eli stopped walking to, glancing back at Olivia with a confused expression. He looked to me for an explanation, but I couldn't say anything. My eyes were frozen on Olivia.

"Hey," Eli snapped his fingers by my ear and I blinked once. "Ryder, come on. We have to-"

"Now, what's a cutie like you doing around a street rat like her?" Olivia came up to Eli and ran her fingers down his arm. I ground my teeth, mentally glaring at her. I was staring at her friends, who were busy distracting themselves with the things in the shop windows.

At least they aren't joining in this time.

"None of your business, miss," Eli said, trying to be as polite as possible.

"My name is Olivia. Olivia Bransen. But you can call me anything you'd like." I saw her wink at him from the corner of my eye, and I managed to turn my head to look at them.

"I'd rather not," Eli mumbled, and I would have laughed if I hadn't been paralyzed by fear.

I guess you just never get over some things.

"So, what's your name, hot stuff?" Olivia asked, using her completely fake sweet voice.

"He's with me. Back off."

Olivia looked at me, surprised. I was surprised at myself too, but I didn't show it.

"Oh. Is it Carter? Are you Carter? You look a lot different." She ran her eyes up and down Eli's body.

"No, I'm-"

"It doesn't matter what his name is, Olivia. I said, back off."

Olivia glared at me, but stepped away from Eli and in front of me. She had a look of disgust in her face.

"You don't get to tell me what to do, you orphan skank. I am so much better than you. I am a goddess, and you are pond scum."

She kept spewing insults at me, and I just stood there. I saw Eli in the corner of my eye, but he seemed to understand that this was my fight, so he stayed back.

"Hey, Olivia?" I interrupted. "How about you just shut the fuck up for a second?"

Olivia's jaw dropped. "How dare you talk to me like that, you little bitch! Do you know who my parents are?!"

"And do you know who my parents were?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

She shut her jaw and glared at me.

Everyone knew who my parents were. Mr. and Mrs. Morgan were some of the richest people in this town. My dad came from a long line of doctors, one of which founded the first medical clinic in the city. We were pretty humble about it, though. I'm glad for that, otherwise I might have turned out like Olivia.

"That's what I thought," I said. I didn't want to give away the fact that I was armed, and I was glad that I had everything hidden so well, but I was incredibly tempted to take out a gun and shoot her in the shoulder.

One, it would hurt like a bitch, and two, it would "ruin" her outfit. Blood doesn't wash out very easily.

I continued what I should have done years ago. "Let me tell you something, Olivia. I've actually done something with my life. I've made some new friends, and I'm currently on a fucking rescue mission. You're still hanging around Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum over there, and you honestly look like shit."

Olivia looked like was about to scream, but I just smirked and continued.

"You're an ungrateful little whore who doesn't know how to live on anything except daddy's paycheck. You're nothing but a stuck up little bitch, and I'm not afraid of you anymore. Because, surprisingly, I have bigger problems. I don't give a shit what you say anymore, because you're a fucking asshole."

At this point, Olivia should have been blowing literal steam from her ears. But I had one more thing to say.

"So, how about you stop being a fucking pest and go suck a dick." I curtsied, and smiled mockingly. "Good day."

I pushed her out of my way, grabbed Eli's hand again, and continued down the sidewalk toward the elementary school.

I heard Olivia shouting curses behind me, and I couldn't resist the urge to turn around and shout one more thing at her.

"Oh, and by the way, your insults are shit!"

I saw her stop her foot in frustration, throwing a temper tantrum in the middle of town, and I laughed.

Eli was staring at me with a smile on his face. "That was...that was freaking awesome!"

"I know! I can't believe I didn't do that earlier!" I had started to calm down from my laughing fit, but the smile didn't leave my face until we reached the entrance to the school.