Paper Cuts | Luke Hemmings ✔

22. the bitch came back

Corrine had her nose buried in her book during lunch, the conversation around her softly filled her ears.

MISS SKEETER

CHAPTER ELEVEN

It's technically winter in most of the nation, but already there is a gnashing of teeth and wringing of hands in my mother's house. Signs of spring have come to early. Daddy's in a cotton-planting frenzy, had to hire ten extra field workers to till and drive the tractors to get the seed in the ground. Mother's been studying the Farmer's Almanac, but she's hardly concerned with planting. She delivers he bad news to me with a hand on her forehead . . .

"Cory!" Corrine jumped, and glanced up from her book. Everyone stared at her.

"Why are you all looking at me like that?" she mumbled.

"We've been calling your name for ten minutes." Mali giggled. "You zoned out."

"That happens sometimes." she said. "So what's up?" she closed her book.

"What are you doing for spring break?" Lauren asked.

"Same thing I always do." she replied. Owen groaned and let his head hit the table.

"Why, what does she do every year?" Ashton and Calum asked, turning to Owen.

"All she ever does is read, and drink tea. She stays up in her room the entire week. Never comes out of her room." Michael gave her a weird look.

"What is wrong with you?" he teased. Corrine shrugged.

"I haven't decided yet. But at least I don't spend my week binge watching romance movies." Corrine said that last part quietly. Everyone heard her though.

"You know, this year, I'm going to devote my week to pranking you." he said confidently.

"Do you remember what happened the last time you tried to prank me?" Corrine smirked, leaning forward. Owen cursed under his breath. "I'm sorry, I didn't hear you." she said.

"You tied me to a chair, and shaved my head." he replied.

"I have no problem doing it again." she said. Corrine grabbed her book. "I'm going to go. I don't want to be late." she said. Michael, Calum and Ashton looked to Luke.

"What?" he asked.

"Your girlfriend's evil." Michael said.

"She's a monster." Owen added. "It's scary."

"You guys are mean." Lauren frowned.

"Oh yeah, she'd cut the heads of her barbie dolls when we were younger, and mount them on pencils!" Owen said.

"Okay, that's a little freaky."

Corrine wandered down the halls to her next class, humming lightly to herself. She rounded the corner, and stopped. Sitting on the ground was Amelia. And she was crying. Corrine took a deep breath, and began walking again, hoping she'd go unnoticed by her. "Pathetic." Corrine whispered to herself as she passed.

"What was that, freak." Amelia growled. Corrine bit her lip. Dammit.

"Nothing." Corrine said, and started walking away.

"I heard what you said." Amelia said, standing.

"Good for you." Suddenly, Corrine felt herself being pulled back, and was slammed into a locker.

"I'm not pathetic. You're the pathetic one. You're a freak." Amelia hissed.

"If I'm a freak, tell me how I'm dating Luke." Corrine said. Amelia's face drained of colour as the words slipped from her lips.