When The World Turns

Chapter 10 (Official)

"You're both dismissed."

"Okay," Adrianna and I mutter at the same time, though there's nothing mutual about it. The air between us crackles with resentment as we stand up from our seats. School's finally over. Time to go home.

Adrianna throws me a venomous glare before stomping toward the door, her footsteps pounding against the floor. I meet her glare with one of my own, unwilling to back down even now. She disappears around the corner without another word.

I stay back for a moment, letting out a quiet sigh. My shoulders drop as the tension bleeds out of me little by little. Whatever. I'm done with today.

I sling my bag over my shoulder and make my way toward the door, the sound of my shoes soft against the floor.

I hear quick footsteps getting closer behind me. I turn my head slightly and spot Ethan, grinning wide.

He closes the gap between us, stepping up to walk at my side. His pace matches mine, easy and natural.

I can't help but grin back. "Hey," I say casually.

"Hey," he chants, a little breathless like he hurried to catch up.

"My class is just three doors down from yours," he adds, jerking a thumb over his shoulder.

"Oh," I reply, adjusting my bag on my shoulder. "This wasn’t my class, though. I was just getting a quick lecture."

He smirks, like he’s about to tease. "What’d you do?"

I giggle, glancing at him from the corner of my eye. "Argue with a bitch."

We continue walking side by side, chatting casually as we make our way toward the school entrance. The late afternoon air is crisp, the sun starting to dip lower in the sky.

Out of nowhere, SPLASH.

Something cold and sticky slams against the side of my head, drenching my hair, my face, my shirt. I stumble a step, stunned, blinking the liquid out of my eyes.

What the fuck, the smell hits me a second later, sickly sweet.

Soda. Of course it’s soda.

Before I can even look to figure out what the hell just happened, another hit comes, a huge, nearly half-full soda cup smacks against the side of my head, falling to the ground with a pathetic, wet thud.

I look back, Jason stood there, grinning like he just won a prize.

Victor is right beside him, one arm casually draped around his girlfriend's shoulders, Nicole.

They're all laughing at me, full-blown cackling like it’s the funniest thing they've ever seen.

I stand there, a step outside the school entrance, sticky soda dripping down my face and soaking into my clothes. Beside me, Ethan freezes, eyes wide with shock.

Fuck. Not right now. Not in front of him.

Before I can even protest, Jason’s voice cracks out from just inside the doorway. "Shithead!" he barks, doubling over with laughter.

Victor, arm still slung around Nicole, joins in.
"Another dick to suck?" he shouts, grinning.

Ethan looks horrified, darting his eyes between them and me, like he’s realizing just how ugly this all really is.

I'm already spiraling, stomach twisting, what must he think of me now?

"Back off," Ethan cuts in, voice cold and firm, breaking right through the noise.