Bad Girl In Disguise (SAMPLE) I ✔

C O W A R D

My mind is a mess. It battles between cowardice and bravery. Between fighting and running.

I could have ran. I could have left Queen Bitch Claire and her groupies, choking back tears and hiding my face. But that is not me. That is Jessica. I'm not her anymore.

I'm Jesse now.

"Only a coward talks behind the enemy's back," I spit at her pretty little face. She sneers triumphantly, happy with my misery.

"This isn't a coward's move, little Jessica. This is a battle strategy, and you're falling for my trap," she says. My hand itches and before I could stop myself, my hand curls into a fist and hits her square in the jaw.

Or would've, if Lucas didn't catch my wrist and held it back with an iron grip. I struggled against him, but he just faintly shakes his head.

His eyes say all of the words his mouth won't. It's not worth it.

"Aww, poor Lucas. He has to put up with you, bitch," Claire says, her tone dripping of mock sympathy. Lucas's face doesn't betray a single drop of emotion. His eyes are cold and hard.

"You're treading on thin ice, Claire," Lucas says, spitting out her name. His jaw is clenched and his fist is ready.

"You could've had your pick of any girl in this school. You could've had me," Claire says, her rage flaring up. I raise an unamused eyebrow. "But instead, you choose this whore. Why? I think I'm a lot better in bed and definitely prettier."

I scoff and roll my eyes at her arrogance. But a small part of me agrees with her. She's so beautiful, and so much more experienced. I shush my annoying brain and force my face into a blank stare.

"I chose Jess because she is wild. She's confident and unique. She's cunning and smart, but soft and shy," Lucas answers without missing a beat. "You will never be as good as her."

That seemed to do hit the spot. Claire's eyes turn glassy and she looks away hastily. I want to sneer and triumph at her weakness, but I can't. I just can't.

How can anyone be that cruel?

Claire storms out, her group staring daggers at us and trying to comfort their leader.

"That wasn't very nice, you know," I said softly. Even to me my voice sounded small.

Maybe it's because Claire looked like me a few years ago. When I was bullied and ridiculed at my old school.

"She insulted you!" Lucas roared. I flinched a bit at the volume of his voice.

Why am I so weak? I wasn't weak before. But after all that has happened today, I feel drained. The fiery Jesse is gone now, replaced by soft and meek Jessica.

Along the way, good girl Jessica became a part of me. I hate the weakness that exposes, but I'm too late to stop it.

"And I got her even. You didn't have to degrade her like that," I say. Memories come flooding back into my mind.

Of me, running down the hall with tears trailling down my cheeks, my body aching and bruises forming where Lily kicked me.

Of James, his cold stare following my retreating form. His body is tense and his face uncaring. I don't mean anything anymore.

Of Lily, a sneer on her pretty face. She's dangling of James, forever reminding me that he is hers now. I will never have my friend back.

Of everyone else, laughing and smirking on the sides. Not helping Lily, but not helping me either.