Bad Reputation

Bad Reputation (23)

Chapter 23

Monday morning came and went without incident. Mother and father once again left before I even woke. The notes had stopped coming after the last time I yelled at them, but I wasn’t exactly missing them.

I drove to school on Jayden’s motorcycle as we had yet to exchange keys, not that I minded. I loved his bike.

My car was already parked in its usual spot. I stopped for a moment, wondering why he was already here. I was always at school a good twenty minutes early, but he usually didn’t come until five minutes before the bell rang.

The hallway was as usual almost empty. But even with the lack of people, it was weirdly quiet. There was no question what caused the silence though.

Against the row of lockers were the six people I considered my good friends now. Riley and Landon were in the middle of a very, very public display of affection. Doing the dirty in Trinity’s bedroom had apparently made them more open about their relationship.

Trinity was trying to engage Sofia in a conversation though the other girl didn’t seem very receptive.

When I stepped up to them, Jayden held out the set of keys immediately. I took them, giving him his. A wave of sadness washed over me. I was really going to miss his bike.

Just then Riley and Landon broke apart.

“Lissa, hey,” Riley said with a grin.

I smiled back, leaning against the locker in between Sofia and Jayden. My back was barely touching the locker when Riley wrapped her arm around my wrist and dragged me up.

“Come on, I wanna show you something,” she said as she began dragging me away from the others.

“What?” I asked, stumbling after her.

Despite my longer legs, Riley was walking way faster than me.

“Just something out in the shed,” she said vaguely.

I shrugged my shoulders, deciding to follow after her. It was in my best interest, as she would take me with her anyway.

“As you know, we have been working with your confidence and bravery this past month…” Riley started when we walked out the door. “Personally, I think you’ve had an amazing transformation, Lissa. You walk with a new prep in your step which really suits you. You’ve really changed for the better. I only have one last test for you.”

I stared at her in confusion. A part of me was glad she approved of the new me, but the other part told me I should be kind of worried for this last test. I had done everything she wanted me to, except for two things. Two things I knew she and the others did regularly, but I hadn’t really tried yet.

We were halfway over the courtyard, when I stopped dead in my tracks as another familiar voice called out to me.

“Hey, Melissa!”

I turned around and faced Reagan, standing ten feet away.

Despite what my father had said Reagan had stayed away from me. Either Mr. Hill hadn’t bother talking to her, or Reagan had ignored her father’s wishes. Not that I cared. It had been peaceful without her. My eyes turned over to the person standing beside her.

Damian.

I braced myself for the stuttering of my heart and the feeling of ache inside me, but it never came. I had gotten used to feeling broken, yet warm on the same time whenever Damian looked at me, which was a sure sign I still had feelings for him.