𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐒𝐔𝐌𝐌𝐄𝐑

𝟙

mackenzie's pov
current day

"did you hear about the new girl, annie?"
"the one from san fransisco?"
"yeah, that's her. her name is annie leblanc."

annie leblanc. now that was a name i had not heard in a long time. i slow to a stop and retrace my steps backwards to listen in to the conversation.

"i heard she's some sort of academic prodigy. she's only like sixteen, and she skipped a grade."

"really? why's she even moving schools, anyways? and why this crap hole? if she's a prodigy, shouldn't she be at some high-prep school?"

i hold my breath. the description sounded desperately familiar. there's no way that it's a different girl.

i peek my head into the girl's bathroom and spot the two freshman girls that were gossiping. i had seen them around school, and i think the blonde one's name is ruby.

"how did you even hear about her?" ruby asks the other girl.
"my mom is on the office committee. she's in charge of student transfers." the other one replies.

i attempt to lean in closer without being noticed, but i lose my footing and end up stumbling into the wall, catching the attention of both of the girls. i attempt a smile.

"sorry. i tripped."

when the girls recognize me, their confused expressions turn into shocked ones.

"ohmygod, mackenzie ziegler just talked to me." says the brunette.

i fight back the urge to roll my eyes. sure, i was unquestionably the most popular girl of hamilton high school, but i was no celebrity. instead, i step forwards, clasping my hands behind my back.

"oh. hey. you're ruby, right?" i ask, nodding my head torwards the blonde one. she nods vigorously. i turn to the other one.

"and you are...?" i hold my hand out, and almost laugh at myself. what was i doing? i never shook people's hands, especially not people i didn't know.

the small, light-brown haired girl seems thoroughly confused as well. nevertheless, she takes my hand and shakes it, blinking away her confused expression.

"i'm jayden. jayden bartels. i'm in your advanced art class." she informs me excitedly. i just nod my head. she lets go of my hand, and the two look at me expectantly. i cock my head.

"right! well, jay and i are gonna go." ruby steps in, breaking the short bit of silence. she grabs jayden's arm and pulls her torwards the exit.

"wait-what? no, rubs, let me talk to he- ow!" the duo are already out the door and i let out a relived breath. i was glad they believed the whole 'oops i fell act.' i glance in the mirror and my beautiful reflection glares back at me. suddenly, the reason i was in here pops into my mind again.

"annie leblanc." i whisper to myself. i hadn't heard that name in over a year. i thought that maybe, maybe it was just an odd coincidence that the girl my life collided with last summer had the same name as the new girl. but the gossip about her being an academic prodigy squashed my suspicions. there was no way that there were two girls named annie leblanc that had skipped a grade, were incredibly smart, and lived in california. a sick feeling rises to my stomach.

last time i was with julianna leblanc, we were staring at a human corpse.