Jenalyn: From the Inside (#3) [Complete]

Chapter 54: Hayden

Thursday, 12:16 P.M. EST

I sit at the lunch table, picking at my food. I’m beside Ren, across from Sarah, and on the opposite side of the table from Dan.

Sarah keeps shooting me nervous glances, but I can’t bring myself to address it. And I barely bat a lash when I notice Dan glaring at me from the other end. 

“Stop staring Sarah,” Ren suddenly snaps, slamming her palm down on the table to shoot the little girl a warning glare. “You’re being a pest!”

Sarah doesn’t respond in her usual submissive way, it’s almost like she waits for me to intervene and say something to Ren like I always do.

After a few moments of nothing, she clears her throat. “Hayden, you-“

Ren cuts her off right away. “Pest!” she snaps, intensifying her glare before narrowing her eyes.

Sarah stops staring at me, but still waits for me to intervene for a moment. When I don’t, she lets out a frustrated and defeated sigh, then runs off to a nurse to request quiet time.

Something inside of me feels bad. Sarah doesn’t know that this is all part of a plan. That after a little time, the tables will turn and leave Ren so broken by what happened that she’ll never pick on her again!

I’ll have to explain... but not now. That’s for another time.

Now I need to let this “partner in crime” deal happen until I can figure out how to take Ren down.

“She’s too much sometimes!” Ren exclaims after Sarah runs off, easily picking up her carefree demeanor and giddy personality.

I don’t respond but hope that my silence will still count as agreeing in her books.

Dan glares at me, discontent clear on his face as the spoonful of food he was shoveling into his mouth lingers outside of it.

That’s for another time, I remind myself.