My Secret to Keep

Shamed

Starling

"Hey Hana." Starling greeted her friend as she approached her locker. Hana was wearing purple rimmed glasses today and purple star earrings that matched, which was per usual. What wasn't per usual was the frown twisting her mouth. "Everything okay?"

She looked around the hallway, and Starling followed her gaze, noticing for the first time that nearly everyone who walked by glared at her. Or started whispering furiously among themselves. One girl gave her a thumbs up.

Hana grabbed Starling by the elbow and turned her around so they were facing the lockers. "Look, I was going to be mad at you today since you kind of bailed on me last night, but I get it. Your brother was over there."

"Yeah, he was. How do you know that?"

Hana leaned in until Starling could smell the spearmint gum she was chewing. "Everyone is saying you two hooked up. Joyce saw y'all on your porch swing."

"What?" Starling hissed. Joyce Nice was nothing like her last name. Biggest mouth on the campus and usually the most accurate. If she told a story, people listened and believed. "This is terrible."

"I've already overheard some of the girls say some pretty nasty stuff. Jennifer Martinez is calling you a hypocritical ho to anyone who will listen, and there's a group whose putting down bets for when Gillian corners you for a fight. Beth Kilgrow said she'd hold you down for her."

"Oh good lord," she groaned, opening her locker and pulling out the books for the two morning classes. "Beth Kilgrow is almost six foot tall. What am I going to do, Hana?"

"Slut."

Starling jumped at the sound of the hissed insult and caught an elbow in the ribs as Jennifer Martinez walked by with two of her friends. She flipped her long, black hair over her shoulder and flipped Starling the bird.

"Ms. Martinez," Mrs. Betmyer bustled down the hallway with a stern look on her aged face. "Come with me so you can explain exactly what that was about."

"At least there is some justice in this world," Hana muttered at the same time Mrs. Betmyer whirled around to point at Starling.

"You can come with me too since you were a part of it."

"But Mrs. Betmyer," she protested, slamming my locker shut. This was absurd. Another group of students passed by, whispered insults echoing about their ranks. Of course, the teacher heard none of them.

"Do not argue with me. You can explain your little spat to the principal."

Jennifer smirked, clearly feeling as if she was going to be the victor in this scenario. Considering the principal was her aunt, Starling didn't doubt things would go Jennifer's way. Zipping up her backpack, she cut a dark look at Hana before trudging after Mrs. Betmyer and her new nemesis. Was it just a week ago they'd been talking about Griffin's latest movie? They'd never been best friends, but Jennifer had always been someone Starling could count on.

"You act all high and mighty, but you're just a skank," Jennifer whispered. She'd slowed her steps so she could walk alongside Starling. Mrs. Betmyer was too busy paving a path through students scurrying to class as the first bell rang.

"I love that you've come to this conclusion without getting the story from the source." Not that Starling knew what to say to explain away Griffin's presence at her house.

Jennifer frowned and glanced at her feet. But when she spoke, her words shivered with contempt. "A girl who would steal another girl's man isn't someone who would tell the truth. Don't you know how pathetic it makes you look? Griffin only went over there because he's too nice to turn you down."