Bad guy (REWRITTEN)

Chapter 29

Anna

The announcement hung in the air like smoke from a fire no one had lit yet. Two days. Two whole days in the woods, cabins, forced proximity, no hallways to duck into, no bells to save me. Just Billie, Juana, me, and whatever fresh hell the universe decided to cook up this time.

Sophie was still vibrating next to me, shaking my shoulder like I was a vending machine that owed her a soda. "Dude. Camp. Actual camp. S'mores. Lake. Ghost stories. You're not excited?"

I forced the corners of my mouth up. "Thrilled"

She narrowed her eyes. "You're doing the fake-happy thing again"

"I'm fine"

"You're gripping that pencil like you're about to stab someone"

I looked down. The wood had splintered under my thumb. I loosened my fingers, let the pencil roll across the desk. "It's just... a lot"

Across the room Billie had her arm slung casually over the back of Juana's chair. Juana was laughing at something she'd said head tipped back, throat exposed, ponytail swinging. Billie's eyes flicked toward me for half a second. Not long. Just enough to make sure I saw. Then back to Juana, thumb brushing the girl's shoulder in that absent, possessive way she used to do to me.

My stomach twisted—sharp, familiar, ugly.

Alfred (Alf, whatever) was still leaning against the wall near the door, arms crossed, watching the whole exchange like he was reading a book he'd already spoiled for himself. When our eyes met again he gave me the smallest nod, the kind that said I told you so without saying a word. I looked away first.

Class dragged. Notes blurred. The teacher's voice faded into white noise. All I could think about was the cabins. Five people per house. Who the hell decides that? Who decides anything in this school anymore?

By the time the bell rang I was already moving fast bag slung over one shoulder, head down, aiming for the door before anyone could corner me.

Sophie caught up in the hall. "You gonna be okay with this trip thing?"

"I don't have a choice"

"You always have a choice. You could fake sick. Mono. Family emergency. Plague"

I almost laughed. "Yeah. Plague sounds believable"

She bumped my shoulder gentler than Billie ever did. "Seriously, though. If it gets weird, text me. I'll fake a stomach bug and we can both bail. Solidarity"

I glanced at her. Sophie had been the only steady thing lately no drama, no games, just quiet company and the occasional bad joke. I wanted to tell her thanks. I wanted to tell her I was scared shitless that two days trapped with Billie would crack whatever fragile armor I'd managed to build.

Instead I said, "Thanks. I'll... think about it"

She rolled her eyes but smiled. "You're so full of shit"

We parted at the stairwell. I headed toward my locker on autopilot, mind spinning worst-case scenarios: shared cabin, late-night whispers, Billie cornering me by the lake, Juana watching from the shadows like she already knew she'd won.

I rounded the corner and stopped dead.

Billie was there. Leaning against my locker like she owned it. Juana wasn't with her. Just Billie hood up, hands in pockets, that same unreadable expression she wore when she was deciding how much damage to do today.

I considered turning around. Pretending I forgot something in English. But my feet kept moving. Muscle memory. Or stupidity. Probably both.

She pushed off the metal when I got close. Didn't step aside. Just stood there, blocking the combination lock, forcing me to stop inches from her.

"Two days" she said quietly. No smirk. No tease. Just fact.

"Yeah"

"Same cabin, maybe"

My throat tightened. "They haven't assigned yet"

"They will" She tilted her head, studying me the way she used to when we were alone really alone like she could see straight through the hoodie, the beanie, the walls I kept throwing up. "You gonna keep pretending you don't feel it?"

"Feel what?"

She stepped closer. Close enough that I smelled pine and smoke on her jacket, close enough that her voice dropped to the register that used to make my knees weak.

"The way your breath catches every time I look at you. The way you grip shit too hard when you see me with her. The way you won the volleyball point like you were trying to prove something to me instead of the other team."

I swallowed. "You're imagining things"

"Am I?" Her hand lifted slow brushed the edge of my beanie, tugged it down a fraction so a strand of hair fell across my forehead. She didn't tuck it back. Just let her fingers linger near my temple. "Or are you finally admitting you're not over it?"

"I'm over it"

"Liar"

The word landed soft. Almost fond.

I hated how much I wanted to believe the fondness.

I stepped back barely an inch, but enough to break the contact. "Move. I need my books"

She didn't budge. Just watched me with those storm-blue eyes that used to feel like home.

"You can run all you want on this trip," she said. "Hide in your sleeping bag. Avoid the campfire. Pretend Juana's the only one I'm looking at. But we both know how it ends"

"How?"

Her lips curved just the smallest fraction. "You break. You always break for me. And when you do?" She leaned in, mouth near my ear, voice velvet and ruin. "I'll be right there to catch what's left"

She stepped aside then. Finally. Gave me space to open the locker.

I didn't look at her while I shoved books into my bag. Didn't breathe right until she started walking away.

But I felt her stop halfway down the hall.

Felt her turn.

Felt her eyes on the back of my neck like fingers.

"See you Friday, babygirl" she called quiet enough that only I heard.

The nickname hit like a bruise I'd forgotten I had.

I slammed the locker shut harder than necessary.