Break Me

chapter four

The next day, Noah still walks me to my classes even though I tell him I'm fine. But I think it has more to do with making sure the boy with grey eyes doesn't attempt to bother me again.

I'm in history which is the class before lunch and also the second class I have with Anna. When the bell rings I get a tap on the shoulder.

"You wanna sit with me at lunch?" Anna asks as she packs her books into her bag.

I'm sort of taken by surprise when she asks me. Except for yesterday, for the most part I've always sat alone at lunch.

"Yeah, sure" I smile zipping up my bag. As we walk out the classroom, I see Noah standing right outside the door like he always is. He smiles when he sees Anna and I walking together.

"Noah would you mind if I ate lunch with Anna?" I ask. He's been really helpful making me feel safe here, I don't want him to think I don't appreciate it.

"Of course not" he says. "How about I just meet you after school?" I nod my head and he smiles at Anna and I one last time before walking away.

I walk with Anna to her locker. I don't have one but she says it makes transitioning to your morning and afternoon classes easier and your bookbag lighter. There is an open locker next to hers so she says I should put my stuff in there. But I have to get a lock first.

When we start walking towards the cafeteria, a tall blonde approaches us. She has three girls walking behind her, They are all painstakingly gorgeous, but I get the sense that their insides aren't as beautiful as their outsides. But then again who am I to judge people on their beauty.

"I'm Tana you must be Vanessa" she smiles wickedly through her pink lip gloss.

This is what Noah meant by I'll know her when I see her. Yeah, I definitely see it now. I glance over at Anna and she looks at me with the same 'I don't know what to do either' expression.

"Yeah" I reply gripping onto the strap of my bag. Tana takes her eyes off of me and puts them on Anna looking her up and down.

"You're a Harrington, you shouldn't be hanging out with people like her" she scoffs looking back over at me.

That makes my blood boil. She insulted one of the only people that has been nice to me and loves books as much as I do. Does she think that I would want to surround myself with people like her over someone like Anna?

"Well I would much rather hang out with Anna than someone like you" the mumbled words spill out of my mouth before I can stop them.

I did not seriously just say that out loud.

Maybe she didn't hear me.

Tana looks shocked. Her eyes wide and a scowl on her lips. Yup, she heard me.

My cheeks flush and I stand frozen in my spot. Should I apologize? I didn't mean to say it, but I guess it's better I didn't lie right?

Maybe not.

Before Tana can respond, Anna pulls me by the arm and drags me away from them, leaving behind their shocked expressions and stilled bodies.

"That's really bad right?" I ask Anna as we walk quickly to the cafeteria.

"Maybe, if you weren't a Harrington. Your last name automatically makes you invincible at this school. But you may have just made Tana Montgomery your enemy which isn't really an enemy you wanna make" she winces.

I groan and adjust the strap of my bag over my shoulder. I may have just dug a deep hole for myself and I haven't even been here a week yet.

"Maybe you don't have to worry about it though? I mean there are a lot more people on your side here than Tanas. People fear her but they hate her more" she says trying to lighten the mood. I shrug my shoulders not wanting to think about it anymore and the topic is dropped.