Collateral Damage

Chapter Two

Ana cornered me at my locker during lunch. "Okay, spill," she said. "Did you really get into a fight with Bernadette?"

"Yup," I said, taking a halfhearted bite out of my tuna sandwich. Since I didn't want to risk running into Bernadette in the cafeteria, I decided to have my lunch in the hallway.

Unfortunately, the nearby couple slobbering all over each was ruining my appetite. These two were a real piece of work: in between having each other's tongues splayed in their mouths, they were cooing and simpering things like, "I felt your tummy gurgle. Is my baby hungry?"

Vomit.

PDA always grossed me out long before the breakup. Matt and I never needed to dry-hump in public like that. And I told him that if he ever called me "baby," I'd tell everyone how he wet his pants at our first grade carnival.

At least Ana provided a much-needed distraction "What was it like?" she asked eagerly, sliding down to the floor next to me. "Was it as awesome as Mellie bitchslapping Fitz on Scandal? Damn, I wish I hadn't missed it. You think somebody caught that on their phone?"

"I got detention for it," I said.

Her dark eyes widened. "You got detention?" She whistled. "I never thought I'd live to see the day..."

"There's a first time for everything. Oh God..." I groaned as the lovebirds, who were now moving back towards us. They didn't bother watching where they going; their eyes were glued to each other, simpering and rubbing noses. "Can't they get a room?"

"Allow me," Ana replied. She stuck out her high-heeled boot directly in their path. The guy tripped and stumbled. His girlfriend let out a startled shriek, but couldn't break free in time to avoid getting pulled down with them.

"What hell is your problem?" the guy spat at Ana as he scrambled back to his feet.

Ana shrugged unapologetically. "Not my fault you can't see where you're going."

"Bitch!" his red-faced girlfriend hissed as he helped her up.

"Have fun getting on the next season of Teen Mom!" she called after them as they went off in a huff.

I snorted with amusement. Classic Ana. Unlike me, she never cared what other people thought of her. When we played Truth or Dare as kids, she always chose a dare, no matter how stupid it made her look. She dove off the highest diving board at the pool when the other kids chickened out. If there was a school dance, she was the first one on the dance floor. She was never afraid to speak her mind—something that got her into hot water with the teachers for being a "smart-aleck."

"Wow, an actual smile," she snarked at me now. "Haven't seen that in months."

"Yeah, well." The moodiness returned. "I haven't had a lot to laugh about lately."

"I know. Anyway..." She took the bag of Doritos I offered her from my lunchbox. "Don't worry about detention. They just make you sit in that classroom for a few hours. They'll probably make you write an apology letter to Bernadette too."

"No way in hell."

"You may not have a choice." She opened the Doritos and started digging in. "Don't get me wrong, I think it's awesome that you're finally letting loose. It's not healthy to keep it all pent up. Still, it doesn't look good to attack Bernadette on her first day of school. You're just turning her into a bigger martyr."