Raw Deal (Beauty for Ashes 1)

Chapter 3

Truth be told, I’d enjoyed the basketball after party, but I obviously couldn’t admit it to Monica. If I did, she’d get that annoying triumphant look on her face, and I just wasn’t having that. So, when she swooshed in on me in the cafeteria during lunchtime on Friday, I acted nonchalant and indifferent about the party.

“Come on, you must have enjoyed it, Lexi. I saw you tearing up the dance floor, and you and Lewis seemed to hit it off pretty well.”

I bit into my chicken sandwich. Yep, I definitely thought Lewis was hot, but Monica didn’t need to know that.

“Did Lewis get your number?” Monica asked.

“No.”

“Why not?”

“I don’t know.” He hadn’t even asked, and up until now, I hadn’t even thought about it. Maybe I’d enjoyed his company more than he’d enjoyed mine.

“Well, what happened when you guys left last night?”

“Nothing. I went home, and I assume he went home too.”

Monica looked like she didn’t believe me, but she let it drop. “A bunch of us are going the movies tonight. Wanna come?”

Great! Monica had a never-ending stream of social activities to invite me to. I’d said yes to one. Wasn’t that enough? “Who’s going?”

“Just a few of us, and I’m sleeping over at Sandy’s till Sunday. You can too if you want.”

I didn’t think Sandy really liked me. “No thanks.”

“Well, we’re meeting back here at school at seven to park our cars. Feel free to change your mind.” Monica got up and walked off. I watched her leave the cafeteria. No doubt she was off to meet Liam.

I picked up my half empty bottle of water and downed the rest of it. A part of me wanted to go tonight, but my inability to keep up with the likes of Monica and Sandy made me think twice.

Since I had no more classes, I decided I was going home. On my way out, I saw Monica and Hayden. He was trying to grab her cell phone, and she was screaming and refusing to let go.

“Help, Lexi,” she called.

I forced a smile and walked past. Monica and I had been really close before I’d gone to England, and although she’d always been the ‘bouncier’ of the two of us, I didn’t think I’d been that far behind her. I was sure there’d been a time when I was happy, carefree, and full of positivity, but it seemed like a lifetime ago. Right now, things were a struggle. My glass was definitely half empty.

I bought pizza on my way home. Food was good for triggering feel-good hormones, and I definitely needed some of those. I took it to my room and devoured it hungrily, while I downloaded all my thoughts for the day into my diary. The counselor that had worked with me in the first few weeks after my dad died had recommended that I write. It was meant to be cleansing. An hour and a half later, I kicked off my shoes and lay down on my bed. Writing was also exhausting.

Aunt Milly, my mom’s extravagant Bible toting sister, had suggested prayer. Maybe I’d try that one of these days.

***

I woke up with a start as my phone vibrated. I reached over and grabbed it from my nightstand. It was Monica.

“Hey, Mon,” I croaked. I looked at my glow-in-the-dark clock. It was 6:45. Morning or night? I wasn’t quite sure.

“I’m just on my way to school,” Monica announced. “Are you coming to the movies with us? Do you want me to pick you up?”