I get to PE and a picture-perfect face plants itself in front of mine. The queen bee, always fucking hovering somewhere.
“Nice outfit.” She pops a hip, chewing on her gum like an obnoxious brat, her friends crowding around in anticipation of what, for sure, is to be a roasting session of sorts. Probably even preplanned insults.
“How is it living at the Bray house with no men to share a bed with at night?” Her light eyes trail over my body in these used clothes. ‘Course she’s wearing a sports bra and spandex shorts – something that would never be allowed at any other school, I’m sure.
I don’t entertain her and move to step past, she slides with me.
“What slum did you come from anyway?”
I sigh internally. “Your daddy finally let me out of the basement so long as I promised to play nice with others. But not as nice as I played with him, if you know what I mean.” I wink and her face scrunches.
“Whatever.” Her hands find her hips. “Stay away from the Brayshaws, and out of my way, and we won’t have problems.”
“What makes you think I want anything to do with them?”
Laughter echoes around us. Apparently, every girl in here is intrigued by what this bitch has to say to the new girl.
Even the males who are tucked away in the weight room at the back of the gym pause for the show. They can’t possibly hear from there, but apparently they’re content in watching.
“Every girl wants to be a Bray girl.” She rolls her eyes, tightening her high ponytail. “If you don’t yet, you will, but I’m here to tell you to stick to those on your level.”
“You saying the Brayshaws are on yours?” I make sure skepticism is heard when really, I couldn’t care less.
“You saw how he defended me when you showed your trash.”
“Is that what that was?”
Her almond shaped eyes narrow and she steps closer to me. “Keep your path from crossing with theirs. There’s no room for another Bray girl.”
When I roll my eyes, she smirks.
“I don’t know why I’m wasting my time.” She laughs, glancing around to make sure she’s got the full attention of her cronies and those who wish to be but haven’t yet found their in. “It’s not like they’d ever stoop so low.”
When my lips purse her eyes light up.
“I know all about you. Girl from the trailer park who uses her body to get what she wants. Tell me,” she tips her head, “how much does a happy ending cost? Maybe I can help you out, bring in some clients and all that.”
I should beat her ass, right here, right now.
“Ladies.” The teacher comes around the corner, but neither of us break eye contact. “Chloe! Raven!” she booms and it’s Chloe – as she called her - who shifts first, a fake smile in place. “Yes?”
She looks between the two of us with a glare. “Let’s go.”
Chloe flips her hair over her shoulder and skips away, but my feet refuse to move as I glare after her.
Someone told her – maybe the entire school – about my mom.
And when my eyes are pulled right and met with an icy emerald stare that pointedly holds mine before looking away, I know exactly who’s to blame.
I have to face the fact there’s nothing I can do to erase everything I come from, at least not until I escape myself.
I need to let off some steam.
I’ve been hanging around the porch for a few days with my eyes locked on the boys’ home, waiting for the guy from the other day show his face. Finally, two days later, the timing is right and he appears.
He jumps off the porch, bringing a cigarette to his lips as he props himself against the side of the house.
His eyes meet mine right as I stand, and in the same damn second, the screen door opens and Maybell walks out pretending she’s interested in conversation.
She not-so-casually steps right in my view with a smile. “How you doin’, Rae?”
I suppress a smile. If it was anyone else, I’d walk away, but Maybell’s proving to be all right. She’s real chill and doesn’t pry into shit, like the social worker did instantly.
“I’m good.”
She nods, taking a drink of her coffee as she looks out across the road. “Waiting ‘til the last second to head on out, I see. Any trouble at the school I should know about?” she asks, taking a moment to look