and scoot around, kneeing her in the side.
Someone drags me away from Nicole and Hunter hauls her to her feet.
“Come on,” the deep voice says, “to the office. Both of you.”
Terry picks me up an hour later, waiting until we’re in the car to say anything. “I can’t believe you got yourself suspended, Sara.”
“I was defending myself! She started it!”
“How do you expect to go home if you get into fights at school?”
“So I’m supposed to let people beat me like my father did? And what does this have to do with going home?”
“You have to behave if you want to go home.”
“My behavior had nothing to do with me being removed. It was because my parents live across the street from my guardians. Which is a bunch of crap. I was with them for months and my parents left us alone. I was fine until CPS came around.”
“You know, all I hear from you is how everyone did you wrong. Did you ever think about what you did wrong?”
“I didn’t do anything wrong!”
“That’s enough, young lady. You watch your tone or you’ll be grounded a lot longer.”
I stare out the side window so I don’t have to look at Terry. How is it I’m getting in trouble for shit I didn’t do again? Nicole started the fight and now I’m suspended from school and grounded. If it weren’t for my time with the Jerichos, I’d feel like I never left the hellhole that used to be my home.
I want my home back. I want to stay up all night with my best friend on the weekends, binge watching TV shows on Netflix. I want to do homework with Jason next to me in the TV room, sneaking a kiss on the cheek now and then. I want Rose to check on me, thinking I’m asleep, after I go to bed. I want to watch Andrew carry in a pizza like he just saved the world by dialing the phone and ordering delivery for dinner.
But no, even with the Lloyds, the unspoken rule is that I remain miserable.
Someone from the school board calls later. They lifted my suspension. Hunter went to Mr. Roberts, the vice-principal, and told Mr. Roberts what he witnessed, which lined up with what I reported when I was taken to the office. Mr. Roberts wouldn’t listen, so Hunter and his parents contacted the school board.
I get to go back to school tomorrow, but at what cost?
If Nicole is anything like Becky, she’ll be relentless. And even though Hunter stood up for me, it doesn’t mean he’ll be my friend. He just did the right thing, which could ruin him in the social wasteland of high school. You’re not supposed to do the right thing to be popular in high school. You’re supposed to go with the herd without question. It’s social suicide to do otherwise.
The next day, I leave the lunch line with my tray, searching for an open spot in the cafeteria. I walk by a table and spot Hunter, surrounded by other boys not talking to him, looking out of place. Our eyes meet and he gives me a slight nod.
One little gesture says it all. He committed a cardinal sin as a member of a clique. And even though his friends won’t talk to him, he can’t talk to me if he ever wants to regain his status.
So much for making a friend in this stupid school.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
A week later, Nicole stops me outside my History classroom. “You’re through here, Sara.”
“Do you know something I don’t?”
“I know that by the time I’m done, no one will want to talk to you or be near you.”
“Awesome,” I say with a fake smile. “No one talks to me anyway.” Why am I standing here listening to her?
“Listen up, you man-stealing whore.” She pokes my shoulder. Must be her favorite gesture when she’s bitchy. “You’re going to break up with Jason.” She must drink the same Kool-Aid as Becky. The crazy kind.
“You listen up.” The first confrontation with her was enough for me to be sick of her already. The rage and bitterness I carry inside doesn’t help either. I dig my finger into her shoulder. “Jason didn’t want to be with her. You think your threats scare me? Just try to do your worst. It won’t fucking touch what I’ve already been through. Not even close.” I give a little push before lowering my hand.
She sneers with a glint of trouble in her eyes. “And