Fractured Things - Samantha Lovelock Page 0,57
way to the hallway that houses our lockers, I can sense more than hear the not so pleasant whispers from some of the students we pass, though they are outweighed by the others offering friendly smiles and hellos.
Sorting through my locker and pulling out what I need for morning classes, I know exactly when the guys are close without having to turn around. It’s happened every school day since I started here, so I should be mostly used to it by now. Today though, those tittering, adoring girls jockeying for a position none of them have a hope in hell at achieving is annoying me beyond belief. Just as I turn around, ready to fire a snide remark borne of my frustration and anger at Poe, the absolute last person I want to see stomps her way over to us and gets in my face.
“Look who decided to show up,” she crosses her arms and looks me up and down with her lip curled. “I still can’t believe Woodington let in a piece of low-class garbage like you. Things were so much better with you gone, you know. Way less dirty snatch stinking up the place,” she leans in and sneers, her face about an inch from mine.
“Well, you’d be the expert on nasty pussy wouldn’t you, Torsten?” I counter with a smirk, waving my hand under my nose for emphasis. From the flash of surprise that crosses her features, I can tell she wasn’t expecting me to respond at all, let alone stand up for myself. Once she registers what I said though, the surprise is replaced by feral rage.
“How dare you?” She sputters, momentarily at a loss for words. “Why did you even come back here? Went running home to look for your whore mother and found out she didn’t want your trashy ass around either?” She clucks her tongue at me with a look of vicious, demented enjoyment. “You’re probably the reason she left in the first place. Too much of a stupid slutty cunt for even your loser mother to want you.” Sunday steps forward and tries to defend me, but Hali cuts her off.
“Oh shut up, Sunday,” she says, her words dripping with scorn as she rolls her eyes. “Nobody gives a shit what the town druggie with the dead brother has to say.” The druggie comment catches me off guard, but I don’t let it show. Sunday pales underneath her golden California tan, and I’ve had more than enough of Hali and her mouth.
Berate me all you want, you heinous bitch, but go after my friends and it’s on. I may be jumping the gun, but let’s see how you like a taste of your own medicine.
Reaching behind me with one hand, I slam my locker shut, then take three steps forward, forcing Hali into the center of the hallway so the crowd she’s managed to attract has a good view. The predatory smile feels alien and uncomfortable on my face, but it's necessary for what I need to do.
“Have you gone and lost your mind, Hali? That’s no way to talk to your sister’s best friend, is it?” My voice is clear, with a heavy emphasis on ‘sister’. The hallway collectively sucks in a shocked breath and then goes completely silent in their confusion. Hali’s face turns a strange shade of purple-red, and I see the fist she makes from the corner of my eye as she bares her teeth at me. I take a step closer to her.
“Go ahead, sister dear, hit me,” I hiss, still smiling at her. “You’ll get one punch, and then I’ll take your pretty face apart.” Her stance falters slightly, and I see my opening. “The Bradleigh Heir is back in town, and I’m coming for you and your evil, disgusting father. By the time I’m done, you’ll be huddled in a corner chewing your hair, and if I’m really, really lucky, he’ll be dead.” Leaning forward, I plant a loud, smacking kiss on her cheek as she stands frozen in place. “See you around, sis.”
Linking my arm through Sunday’s, her and I step around the seething Hali and walk off down the hall, Raff’s burst of appreciative laughter and the chatter of the onlookers echoing behind us.
Once we’re out of sight, Sunday takes a hard left and tugs me into the first restroom we see. After a quick check of the stalls to make sure we’re alone, she turns to look at me with embarrassment and