Page 58 of Fighting the Odds

Yay! It’s one of the two classes I have that I know will have me second-guessing my decision to return and not take the homeschool option.

The guys protest, but I make them go to their own classes and let me be a big girl. The moment I step into the dressing room, Savannah begins to snicker.

“Look who came back. The school slut. Heard you had got beat up by your pimp for not making enough money for him.”

I roll my eyes and ignore her. She doesn’t deserve a response.

“What’s the matter, skank? Did he cut your tongue out?” Savannah asks.

It’s hard, but I undress, knowing they’ll see the fading bruises. In hindsight, I should have put the coverup cream on this morning, but I got a little distracted by Cyrus in the shower.

I hear the gasps when I take off my shirt. Knowing what they see is only adding fuel and a hint of truth to what Savannah is insinuating.

As soon as I’ve changed, I rush out to the gym and take a seat on the bleacher as far away from everyone as I can.

Wesley struts out of the boys’ locker room, his eyes locked on me as he gives Jack a playful shove and heads my way, dropping down on the bleacher beside me.

“Sierra, I see you’re back. You know I ran into your aunt, and she told me some interesting things about you. But nothing she told me was as interesting as something else I found out.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I scoot away from him, but he continues his pursuit.

He places his hand on my knee, squeezing it roughly as he leans in and whispers in my ear. “Seems you like to give it up for anything. I’ve got a twenty in my pocket.”

“Screw you and get your hands off of me,” I hiss, glaring at him, showing him he doesn’t scare me.

“That’s right, it’s strictly hands off, isn’t it? Or wait, I can touch you if you give me permission. Isn’t that right?”

What the hell? Why is he acting so strange and what’s with these questions?

“Wesley, don’t get too close. You might catch something. Who knows if she has something contagious with how slutty she is.” Savannah’s eyes are locked firmly on Wesley’s hand on my thigh, like a missile on its target.

“I’m good. Why don’t you run along. Sierra and I are just catching up.” He waves her off, dismissing her in front of everyone.

She huffs, stomping her foot before storming off, and I know this isn’t going to end well for me. But before Wesley can say anything else, Coach Luck blows his whistle, calling class to order.

“We’ll finish this next period… Lilac.” I go stiff, and I can feel the color draining from my face as he smirks at me before running off.

No, he can’t know. I had to have misheard him.

Chapter 29

Sierra

Gym was a nauseating nightmare. Anytime I caught a glance of Wesley, he was staring at me with a sadistic smile on his face.

He called me Lilac.

I’m a sweaty mess and I haven’t even done anything physical. My pulse is racing, and I’m shaking like I’m in the middle of the Arctic Tundra.

Run.

Right out the door and away from here.

I had to have misheard him. It’s the only logical answer. No one here knows I strip. I’m very good at keeping it a secret and no one from school is old enough to get into the club.

Tiger Tails has a strict policy prohibiting minors, and Rico enforces it.

When Coach Luck dismisses us to the dressing room, I speed off. I just need to change and get to the library. At least there I don’t have to see anyone but Wesley, and I’ll do everything in my power to keep busy and away from him.

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