Page 89 of Dare To Take

Eli won’t listen to me if I try to tell him what’s happening. He doesn’t believe that the fake animal wasn’t me. There’s too much emotion between us, and it’s all toxic.

Churchill Bradley Academy has become my prison.

My gaze moves aimlessly through the chapel, and finally settles on something tucked beneath one of the pews. I shift up onto my hands and knees and crawl toward it. Reaching out, I curl my fingers into the soft brown leather and pull it out from its hiding place.

A bag.

Has it been here the whole time or is someone else using the chapel when I’m not here?

I unzip it slowly, expecting to find someone’s stash of alcohol or drugs. But that’s not what greets me, and I remove the items one at a time, lining them up in front of me.

A heavy silver lighter, a round compact mirror, a comb, and a pink pen with a sparkly top. But it’s the thick book with a red cover that holds my attention. I run my fingertips over the front and open the first page.

My heart stops.

The thoughts and life of Zoey Rivers.

I glance around the chapel, uneasily.

Why is her diary here? Did she hide it?

I turn to the first page and start to read.

First day back at school, and Lacy has been giving me hell. I’ve already told her I’m done with the cheerleading squad, but she doesn’t want to hear it. She’s still trying to rule my life. She might think she’s Queen of the school, but I’m not her minion. Thank God I have Eli and Kellan. Life would suck without them. I can’t even imagine what it would be like to have no one here.

I do. Sadness shrouds me, but I keep on reading.

Bret asked me out after lunch, and I politely declined. Even if I liked boys, he wouldn’t be my first choice. None of the jocks would be. Brad acts all sweet, but I’ve seen what he can do when he’s angry. I’m pretty sure Bret is secretly hot for his roommate Garrett. Miles lights up my gaydar like a Christmas tree. Kellan thinks he’s in denial. Jace is impulsive and doesn’t know when to stop, while Evan follows him around like a puppy on a leash. Like Eli says, we all have secrets, even the popular crowd.

My phone pings.

“Fuck.” Torn between the desire to read more and the nauseating need to see who the message is from, I shuffle back to where I left my cell.

Please don’t let it be from my blackmailer.

Miles: You’re not in class. Where are you?

I check the time on the screen. Where did the hour go?

Me: I’m not feeling well. Can you let the teacher know, please?

Miles: The others are going to give me shit over it.

I don’t fucking care.

Me: I don’t have anyone else to ask.

Miles: Ok, I’ll do it.

Me: Thanks.

My attention returns to the diary. I close it and hug it to my chest.

Zoey.

I already feel a connection with her. Seeing her thoughts and feelings written on the page only deepens the sensation.

I should turn it in to the principal.

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