Page 146 of Dare To Break

“Are you crying?”

“N-no.”

“You’re missing dinner.”

“I’m not hungry.”

Miles sighs softly. “Bella …”

Clutching the phone tightly, I screw my eyes shut against the image of all the faces laughing at me in the cafeteria. “I’m not going to sit there while everyone stares at me like I’m some kind of freak. I’ve already seen the posts and tags.”

“Where are you? You can’t be out after curfew.”

“I’ll text you later.” I end the call.

The phone starts ringing again, but I switch it off. There are no texts waiting on my other cell. Desperately trying to quell the panic building inside me, I text him again.

Me: Please talk to me. Why did you stop daring me? It was the one thing that made me feel alive since I got here.

Unknown number: Why do you care what anyone else thinks?

Relief courses through me.

Me: I can’t help it and then I start overthinking. The thoughts won’t stop circling in my head and I feel like I’m drowning.

Unknown number: What thoughts?

Me: That everyone is judging me because of something that was out of my control. I don’t fit in here.

Unknown number: No? You seem to fit in just fine.

Sadness is a sharp pain in my chest.

Me: Do I? Everyone hides behind a mask.

Unknown number: Not everyone. Some people are exactly what you see.

Me: What do you see when you look at me? Why did you pick me for the dares?

Unknown number: My reasons don’t matter. What I see doesn’t matter. What do you see when you look at your reflection? That’s the only thing that matters.

I glance away from the screen, blinking back tears. What do I see? He wants me to be honest.

Me: I see a girl who doesn’t know who she is anymore. I thought I did. Then things changed. You showed me things that made me question myself.

Unknown number: Are you sure that’s what happened? Because it seems to me that you are lying to yourself about who you are. If fitting in is so important to you, why isn’t it making you happy?

The truth hurts.

Me: Because Eli is right. I shouldn’t be here.

Unknown number: Do you believe that or are you just conforming to someone else’s opinion?

My attention shifts to the plaque on the stone column. The words Zoey Rivers are carved in metal.

Me: I believe it.

Unknown number: That’s a shame. I thought you had more fight in you.

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