Page 168 of Dare To Break

My palm stings, and it takes a second to register the visible red mark of my handprint on Tina’s cheek.

Stunned, I stand frozen at what I’ve just done. “I-I’m sorry.”

Eyes wide, her hand comes up to touch the place where I slapped her. “You bitch!”

The expression on her face changes, contorting into rage. I step back, and she lunges at me, her hand lashing out.

Pain detonates across my cheek, the force hard enough to send me backward. Both her hands come toward me, but I raise my own to block them. Her sharp nails claw down my forearms. The pain feeds my anger, and I shove her back. Left arm swinging around, I catch her on the side of the head. Crying out, she stumbles backward, only to be caught in Evan’s arms.

People are gathered around us, phones out and aimed in our direction.

Embarrassment and humiliation collide inside me, and I spin away, pushing through the crowd. I rush from the building and keep on going until I’m across the grass and inside the dorm.

The second I’m in my room, I text Miles.

Me: Something happened with Tina, and I need to talk. Can you come to my dorm? I don’t want to go to the cafeteria.

I leave my phone on the bed and check my throbbing forearms. Scratches litter the skin, red, raised, and angry. I hiss when I touch the ones on my right arm and go into the bathroom to find something to clean them with.

The screen of my cell is lit up with a message when I return to the bedroom. I pick it up.

Miles: Sorry, Bella, I’m busy right now.

My shoulders sag. He’s been busy a lot lately, and although he says it’s something to do with his art project, I’m not so sure.

Me: Okay.

Miles: Whatever it is, I’m sure it’s not that bad. Make sure you eat lunch. See you in class.

My stomach roils with nerves at the idea of going to the cafeteria alone. Sitting on the edge of my bed, I reach for my sketchbook instead. I flip the pages, until I find the design I’ve been creating for my art project.

The princess ball gown I originally planned is now something dark and decadent. Where the material was once white and pure, it’s now black but no less beautiful. I’m tempted to go down to the room I’m sharing with a few other girls and get back to work on it, but I’m not in the mood to be teased and taunted again.

By the time lunch break ends and it’s time for class, I feel a little less on edge. I hurry back to the main building, and Lacy and Linda intercept me by the lockers. They catch me by the arms and drag me into the girl’s restroom.

“What the fuck, Arabella?” Lacy snaps the second the door closes behind us.

Insecurities ooze up at the anger in her voice. “I didn’t mean to slap her.”

“It sure looked like you meant it.” She shoves her phone in front of my face and she shows me a video that’s been uploaded onto social media.

I swallow hard and bow my head. “She said something nasty, and it made me angry.”

She huffs. “Maybe you need to see a therapist for your anger issues. This doesn’t make the cheer squad look good. We have an image to uphold. You are not going to ruin that.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Get your shit together over Thanksgiving.” She turns on her heels and walks out of the restroom.

Linda sweeps her gaze up and down me. “I don’t even know why Lacy is being nice to you. At least Zoey was one of us.”

With that, she leaves me staring after her, tears in my eyes. I release an unsteady breath, and rub my wrist, but my bracelet isn’t there.

Because you lost it somewhere and still haven’t found it.

It’s probably lost forever.

Forgotten, because isn’t that what always happens to me?

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