Page 17 of Let's Pretend I'm Okay

“Here,” she says, extending her hand. “Let me help you up.”

I swat her hand away before standing up on my own. She’s only offering help because now I’m the vulnerable one.

Olive is nowhere to be seen.

“Do you always go around punching everybody?” the brown-eyed girl asks, falling into step with me.

Why does she care? She doesn’t know me.

I roll my eyes and walk faster. She wouldn’t understand even if I tried to explain the situation to her. Besides, sheprobably has nothing better to do than find the newest gossip and spread it around the school.

“I just want to know what happened,” she says.

I spin around, and she almost runs into me as she skids to a stop.

My eyes narrow. “Didn’t you see what happens when people annoy me?”

She scowls at me, crossing her arms. “Only cowards solve their problems with their fists because they’re too afraid to hear what the other person has to say.”

I almost laugh. Who is she to talk to me like that? She doesn’t know anything about me or about what just happened. Who is she to make assumptions? She’s nothing but a spoiled brat who’s clearly never had to deal with the real world.

I lean in, eyes darkening. “Get lost.”

Yet, to my surprise, she stares back at me without a single ounce of fear in her eyes. She rocks her jaw ever so slightly, and there’s only one word that leaves her mouth: “Coward.”

CHAPTER SIX

MARGO

Twenty minutes later

My mind is still spinning from my encounter with Daniel. He’s an immature boy who needs a lesson in social basics. What would’ve happened if I wasn’t there? And what’ll happen the next time he loses his temper? What if no one is there to stop him?

I shake the thoughts out of my head.

The closer I get to the cafeteria, the louder it gets. So many conversations are melting together I can’t make out any of them word for word.

Before I step in, I straighten my posture, pinch my cheeks, and put on a smile. Anything to make myself look better than I feel.

I spot Annie in the center of the cafeteria, head in a book. I’ve tried convincing her to sit with my friends, but she never wants to. It’s usually just the two of us with the occasional exception of Cameryn. She joins us at least twice a week.

Annie and I may be twins, but we’re nothing alike. I’m thefriendly, bubbly one who likes bright colors and bold clothes, and she’s the shy, book-loving one who would rather go back to being in lockdown than go to a party.

I pull her book down as I sit across from her.

“Hey,” she says.

“Hi,” I reply with the biggest smile I can.

She’s barely touched her lunch, which isn’t new. I pluck one of the grapes off her tray and pop it into my mouth.

I wait for her to scold me, but instead her eyes lock on something past me.

“What are you looking at?”

Her gaze flies back down to her book. “Nothing.”

My sister never does anything without a reason. She’s a calculated person, but I give her the benefit of the doubt.

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