Page 1 of His Daring Girl

CHAPTER 1

Ruby

The day everything changed.

The words on the page become a scramble of letters and little black lines as Cassie’s voice enters the classroom. My calm focus is highjacked by my nerves. I sink down further into my chair, sweeping my hair forward to cover my face. The bagel in my stomach is now rolling into a firmly kneaded ball. I wish I had magical powers like the girl in the book I’m reading; I’d make myself invisible. Or maybe I’d banish my bully to the badlands where all the bullies belong.

“So, what are you girls wearing to my boyfriend’s party on Friday?”

I’d make myself deaf to their voices too, so I don’t have to listen to them talk about another party that I’m sure every senior except for me is invited to. I’d never be caught anywhere outside these walls with Cassie. Without the principal or her fear of getting suspended holding her back, I don’t know what she would do to me. But I still can’t keep the envy at bay. It feels like a high school rite of passage that I’m never going to experience.Just like homecoming. And junior prom. Football games on Friday nights. Senior prom will be the final devastating loss to this hell that has been my high school years.

“I haven’t decided yet,” Taya says. “What are you wearing, Cass?”

“I was thinking the long-sleeve bodycon I just got, but I’m on the rag so I’ll totally look bloated.”

How Cassie could think she’d look bloated in anything is beyond me. She could eat an entire pot of pasta and not even have a food baby. She has no idea how lucky she is. Me, I eat a carrot and gain weight. I wish I had her figure. Or any figure other than mine.

“Speaking of the party…” Taya’s voice shifts lower. “Are you going to invite the new girl?”

I didn’t realize there was a new girl at school.

“To be determined,” Cassie says. Her hushed voice sounding irritated.

It doesn’t sound like she’s too happy about the new arrival. It’s another female on her turf. More competition for the boys’ attention. Though, she’s already dating one of the hottest guys in school so she shouldn’t be worried.

I’m never going to understand what Chase sees in her. He’s been dating her for over a year, which is a seriously long time in high school years. But they’re polar opposites. Other than both of them being popular and super attractive, they’re nothing alike. Chase is nice, at least from what I’ve seen. He’s never spoken to me, but I’ve watched him over the years, and he seems really sweet. Plus, he’s funny. He’s always being a goof in class and making everyone laugh. Cassie makes people want to cower and cry.

“We’ll see what she’s like, but hush, Chase is coming.”

The girls immediately start talking about outfits again, their chatter getting drowned out by Chase’s deep voice. There’ssomething about the rugged sound that draws me in for every word. It sounds like he’s talking about the new girl too. If she’s already that popular, she’ll be inducted into their snobbish clan by the end of lunch.

I zero in on the words on the page, done with my emotions. Rejection, jealousy, sadness, fear. My mind is already raw, and first period hasn’t even started.

When a backpack is suddenly clunked down at my table, I lift my eyes, swallowing hard when I see a stranger looking down at me. She must be the new girl. And now I know why everyone’s talking about her. She’s really pretty. Prettier than Cassie. I change my mind: if I could look like anyone, I’d want to look like her. And now I understand why the queen sounded irritated. This girl will definitely steal the guys’ attention.

“Hey! Do you mind if I sit with you?”

Is she really asking me that question? She can sit anywhere she likes; she doesn’t need permission. Why she’s choosing to sit next to me is what I don’t understand. It almost feels like it’s a prank. Like someone dared her to come over here, and as soon as I say yes, the entire room is going to burst out laughing, making me the butt of everyone’s joke.

I swallow hard, bracing myself. “Um…sure. You can sit there. I don’t mind.”

“Thank you.”

She takes the seat and starts pulling out her things for class. I look around the room, seeing a strange look on Cassie’s face. No one other than the kids at the cool table are looking in our direction. I peek over at the new girl, and her cheeks tip up in a smile. I don’t get it. No one ever wants to be near me. I’m a loser. But this girl must not know that. She doesn’t know I’m the last person she should be sitting next to. Once she finds out that I’m beneath dirt in this school, she’ll be choosing a different seat andnever speak to me again. She’ll walk the halls, avoiding me like everyone else does.

“Hey, new girl!” Cassie calls to her. “You don’t have to sit with the loser. Come sit over here with us. This seat is open.”

I guess she’s going to realize a lot sooner exactly where I stand on the social ladder in this school. In three seconds, she’ll be thinking it over, studying me closer, and packing up her things to move seats.

“Thanks for offering! But I’m good,” she sweetly declines Cassie’s offer then turns to me. “I’m Presley, by the way. What’s your name?”

My name is…shocked. She’s not moving. She’s staying put. No one has ever turned Cassie down before. All the girls in this school practically beg to get a smile from her. Even the freshmen worship the ground she walks on. It’s like they learn about the legend of the queen in kindergarten. I don’t know what this girl is doing, but she’s making a big mistake.

“You should really go sit with them. Cassie is the most popular girl in school, and if she’s giving you an opportunity to be part of their group, you should take it. Don’t commit social suicide by sitting with me. I wouldn’t want to sit with me either.”

Her pretty smile drops and it’s almost like what I said made her sad. I may have straight A’s and be really good at solving calculus problems, but I am not good with people. It doesn’t compute that there are now tears in her eyes like she’s on the verge of crying. I’m not sure what I said to upset her so much. I wasn’t trying to tell her I don’t want her sitting with me. I wasn’t trying to reject her. I just know the truth about the land that is my hell. And this girl does not deserve to burn with me.

“I appreciate you trying to look out for me, but you seem way nicer than that girl, and I’d really rather sit with you, if that’s okay? I don’t want to be surrounded by a group of peoplewho think that because they’re popular they have the right to be mean to people.”

---