Page 8 of His Brave Girl

Kyler:Tag, you’re it.

I can’t even fight the smile. We used to play tag every day in the backyard. Back when life was easy and the only thing we had to worry about was which cartoons we were going to watch when we got home from school. Back before my mom took me away and the spiral of shit began. I know he wants me to send him a message, but I don’t. I want to. Everything in me wants to. But I can’t. I put my phone back down and try to ignore the beating in my chest as I close my eyes and start to count sheep. I needto put the hope to bed and stop thinking about the one who’s the gatekeeper of all my childhood smiles.

The buzz of my phone breaks through the rushing of my heartbeat. Reluctantly, I dare myself another peek, knowing it’s a horrible idea.

Kyler:I would never betray you like he did. That’s a promise. You know me, Presley. I’m still the same guy. I don’t ever break promises. Never have. Never will.

My heart races even faster, feeling as though it’s stuck in quicksand. The force fighting to pull me under, but if I let myself sink, I won’t survive. I turn, placing my phone back down on the nightstand and then tuck all my feelings under the covers before I close my eyes. Tomorrow, when I see him, I’m going to have to draw the line in the sand. As much as I’d love to be friends with him, I don’t even think that’s possible.

CHAPTER 6

Presley

Igo straight to my class; the halls completely empty since school doesn’t start for another hour. Avoidance is my top priority. I’m wishing I had the power to avoid my thoughts too. By the time everyone begins entering first period, I’m already finished with the day’s assignments posted on the board. And now I’m watching the door, waiting for my next distraction—Ruby—to come walking through.

But the next person to enter the room is one of the guys who was sitting with Cassie yesterday. He struts in, looking every bit as confident as I’m sure he feels. Knowing that you’re accepted and well liked is a heady feeling. I should know. Everyone at my last school loved me. Or at least, I thought they did. What I know now is that they never took the time to get to know me. They never paid attention to the little things. The only thing they cared about was whether I was hot enough to attract the guys.

“Hey.” The deep voice startles me. Cassie’s friend is standing in front of my table. “Mind if I sit here today?”

I shrug. “Teacher said you can sit wherever you want.” But, yeah, I’d rather not have to deal with anything else at the moment. And I’m positive this is only going to stir the drama pot. Cassie’s going to walk through that door and she’ll either be on a mission to bring me into the fold, or on a mission to destroy me. I’m not eager to face either of those situations. Not when my head is already a mess.

He takes a seat across from where Ruby sat yesterday. The one diagonal from mine. “I’m Chase, by the way.”

I nod. “Presley.”

There’s some kind of commotion by the door, and my attention turns to see what’s going on. Ruby is walking in, with her head hung low, her long auburn hair practically hiding her face and her thick-rimmed glasses hiding her eyes. She’s wearing another set of baggy clothes like the ones she had on yesterday, which I’m positive is an attempt to keep herself from being noticed. I’m also guessing it has to do with her being on the thicker side. Girls can be horrid, so she’s probably hiding herself the best she can. But it doesn’t look like she was able to fly under the radar today. She comes over to our table and takes a seat, and I immediately turn to face her.

“Hey. Are you okay? Did something happen?”

She shakes her head, her eyes glancing up at Chase, and her body shrinks in further. “Nothing I’m not used to.” It’s obvious she isn’t comfortable sharing in front of him, and I don’t blame her.

A wicked laugh has me looking back toward the door. Cassie is entering the room with an evil grin on her face, and she immediately points a nasty glare in Ruby’s direction. I’m positive she’s the reason the girl looks so upset right now. Cassie’s attention shifts and she finally notices the other member at our table, her friend who’s chosen to sit with us today. Her snarl suddenly drops and there’s a waver in herstep. The stronghold confidence she just walked in with falters. Interesting. I think she just revealed a weakness. I actually think the Elite guys may hold the power at this school.

The teacher begins class, but the unsettled feeling still sits in my stomach, so I pull out a piece of paper and write Ruby a note.

Hey! Did something happen with Cassie?

Ruby looks down then picks up her pen.

Just called me the four-eyed whale again. She’s always been mean to me, so I’m used to it. It’s just been a while since she pulled one of her pranks, so I thought she was done with me. But this morning, she threatened to get me in trouble again.

What the hell? Get her in trouble? How?

What do you mean by threatened to get you in trouble again?

She looks over at our teacher, making sure he isn’t looking in our direction before she writes me back.

When we were in first grade, she put her lunch in my bag then accused me of stealing it. I got sent home from school and was grounded for it. Then, in fourth grade, she put blue dye in the fish tank and slipped the bottle in my cubby so it looked like I had done it. In seventh grade, she went to the guidance counselor and told her I’d been picking on her. So, my parents were called and I had to go to a bunch of bullying seminars. In eighth grade, she sent a raunchy letter to our principal and signed my name to it. In ninth grade, she somehow managed to copy one of the essays I submitted and then told the teacher that I’d stolen her work. That was the only time she was caught in the lie because the teacher could see on the computer when the documents had been created and mine showed the truth. I thought that maybe because she’d gotten into trouble that she’dlearned her lesson and decided to stop harassing me. It’s been a while since she’s done something so I was kind of hoping she was over it and had forgotten about me. Apparently not.

I can’t believe what I’m reading. Cassie started this shit when they were in first grade. No wonder Ruby wants to stay to herself and hide behind all those clothes. She wants to fade into the background, hide from her bully. She’s doing everything she can to avoid the threat. But the threat that has suddenly returned, which I’m guessing is because Cassie isn’t happy that I chose Ruby over her yesterday. And now, the bitch is going to lash out at Ruby. Well, there’s no way I’m going to let that happen.

I’m really sorry, Ruby. You don’t deserve that. No one does. The only thing I can tell you is it’s obvious she’s jealous of you for some reason. I know it’s a shit thing to say, but you should take her cruelty as a compliment because in her mind, she thinks you’re better than her. I know it may not seem that way, but it’s the truth.

Ruby’s eyes shoot up to mine, looking confused. She thinks it’s an impossibility that someone would ever be jealous of her, but she has no idea. I’ve only spent one day with the girl, and I can already see how amazing she is. But her disbelief is a byproduct of her low self-esteem, courtesy of Cassie.

Why would she be jealous of me?

Because something is lacking in Cassie’s life and that perfect image she wants to present to everyone is just for show. It’s the delusion of the Elites. Their shit stinks as much as the rest of the world, they just do a better job of hiding it.

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