Page 135 of Forbidden Lessons

Melissa holds up a finger, and Hillary stops talking.

Well, fuck. I didn’t know Parker had that much power. Guess it helps when your daddy owns the half the fucking town this side of the Agony River.

No one wants to own anything on the other side, anyway.

“She’s right, Parker,” I say, pocketing my chewed up stick in favor of unwrapping a fresh new sucker. “Haven’s an only child.” I pop the new sucker in my mouth, swirling it over my tongue.

That ought to do it.

But the bitch ignores me. Havenfuckingignores me.

She’s looking at Hillary, grabbing Melissa’s wrist and urging her back into her seat.

Yeah, I’ve heard this one.

Don’t feed the trolls, right, Haven?

I don’t eat scrawny mice like you, anyway. And even if I did, hunger won’t drive me away from this bridge. I’m here to stay.

Unlike you.

“Well? We could use some ideas, if you’ve got any,” Hillary says, glancing over at me like she’s wondering if I’m going to object again.

I purse my lips, flicking out my hands, giving Haven the floor. If she wants the spotlight on her so badly, then she must have it. She won’t come crying to me when she makes a fool out of herself in front of everyone.

“Uh…yeah…I don’t have a copy of the list, but is there pet food on there?”

I laugh, but no one joins me. Fuck, no one’s even looking at me.

“This is a charity event for people, not pets,” Hillary explains carefully, as if Haven might not be up to speed yet.

That kinda pisses me off. I never implied Haven was dumb, just poor.

“Riversiders love animals.” Haven has the fucking audacity to look over at me like she’s making a point. “Everyone I knew had at least two dogs and shared a few cats between them and their neighbors.”

They laugh at that for some fucked up reason. I cross my arms over my chest, gobsmacked by what the fuck is happening. When did my mouse turn into a show pony?

“Pet food is really expensive, so we—theybuy the cheapest. That stuff’s so bad for the animals, they end up needing vet visits no one down there can afford.”

“What’s the problem? Everyone down there has a shotgun.”

Now everyone’s paying attention to me.

Hillary even fucking gasps.

“Oh, come on.” I throw my hands up. “It was a fucking joke.”

“Excellent suggestion.” Hillary points at Haven with her pen before making a note in her file. “I’ll add it to the social media announcement going out tomorrow morning. Right. Thanks everyone. Meeting adjourned.”

I stay in my seat, glaring at Haven as she stands with the rest of them. She hangs back a moment, throwing the departing students a quick glance, and then leans her hands on the dining table, giving me the fucking stink eye from a few feet away.

“Just give it a fucking rest, would you?” She straightens, flips her hair back with a flick of her hand, and stares down her nose at me. “If you’ll excuse me. I need to get moved into my new room.”

I watch her go with my jaw dropped, because fuck.

Bitch.

“Dude.”

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