Page 208 of Tis the Season to be Bullied

“You see your dad this morning?” I ask casually, my eyes on my locker as I hunt around for one of my textbooks.

“Nah,” he says through a sigh. “He’s got some big project he’s working on that’ll keep him busy for a while.”

“In Lavish?”

“Un-fucking-fortunately,” Marcus says, shaking his head. “Should only be for a day or two though. That okay?”

I slam my locker closed, turn, and grab the side of Marcus’s neck. “Dude, I said it’s fine. For fuck’s sake.”

Marcus drops his eyes and gives me a small nod. “Thanks, man.”

“No need to thank me. But you’re buying the pizza tonight.”

He laughs, and waves at me as he heads away. Then he turns, walking backward. “What’s next for her?”

There are a few kids around us, but they all know by now not to pay attention to me or even attempt to eavesdrop. Then again, I couldn’t give a shit if the whole school knew I have Indi in my crosshairs. Maybe then she’ll realize she’s better off being somewhere else, far away from me, and too far away to do any damage.

“I’ll text you,” I say, lifting my chin. Marcus gives me a thumbs-up and disappears up the stairs.

I let out a low chuckle as I run my hands through my hair and head for class. Around me, students part like water around a ship.

I’m used to the fear in their eyes by now. That uncertain look they get when they see me. They make me out to be a monster, larger than life, a deviant. But they have no proof, just gossip and rumors. Let them whisper. Let them play detective.

That shit didn’t rattle me back then, it won’t rattle me now.

Anyway, I have better things on my mind. Like the new toy I have to play with.

Chapter Eight

Indi

It starts when I hear the first giggle. I glance over my shoulder and stare at the pair of girls walking behind me. They make brief eye contact before staring down at their phones again.

Weirdos.

The giggles persist as I get to the ground floor. Here, several kids have stopped in their tracks—in the middle of the hall or beside their lockers—phones out and heads bent.

Guess something just went viral.

I’m suddenly glad I’m not on Lavish Prep’s universal mailing list.

My phone vibrates with a new message.

I resist the urge to read it. Instead, I take my time shoving all my things back in my locker. I’m in two minds about whether I want to dare head into the cafeteria, or just hit up one of the vending machines in the hall and go have lunch somewhere quiet.

Like my car.

“Don’t look.”

I stop in my tracks, and turn my head a little to the side. “At what?” I ask.

“At your phone.” Addison materializes in front of me with a scowl on her face. “It’ll die down. It always does.”

Now I’m burning to know. I reach into my pocket, but Addison snags my wrist and jerks my hand out again. “Don’t do it.”

“What’s going on?”

“Someone took a video of you and Briar.”

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