Page 422 of Tis the Season to be Bullied

Don’t take away my last vestige of a normal life. I’d grown up thinking everything had been fine until Dad had left.

“I’ve been watching grown-ass men stare at you like a piece of meat my entire life.”

“Mom, please?—”

“You know what, Harper? I’m done.” She pushes back her shoulders and lifts her chin. “The next time a boy burns up your shit because you wouldn’t screw him? Ask him what the hell makes you so special.”

She gives me a cruel, condescending once-over that leaves me dead inside. “Because I sure as hell don’t see it.”

Chapter 36

Harper

My eyes are locked on the clock on the wall, the seconds ticking by mockingly slowly. It’s Friday, and my science test is coming up in one short hour, but first I have to suffer through the last period of the day. I’m ready to climb out of my skin, so unsure if I’ll even get a better grade this time than last. I managed to study this week but with all the craziness that’s been going on, even when I was sitting down with my textbook in front of me, I could barely concentrate long enough to read the end of the sentence.

While my social sciences teacher drones on in the front of the class, I sneak my phone out for a quick game. I have an unread message from Talia.

NEED ANYTHING FOR THE WEEKEND? ;)

I don’t. There’s enough booze in the pool house for me to die of alcohol poisoning a hundred times over. But after my discussion with Mom last night, I don’t really feel like drinking anymore.What Idofeel is shame, guilt, and a blistering, scathing-hot fury. The shame and guilt, that’s all mine. But the anger? That’s all on Jude.

I didn’t know I was capable of such deep, pervasive hate until I met him. But he deserves every ounce of it...and more.He’s singlehandedly fucked up my entire life and at a time when I thought—for once—that things were going my way. Because of him, I lost my in with one of the most popular girls in school. Eliza refuses to answer my calls, and since she hasn’t read a single one of my texts the past week, I have a feeling she even blocked my number.Judeburned that bridge.

At least Talia still communicates with me, but I think it’s because she needs the cash. It seems a lot of the popular kids in Cinderhart High have rich or influential parents. I’m not sure where Talia fits in, or how she got where she was, but I figure any eighteen-year-old sees it as a major advantage that she’s old enough to buy alcohol.

I’m about to reply to tell her I’m fine when I hesitate. My eyes gravitate back to my social sciences teacher, but it’s not Mrs. Rudd I see.

It’s Jude.

I’ve always been on the defensive with him. Reacting to his threats, obeying his commands, basically acting like a total pushover. If I’d been more proactive, a lot of the shit that’s happened could have been avoided. If I’d gone to the principal instead of chickening out, what Sean did to me would be on the record, and he might never have retaliated. If I’d told my parents about Jude’s threats,he’dhave been grounded, not me.

I have to turn this around. But how could I hurt Jude as much as he hurt me? He’s a fucking rock. I don’t know anything that could possibly?—

A cheerleader passes in the hallway outside, drawing my eye with her black and silver uniform. As she walks, she’s rustling a pair of pom-poms on either side of her, as if she’s loosening up her wrists for practice.I’ve been in a few schools in my life—most of them only a month or two—and Cinderhart High’s cheerleading outfit is the cutest I’ve ever seen.

A plan hits me all at once, a devious freight train of such wicked proportions, goosebumps break out on my arms and legs as I sit back in my chair. I take out my phone and quickly message Talia before I lose my nerve. She texts back immediately, and my heart leaps into my throat as the sudden gravity of what I’m about to do settles on me.

Oh God, if this doesn’t work...

But it will. Ithasto.

And when it does, Jude Dearth will be the one wishing we’d never met.

Chapter 37

Jude

I’m standing in the passage leading to the field as the first notes of Cinderhart High’s walk-up song, “Party Up” by DMX, blasts through the stereo system. Cheerleaders rush past us, their black and silver pom-poms glittering under the spotlights as they stream onto the field.

Talia spins around to look at me and yells out, “Rock on, Jude!” before disappearing onto the field.

Sean’s standing in front of me, waiting his turn to step onto the field. He sends me a frown over his shoulder, but I ignore it. Fuck knows what Talia’s on about—she was obviously held back at least a year, so I’m guessing she’s not that smart.

Nothing can shake me tonight. I’m rippling with energy, focused as fuck.

The crowd’s applause washes over me when it’s finally my turn to step out. I don’t look left or right. As much as the raucous noise hypes me up, I don’t need to acknowledge the source. They’ll keep cheering as long as I keep scoring touchdowns.

As we’re lining up for the coin toss, I hear someone scream, “Go, Jude!”

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