Page 51 of Tis the Season to be Bullied

I sit stiff and unmoving for the first half of the lesson, afraid that even the slightest movement will bring undue attention to myself while hoping that sitting still will make the back of my neck stop tingling.

I don’t succeed at either.

“Turn to page eighty-four of your textbooks.”

I glance around and spot my English textbook laying on its back beside me on the floor. Thank the Lord Sharon didn’t see it there. She hands out knuckle raps if you dare to dog-ear a single page in your textbook. Imagine what she’d do if she saw?—

As soon as the book is in my hands, I know something’s wrong.

A spike of dread shoots through me when I turn it over.

What the hell?

This isn’t my textbook. Mine was a grubby second-hand copy—this one’s squeaky new.

I risk a quick glance over my shoulder.

Cassius is slouched in his seat, his long legs stretched out in front of him, ankles crossed. He has a textbook propped up on the desk in front of him.

That’smy textbook.

“Trinity?”

I spin back to face Sister Sharon. I open my mouth to apologize right off the bat for whatever she wants to charge me with, but then her eyes move down and land on the textbook.

“Have you forgotten how books work?” she asks sweetly, and my stomach sinks like a rock dropped down a well.

“No, Sister.”

“Then open it.”

Something tells me that’s not a good idea.

I should tell her it’s not my book, that Cassius switched it, but it’s obvious he’s one of her favored students. Plus, I never got around to writing my name in the front.

Screw it. I’m not gonna let this guy ruffle my feathers. My ass is still aching from my fall—I think I bruised it—and I don’t want him to think any of this shit affects me.

WWJD, right? He’d turn the other fucking cheek.

But I can’t move. I’m terrified.

Sharon’s eyes narrow to slits. She walks over and uses the tip of her ruler to flip open the cover.

I stare down at a photo-realistic drawing of Brother Zachary. Then I tip my head up and gape at Sister Sharon as my cheeks catch fire.

Why?

Why would Cassius do this to me?

“Wow,” comes a breathy whisper from behind. “That’s downright blasphemous, little slut.”

“I didn’t draw that!” I scoot back my chair and jump up. “Sister, I swear this isn’t my textbook.”

Thwack!

Everyone in class except Cassius flinches when her wooden ruler slaps down on the book. Sister Sharon has good aim—she manages to cover Zachary’s penciled ass and the cock he’s got shoved in my ass.

“I could come up with better excuses in my sleep,” Sister Sharon says, her wrinkled lips pursing with disgust.

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