Page 9 of It's Not Home Without You

“Fuck off, Prescott.” I tried to push him away from me, but instead of him backing off, he got even closer.

“I was hoping you’d do that with me.” His smug voice was loud enough for everyone around to hear. To say it humiliated me wouldn’t come close to what I was feeling. No one said a thing. The guys laughed, and the girls looked at me like I was trash.

Sticks and stones.

I debated ditching and starting fresh tomorrow, but I knew I needed to get through today and the rest would become bearable. I was on my way to lunch when Nikki, Juliet, Jana, and Abigail cornered me in the stairwell. Well, if today isn’t my lucky day or what?

“Oh, look it’s the slut who tried to steal my boyfriend.”Nikki crossed her arms, confident because she had her bitch posse with her. How fair—four against one? Life wasn’t fair and didn’t I know that firsthand.

Still, I wouldn’t be me if I let prissy girls walk all over me. I was strong, and that had to count for something, even if I was about to get the shit beat out of me. “I find it funny you’re here blaming me as if I forced your boyfriend to kiss me. I’m a short girl, and he’s tall, but I guess in your dumb brain it makes complete sense that little, old me was strong enough to overpower him.”

“Oh, please cut the dramatics, Freya. Everyone knows you’re easy.” Abigail rolled her eyes at me. Juliet and Jana stood closer but with bored looks, as if dealing with me was a waste of time.

“Says the girl who screwed some guy from the visiting volleyball team after the meet we had last year. I don’t know about you, but that says easy to me.”

Abigail’s eyes looked like they were about to pop out. I had detention that day, and when I heard grunts, I worried someone was hurt. Imagine my surprise to find little miss perfect with a guy from a visiting school. I gave myself a mental high five until Nikki slapped me so hard, I felt her ring scrape my face.

“I know you’re trying to be like your mommy, but stay away from Max, you whore.” Nikki spat in my face before taking her bitch posse with her, leaving me behind with a throbbing cheek.

Thanks, Mom, thanks a lot.

It would have been easy to strike back, but for once Ideserved it, so I let Nikki have her justice. I walked to the bathroom with my hand covering my face. I wanted to get a good look at it before I allowed anyone else to see it. My face was not only red, but there was a bright red line going across from Nikki’s ring. There was no way to hide what happened. Today was the worst day of my life. I thought nothing could top my mother abandoning me, but this new memory… it was fresh.

When I heard the door open, I grabbed some cold water and splashed it on my face, trying to diminish the redness and somehow stop my cheek from swelling.

I glared at Max through the mirror. He looked like he always did, all polished and prissy looking, except today I saw him for what he really was—an asshole.

“What are you doing here?” I spat.

“I heard what happened, I need to make sure you were okay.”

I turned around to face him. “I’m fine.”

“Shit, Freya, did Nikki do that to you?”

“You mean your girlfriend Nikki?” I grabbed my backpack and tried to muster as much dignity as I could.

“Listen, Freya, I can explain.”

I rolled my eyes. “Don’t bother, Max. I don’t care for your explanations. I’m just easy, right? Freya Pratt the town whore, you didn’t even have to try. I made it so easy for you.” I tried to move past him, but he didn’t let me.

“Do you really think so low of me?”

“Let me go. I swear to God, you’ll regret it if you don’t. Ithought you were different, but you’re a bigger jerk than even Prescott. At least he doesn’t hide who he is,” I seethed.

Max let go of me, his face becoming a little cold, but that didn’t stop me.

“I thought you were different.” My voice wobbled at the end, and I hated myself for it. Why was I so weak? Max’s face became warm again. He tried to grab me, but I kneed him in the nuts.

Hard.

“I said don’t touch me!” I walked out of the bathroom with my head held high despite my bruised cheek and the gossip going around me.

Stick and stones.

CHAPTER SEVEN

It tooktwo trips back to Pete’s to get all the material I would need for my shed/closet. Emma ruined the happy high I had from the Americano the moment she told me she needed help with the Sunday crowd. Here I thought I was starting fresh on Monday.

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