CHAPTER71

MADDIE

“Hey, boys!” Mrs. Dawson shouted, waggling her fingers at a couple of freshmen the next school day.

I had been in and out of it since I had woken up this morning, my mind hazy and my heart still so sad over Piper’s passing.

Mrs. Dawson wasn’t even looking at me, but I shivered in disgust from the look she gave the kids. The freshmen shifted uncomfortably by their lockers, ignoring her outward flirtatious remarks, and continued talking to each other.

Mrs. Dawson strolled across the hall to them and twirled her finger around a strand of the junior varsity athlete’s hair, her perfume so strong that I could smell it all the way down the hall. “Hey, handsome. You starting in the game tonight?”

He awkwardly scratched the back of his head. “Um, I don’t know yet.”

Afterplayfullysmacking his chest, she giggled, the sound like a shrill. “I bet you are! I’ll be there, cheering you and your cute butt on, Holliday.” She leaned in so close that her lips almost met his ear and whispered something that made him turn red and recoil.

“What the hell is she—” I started, storming toward her.

Vera grabbed my hand. “Maddie, I don’t know if …”

Before she could finish her sentence, I yanked my hand out of hers and rushed down the hall toward the bitch herself. My hands were balled into tight fists, and I had to physically hold myself back from hurling one at her.

“Get away from him,” I snarled, pulling the freshman boy, who stood a foot taller and wider than me, behind me. I glared at Mrs. Dawson. “Stop being a perv and flirt with men your own age.”

Mrs. Dawson laughed like this was some joke. “Don’t be jealous, dear.”

“I’m not jealous,” I said through my teeth. “Can’t you see he’s uncomfortable?”

“Nonsense,” she said, smiling at him again. “I’m just being friendly.”

“No, you’re not.”

“Maddie, are you sure this isn’t about Spence?—”

“Get back to your classroom!” I shouted, my voice echoing through the dead-silent halls.

She paused for a moment, then looked around at the students recording this interaction on their phones, ready to post whatever was going to exit her mouth next. Probably something predatory. But then everyone would know how fucking weird she was.

After smoothing out her neon-green pants, she marched down the hall toward her classroom, her heels clacking against the tiles. Once she shut the door, the athlete behind me sighed a breath of relief.

I swallowed some bile in my throat and grimaced at the nasty woman’s classroom. She reminded me of Alec’s mom. They seemed like they’d be best friends if they knew each other, could go to all the proms and hockey games to see some underage boys.

Disgusting.

“Thanks,” he said from behind me.

“It’s fine.”

The lunch bell rang, and I walked to the cafeteria with Vera. I looped my arm around hers and headed to the table we normally sat at with Imani, Allie, Nicole, the guys, and sometimes Sakura. Usually though, she had lunch in Mr. Avery’s room.

Students buzzed with chatter. A group of guys passed around a phone with a girl’s tits plastered right in the center. I scrunched my nose at how disgusting they were sometimes and continued through the crowd, still pissed about Mrs. Dawson.

Poison, Allie, and Imani sat at our table, giggling and sharing a bag of Ruffles chips.

“Kai said that it happened,” Imani said.

“Really?” Allie said, her gaze and mind seemingly far away from the conversation.

“What happened?” Vera asked.