Page 176 of Keeping 13

Johnny blew out a breath. “It’s a word, Gibs.”

“How is ‘stupider’ a word?” he demanded. “That just sounds stupid.”

Johnny shrugged. “I didn’t make the rules.”

“Maybe it was put in the dictionary to describe you,” Lizzie offered dryly. “As in ‘Gerard Gibson is stupider than any person I have ever met.’”

“That’s it—” Shoving his chair back, Gibsie jerked to his feet. “I’m calling Father McCarthy to intervene on your behalf. You need an exorcism and Jesus.”

“And you need institutionalizing,” Lizzie shot back, nostrils flaring. “Idiot.”

“The whole fucking world isn’t your punching bag,” Gibsie roared back, furious. “I don’t know who told you different, but they gave you some bad advice.”

“Gerard—” Claire, who was sitting beside him, began to interject, but Gibsie wasn’t having it.

“No, Claire, I’m done with taking her shit,” he growled, picking up his schoolbag. “You are a mean girl, Lizzie Young, and it astounds me that you managed to snag two decent girls to be friends with you.”

“Astounds you?” Lizzie countered in a sarcastic tone. “Wow. Big word, Gibs. Can you spell that, too?”

“You know what?” Tossing his bag over his shoulder, he gave her a look of pure disgust. “Fuck you, Lizzie.” Having said that, Gibsie stalked out of the lunch hall, red-faced and fuming.

“Are you happy with yourself?” Johnny asked, glaring at Lizzie. “Did that make you feel good? Belittling him like that?”

“He’s a big boy,” Lizzie shot back defensively. “He can take it.”

“He’s dyslexic!” Johnny snapped. “And you just made him feel about two feet tall in front of half the school.”

Surprise flashed in Lizzie’s eyes and her cheeks reddened. “I didn’t know that.”

“Well, now you know!” Pressing a quick kiss to my cheek, Johnny shoved his chair back and said, “I’ll see ya later, Shan,” before hurrying off in the direction Gibsie had gone.

“Did you have to do that to him?” Claire hissed. “That was cruel.”

“He does it back to me,” Lizzie defended, still red-faced. “And I didn’t know he was dyslexic.”

“It shouldn’t matter,” Claire snapped. “That was a horrible thing to say to anyone.” She rose from her chair, adding, “And there’s a lot that you don’t know about him, so don’t be so quick to judge!”

“I didn’t know,” Lizzie muttered, turning to me when Claire was gone.

“I believe you,” I told her. And I did. “But…”

“But?”

“I know you and Gibsie don’t get along, and that’s okay, but just…just stay away from each other and don’t be so mean,” I blurted out. “I think you really hurt his feelings.”

“Yeah, well, no more than his actions hurt others,” Lizzie hissed, as she became the fourth person to stalk away from the table.

“Well, that escalated quickly,” Hughie stated calmly.

I blew out a shaky breath. “I’ll say.” Pushing my chair back, I stood up and grabbed my schoolbag. “I’ll see you later, guys.”

“Bye, Shan,” they all chorused as I hurried away from the table, feeling too shy to sit there without Claire, Lizzie, or Johnny.

Slipping my bag onto both shoulders, I clutched the straps and maneuvered through the crowded hallway in the direction of the bathroom, only to halt in my tracks when my eyes landed on Bella standing outside the bathroom door.

“Slut,” she hissed, narrowing her eyes at me.

Sidestepping a group of boys, I ignored Bella and hurried away from the bathroom, choosing the sanctuary of the third-year common room instead. Slipping inside, I sagged in relief when I found it empty. Dropping my bag on the floor by the table, I walked over to the kitchenette and flicked on the kettle. A loud sniffle from the armchair startled me and I swung around.

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