Page 23 of Reckless Temptation

But as I sat down, I realized my misery was far from over.

“Like, you can try to get attention another way,” Rachel taunted as she took a seat behind me, kicking the back of my chair.

I clenched my teeth, ignoring her. I never wanted anyone’s attention, dammit.

“It’s sad that she needs to be the center of attention likethis,” Tiffany said before the professor could enter the room. “Wet T-shirt contests?” She laughed, twittering like the mean girl she was.

In one ear and out the other…

One day, they’d be nothing but a bad memory.

All I had to do was focus on doing my best and getting ahead to get out.

“Hey, watch it,” Rachel said, kicking my chair again. “You’re getting water all over.”

I exhaled as I squeezed more water from my notebook.

“Maybe if you used a bag, you wouldn’t lose all your shit in the fountain like that.” Rachel giggled. “Oh, wait.” She snapped her fingers. “Youdidhave a bag, didn’t you?”

Her use of past tense was correct. Yesterday, she cut the straps on it so it would be ruined.

“Hey, you can just pick through the garbage tonight and find another one, right?” Tiffany whispered as the professor entered the room.

I breathed through the anger and hurt, staring ahead and waiting for the class to start.

She wasn’t worth my anger.

None of my bullies were.

Nick didn’t deserve the energy it would take for me to fight back.

Tiffany and her minion would get nothing from me.

No satisfaction out of making my life hell.

No matter what, they would not win at this. I was too determined to make something out of my life to let them hold me back.

8

NICK

Tiff:You’re not trying hard enough.

I rolled my eyes at my stepsister’s text.

Nick:Give me a little time.

Tiff:I don’t have time. She got the highest score on another exam.

Tiff:I said ruin her, Nick. Not play with her.

It almost felt like I was playing a game with Sabrina. So far, no matter what I did, that gorgeous, curvy brunette wouldn’t crack. She had to have a spine of steel or something else that would infuse her to be so chill about all that I’d tried.

She didn’t cry or shrink out of sight when I started to bully her on social media, pretending that she was the one at that wet T-shirt contest.

She stayed patient and impassive, barely looking at me when I got in lines ahead of her and generally tried to make her late.

She didn’t shout or fight back when I pushed her in the hallways or tripped her outside.

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