Page 69 of Bookworm

My serenity was interrupted when someone entered the bathroom.

Or actually several people.

"It's just really hard to believe," a familiar voice said."That's all I'm saying."

"Why?" a second voice asked.

"Because Bo Stryker is so gorgeous, and she's…so weird."

There was some shuffling, and then, "Lottie's okay. We had a few classes together last year. She's a cool chick."

A snort. "Yeah, if you think reading is cool."

I scrunched my nose at that.

Who didn't think reading was cool?

A third voice spoke then, "Come on, Aspen. She reads books, so what?"

Ah, Aspen Vanderbilt.

That meant the other two were likely her best friends, Sierra Flemming and Mya Williams.

Naturally.Now, it all made sense.Aspen had hated me since elementary school when I got the lead as Mary in the school's nativity play, and she was cast asthe male innkeeper. You know, the one that turns Mary and Joseph away?No room at the inn? Yeah, that wasAspen.Far as I knew, she'd never gotten over it. Must've been the moustache and beard—or possibly the shabby costume. Since we hit middle school,Aspen had starred in every school play, and she wouldn't be caught dead in anything that wasn't designer.

"Charlotte Kent acts like she's better than everyone," Aspen said with a sniff."And the way she smiles all the time? So fake. Everyone knows the world is crap—at least for poor, middle-class weirdos like her and her sister."

Again, was weirdo supposed to be an insult?

I'd always liked that word.

"Remember what we used to call her?" Aspen sounded like she was smiling when she said, "Loser Lottie."

I rolled my eyes.

"Her hair and clothes sucked. I mean, didn't her mother ever teach her how to use a brush?"

Now, that struck home. My hand went to my chest, rubbing the sudden tightness I felt there.

"She never had any friends, so she had to carry around all those books. Poor,Loser Lottie," Aspen repeated. "Maybe we should bring that back."

"Um correction," the second voice said, which I now knew was Sierra, "onlyyou used to call her that.Mya and I took no part in your mean-girl ways."

"Why are we friends again?"

"I wonder the same thing sometimes," Sierra replied.

"Sounds like you really wanted Bo for yourself," Mya (voice 3) said.

"No," Aspen said, "I just wanted someone else to win the bet."

"Yeah, you."

"Whatever."

Sierra said,"Well, I like them together. Maybe she'll softenBo up a bit."

"Good luck with that one," Myasaid. "My brother's on the team with him, says Bo never lets his guard down."

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