Page 51 of Zero Chance

The world would be a better place without you.

You’ve never been able to keep a single friend.

No one understands you.

No one gets you.

No one likes you.

Youdon’t even like you.

Everyone feels sorry for that family who’s stuck with you.They probably don’t like you either.They secretly want to be free from your stupid, weak drama.

Don’t even bother anymore.

Gripping my head, I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to block out the flow.But more and more whispers flooded in.

After a while, I started to feel dizzy with guilt.I was tired of the everything-is-about-me, depressing thoughts and being stuck in my own head.I hated being so downtrodden about my own pathetic, insignificant problems when some people actuallydidhave it bad.

I was such a selfish, immature joke.

And I tried to stop it.Just…stop thinking about me altogether.But that didn’t work.And my shoulders shook as I sobbed.

I wished I knew how to be better.

Maybe I really should just end everything.

The buzzing of my phone caused me to pull in a guilty gasp as if I’d been caught.

Certain Mom somehow knew what I’d been considering and was calling to tell me how bad I was—the worst daughter ever—I winced even as I reached for the device.

But it wasn’t her.

It was Xander.

I’m outside.Please let me in.

Wait.What?

I sat up in alarm just as the doorbell rang.

11

WAVERLY

Oh, crap.Scrambling, I threw off my covers and popped from the bed to check the mirror.

“Shit.”I looked like I’d been crying and considering suicide.Not good.

The bell rang again.

With no time to do much else, I brushed at my face with both hands and hurried from my room and down the stairs.

I was already texting my parents as I popped off the last step and dashed to the front door since they were no doubt getting a notification at this very moment about a person being on their front porch.

That’s just Xander.Hope must’ve told her about the police being here when I got home, and now she’s checking in on me.I didn’t know she was going to show up, or I would’ve said something sooner.Sorry.

I pressed send and opened the door, realizing belatedly that I was still in my pajamas.

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