Page 39 of Don't Love the Boy Next Door
Growling like a bear, she peels herself off her chair and storms to my table, her friends closely behind. I swear steam shoots from her ears.
“What makes you think you cantalkto me like that?” she demands.
“Oh, I didn’t know you were the Queen of England. My sincere apologies, Your Majesty.”
She flares her nostrils. “You think you’re so great because you’re Belle. But everyone knows you’re nothing compared to me.”
I make an exaggerated eye roll and fold my arms over my chest. Clearly, not a single word that left my mouth left any impression in her stuck-up head.
“And FYI,” she says with a glare so sharp it can cut right through me. “I’m not insecure. Someone like me doesnotget insecure.”
With a nod to her group, they march out of the cafeteria.
Everyone gapes at me, including my best friend.
“Oh, I wish I would have gotten that on camera! Drama, drama,drama. You’re such a kickbutt, do you know that? I don’t think anyone else would dare put Harper in her place.”
“It’s ridiculous how much power she has here.”
“Right? Down with the tyranny!” She fists her hand over her head.
The bell rings, and everyone rushes to their class. I smile as I follow Phoenix, feeling unburdened. Even though I doubt Harper will change, it felt good to stick up for myself and give her a piece of my mind.
***
“Not live streaming?” I ask Phoenix as I pour over my math homework. Ugh, I normally do okay with math, but this material is just insane.
“Maybe later,” she says from where she’s lounging on her bed. “Not really in the mood.”
I lift my eyes to hers. She doesn’t look down or anything. She’s just absorbed in her phone. She’s been attached to that thing the last few days. It’s almost impossible to separate her from it.
“What are you always looking at on your phone?” I ask as I focus back on this impossible math.
“Hmm?”
I laugh. “It’s like you’re not even here. What, are you talking to a hot boy or something?”
Her face turns pink.
My jaw hangs open. “Wait, you’reactuallytalking to a guy?” I chuck my pen on my desk and dash over to her bed, throwing myself next to her.
She gives me a face. “You think the mere presence of a guy in my life would make me this happy? Puhleeze, I’m an independent young woman who finds her own happiness.”
I raise my brows.
“Fine, I met a guy.”
“Phoenix!”
“What?”
“Who is he? How did you meet him? What’s his name? Does he go to our school? I need details.”
“Slow your horses,” she says with a nonchalant laugh, though she can’t hide her red cheeks. “It’s no big deal.”
“Well?” I say impatiently.
“Okay, so a bunch of morons were being jerks on my channel and he stuck up for me. We’ve been talking the last few days. And well…”
