The sanctuary of Ethan's truck felt miles away the moment Annie stepped into the crowded hallway. The air was thick with the smell of floor wax and perfume, a cacophony of slamming lockers and teenage chatter that made her head spin.
She reached her locker, her fingers trembling slightly as she spun the dial. She just needed to get her history textbook and disappear into the back of her first-period classroom.
"Well, look who decided to show up," a sharp, melodic voice cut through the noise.
Annie froze. She didn't need to look up to know it was Vanessa. A second later, the "quad" surrounded her. Peggy and Rebecca flanked Vanessa like bodyguards, while Sarah leaned against the locker next to Annie's, blocking her exit.
"That dress is... interesting," Vanessa said, reaching out to pluck at the patchwork fabric of Annie's sleeve. Her eyes glinted with a familiar, predatory cruelty. "Trying to hide something, Annie? Or did you just run out of money for real clothes now that your mom isn't around to pay for them?"
Annie's breath hitched.
Mentioning her mother was a low blow, even for Vanessa. "Leave me alone, Vanessa," she whispered, keeping her eyes fixed on her books.
"What was that? I can't hear you over how pathetic you sound," Peggy sneered, nudging Annie's shoulder hard enough to make her stumble into the metal locker.
"I heard she got a ride from Ethan today," Vanessa chimed in, her voice dripping with mock sweetness. "Like a stray dog he felt sorry for. Don't get your hopes up, Annie. A guy like that is only nice to you because he likes a charity case, you might have his attention now. But once your fake grief mask slips, he'll be gone."
Peggy leaned in close, her voice dropping to a dangerous hiss. "Stay away from him. And keep those sleeves down. Nobody wants to see your 'art projects' on your arms. It's disgusting."
Vanessa's hand clamped onto Annie's forearm, squeezing the spot where the scars were hidden, her long nails digging in aggressivly. Annie winced, a sharp jolt of pain radiating up her arm, but she didn't cry out. She couldn't give them the satisfaction.
The warning bell rang, a shrill savior.
"This isn't over," Peggy hissed.
"See you at lunch, loser," Vanessa whispered, patting Annie's cheek condescendingly before the four of them strutted away, laughing.
Annie slipped into the very back corner of her History class, her heart hammering against her ribs like a trapped bird. She felt small, exposed, and desperately wished Ethan was in this period instead of across the building in Shop.
She pulled her sleeves down as far as they would go, tucking her hands into her lap. Her arm still throbbed where Vanessa had gripped it. As the teacher began to drone on about the Industrial Revolution, Annie opened her notebook.
A small, yellow sticky note fell out from between the pages. She must have missed it when she was packing her bag at home. In messy, bold handwriting, it simply said:
'You're stronger than you think. See you at the break. - E'
Annie traced the letter 'E' with her thumb, a small, private smile finally breaking through her fear. She wasn't alone, even if he wasn't in the room.
*~*~*~*~*
The cafeteria was a sea of noise, but for Annie, the air felt thin and cold. She sat at a small table near the windows with Ellie, who was currently deconstructing a sandwich with surgical precision.
"I'm telling you, Annie, Vanessa's hairline is receding from all that tension she carries," Ellie said, her voice a calm, melodic contrast to the chaos around them. "It's a scientific fact. Evil causes hair loss."
Annie let out a small, shaky laugh, but it died in her throat as the shadows fell over their table. The "Quad" had arrived. Vanessa stood at the head, but today, Peggy looked particularly venomous, her face flushed and her eyes narrowed.
"I saw you this morning," Peggy hissed, slamming her tray down on the empty space next to Annie. "In Ethan's truck. What did you do, cry until he felt obligated to pick you up?"
"He offered, Peggy," Annie said softly, her fingers twisting the fabric of her patchwork dress. "I didn't ask."
"Liars don't get into heaven, Annie," Rebecca chimed in, leaning over the table.
Vanessa smirked, crossing her arms. "It's embarrassing, really. Ethan has actual potential, and he's wasting his mornings being a chauffeur for a girl who looks like she got dressed in a dumpster. He's probably just bored. Men like projects, and you're a real fixer-upper, aren't you?"
Peggy leaned in closer to Annie, her voice trembling with a mix of jealousy and rage. "He won't even look at me. I've texted him three times this week and he hasn't replied. It's because he's distracted by your little 'brokengirl' act. You're pathetic."
Ellie didn't look up from her sandwich, but her voice cut through the tension like a razor.
"Maybe he hasn't replied because he's busy looking for a dictionary to figure out what you meant by 'your' with the wrong 'you're', Peggy," Ellie said smoothly. She finally looked up, her expression one of polite boredom. "Or, more likely, he's just got a very high standard for personality, and you're currently hovering somewhere between a damp basement and a papercut."
Vanessa's eyes flashed. "Shut up, Ellie Bellie. This doesn't involve you."
"Actually, when you bring your lack of self-esteem to my lunch table, it becomes my business. It's a public health hazard," Ellie retorted, leaning back. "And Peggy? Ethan didn't rejectyou because of Annie. He rejected you because you have the temperament of a hornet and the conversational depth of a puddle. Don't blame Annie for your lack of charisma."
Peggy's face went from red to a ghostly white. "You think you're so smart-"
"I don't think, I know," Ellie interrupted. She turned to Annie, her gaze softening instantly. "Ready to go? The air is getting a bit toxic over here."
As Annie began to pack her things, Vanessa reached out, her nails digging into the wood of the table. "This isn't over, Annie. Ethan isn't here to save you every second of the day. And your littlebodyguardcan't stay with you in the bathrooms."
Annie felt a chill run down her spine, but she felt Ellie's hand slide firmly into hers under the table, giving it a supportive squeeze.