She steps inside, her crisp white sneakers quiet on the tile as she makes her way over to me and sets a book on my desk.
A Rosehill yearbook from a few years before I graduated.
My heart sinks.
“I knew I recognized you. It was driving me crazy.”
My pulse pounds in my ears as she opens the yearbook slowly, like she wants to draw this out. When she reaches the freshman class, her manicured finger taps the page. An old name, printed neat under a photo of someone who no longer exists.
Kavi Patel.
Savannah tilts her head, a smirk playing on her lips. “Didn’t think Nate would go for someone like you.”
My brain comes back online at the mention of Nate.
“Please,” I whisper, my voice cracking. “Don’t.”
Her eyes shine with cruel amusement. “Aw, sweetie,” she coos, “He doesn’t know, does he?”
I don’t say anything, but that’s enough of an answer for her.
“God, he doesn’t. Poor Nate. Thinking he’s found himself a pretty little art teacher, and it turns out she’s just—” She looks at me, pointed, cutting through my skin.
“A man playing dress-up.”
Tears spring up hot before I can stop them.
I’veneverbeen talked to like this.
I’ve always passed, being naturally thin and only on the tall side for a girl. It’s always been in the back of my mind, a what-if, and I’ve tried to prepare myself for someone saying things like this to me, but the truth is, I’m not.
Not when it’s actually happening.
When it’s threatening to ruin the life I’ve started to build here.
“Please,” I choke out. “Please, Savannah, don’t tell him. Please.”
“I’m not the villain here, Iris.” She leans closer, until her perfume almost chokes me. “I want what’s best for him.”
I shake my head, wiping tears from my cheeks.
“I mean, seriously?” she continues, “You thinkyoudeserve him? To lie to him? Let him kiss you, touch you—” She cuts herself off, shaking her head in disgust.
“I’m not lying to him.”
Her laugh is cruel. “You are, and you know it. Do you think he would actually want you if he knew? He wouldhateyou.”
Tears burn hot trails down my cheeks, partly because I know she’s right.
“Don’t tell him,” I sob, “Please, Savannah. I’ll do anything.”
“All I want is for you to do the right thing. Break up withhim.”
My head jerks up at that.
“Walk away,” she says, her voice ice cold. “Or I’ll make sure everyone in Rosehill knows exactly what you are. And when that happens, you won’t just lose Nate. You’ll lose everything.”
I shake my head, my heart feeling like it’s being ripped in half. “But—” I stutter, “I- I love him.” I haven’t even come to the conclusion myself yet, but faced with this, I know it’s the truth.
