Page 50 of Wicked Brutal

extremely funny

Ryan: i’ll remind you how funny i am after school

My stomach flips.

threat?

Ryan: promise

Penny leans toward me. “Ryan?”

I lock my phone. “No.”

“You’re smiling.”

“I smile.”

“Not like that.”

Cat snorts. Becca steals one of Penny’s chips. Penny slaps her hand. “Can everyone stop stealing my food?”

“No,” Becca says.

“Absolutely not,” Cat adds.

I open my Sour Patch Kids. Penny reaches for one. I pull the bag away.

Her mouth drops open. “You bitch.”

“These are mine.”

Penny cackles. “I’ve created a monster.”

Becca looks at her. “Funny how that keeps happening.”

Penny points at her. “I created none of you.”

Cat looks up. “You absolutely started this.”

Penny pauses. “Okay, you.”

“Unfortunately.”

Then Cat points at Becca. “But I found her.”

Becca rolls her eyes. “You make me sound like a stray cat.”

“You acted like one.”

“I did not.”

“You hissed at people.”

“Metaphorically.”

“Still counts.”

I laugh. Penny looks at me. “And now you’re here.” There’s nothing dramatic about it. Just a statement. I pop a Sour Patch Kid into my mouth. “Apparently.”