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Who am I kidding?There’s nothing normal about this place.
I’m back in the locker room, where the guys are giving me shit about the final play. I laugh it off and throw insults right back at them. Outside of the game, they know better than to give me shit at all. But I let it slide in here because it’s the one place I feel a sliver of normalcy.
Once I’m changed, I grab my phone off the locker shelf and glance at it—4:20—then stuff it in the front pocket of my black jeans. Scar’s got another half hour or so before she’s let out of her two-hour detention so that gives me enough time to head home and shower before trying to catch up with her.
This wasn’t in my plans for the evening, but she’s all I’ve been thinking about since lunch. I desperately need to talk to her about what happened with her and Neo earlier. I need her to tell me it meant nothing. Just the thought of anyone else touching her in general makes me crazy. Some might say it’s a case of wanting what I can’t have, but I think it’s more about getting back what should have always been mine.
ChapterTwenty
SCARLETT
I can’t believe Neo.Well, I can, but I’m still in a state of disbelief that he had me put in detention. There isn’t a single student here but me. How can I be the only person to get in trouble?
Of course.
The rules. The ranks. The Lawless. Everyone obeys because they’re ordered to.Everyone but me.
I lick the tip of my finger and turn the page of my American lit book, not even reading the pages but skimming them in hopes that the words will somehow cling to my memory because the teacher hinted at a pop quiz tomorrow.
If I were in public school like I should have been, I wouldn’t even be dealing with textbooks. We’d have Chromebooks and Wi-Fi access. For such a wealthy Society, they sure do skimp on technology.
Mrs. Evans, the detention supervisor, makes an odd grumbling sound that grabs my attention. Her arms clutch her stomach and she bends over, looking extremely uncomfortable.
I try to return to my book, but the sounds she’s making are too painful to ignore. Maybe I should ask if she’s okay. She looks like she’s either gonna hurl or shit her pants.
Suddenly, she’s on her feet, butt cheeks clenched and sucking in the thin pink fabric of her slacks. “Excuse me, Scarlett. I need to use the restroom.” The next thing I know, she’s full-on running out the door.
I’m not sure if I want to laugh or cry for her because that shit sucks—literally.
Hope everything comes out okay for her.
Okay, Scar.Study.17th century. 13 colonies. Expressing emotions through poetry.
Ugh! I can’t focus.
I slam my book shut and drum my fingers on the hardcover. I wonder how the guys are faring after their blowup today. It seems my presence—which they fought damn hard for—has caused a little rift between them. I’m not surprised Crew is going crazy. As much as we scream hate at each other, I know he hates the thought of any other guy giving me attention. Even if it is negative attention.
I’m not sure what to think of Jagger. He’s actually been pretty normal and as much as I don’t want to admit it to myself, I had fun with him the other day.I’m not even bothered about him holding my leg in class. It actually calmed my nerves in some twisted way.
Then there’s Neo…
What the hell?
The flickering of the classroom lights pulls me out of my thoughts. I look up, noticing each panel going out, one at a time.
Sliding my chair back, I get up and cross the room to the light switch. By the time I make it, all the lights are out. My fingers swipe up and down on the switch, but it does nothing.
That’s weird.
I wonder if all the lights are out. I know we were supposed to get some snow, but I didn’t expect it to be a big enough storm to knock out the power.
Confused, I grab the door handle, but it doesn’t turn.
There’s a rectangular glass pane on the door, so I try to look out, but the glass is too hazy to see anything.
I try the handle again to no avail.
My fist beats on the door, and I holler, “Hello.”
