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Lily
School had gonewild for Homecoming. Banners littered the halls and flyers were posted over lockers and noticeboards. Rixon High loved school spirit and aside from Prom, Homecoming was at the top of the social calendar.
It was all anyone was talking about, including the girls in the bathroom as I sat in the stall, silently praying they would disappear any second.
“I think I’m going to ask Stephen,” Candice said. “We hooked up over the summer, and I wouldn’t mind another ride, if you know what I mean.”
Their sickly-sweet laughter filled the air, making me shudder.
“I’m holding out for Kaiden to ask me.” That was Lindsey.
“Babe, you need to let that ship sail. He’s not interested.”
“Oh, I don’t know. I think I can persuade him.”
My pulse ratcheted at the confidence in her words.
“I’ll see it when I believe it,” Candice snickered.
“You’ll see. There’s only one guy I’ll be with at Homecoming and it’s Kaiden. Besides, everyone knows with Jenson out of the running, he’ll be crowned king, and I’ll be his queen. Although he’ll be the one kneeling at my feet by the end of the night.”
“Oh my God, Linds, you are so bad,” another voice said.
“Yeah, well. I’m done playing. I want Kaiden and I’m going to do whatever it takes to get him.”
I held my breath, hoping they wouldn’t realize I was in here. The familiar tingle spread across my scalp as my heart pounded in my chest. I hated that after all this time, she still had such power over me. Power to make me feel small and insignificant. Power to make me question why Kaiden was with someone like me—shy, inexperienced Lily Ford—when he could be with someone like her. Even if she was a vapid bitch.
The door swung open and then closed as their laughter faded. Certain the coast was clear, I slipped out of the stall and—
“I thought I saw you come in here,” Lindsey sneered at me.
My heart dropped. “I… Lindsey,” I said, trying to disguise the quiver in my voice. Ignoring her death stare, I washed my hands and dried them.
“You know, I’ve seen how you watch him.”
“Excuse me?” I finally met her narrowed glare.
“Kaiden, silly. You want him.”
I pressed my lips together in defiance. I wasn’t going to do this with her.
“The thing is though, Lily.” She prowled toward me like a gazelle, all long legs and grace. Except her smile hid sharp teeth and her fingers were more like claws. I stepped back until I hit the wall, but she didn’t stop coming.
Her hand darted out, wrapping around my braid. “Does he know?” she tugged sharply, and a whimper spilled from my lips. There was nothing soothing about this though, only pain. “Does he know how you almost plucked yourself bald that summer?”
“W-why are you doing this?” I cried. It was the sleepover all over again. Chelsea waving the scissors in front of my face as Lindsey and the rest of her friends held me down like an animal.
My vision began to thin as I sucked in ragged breath after ragged breath. A giant weight pressed down on my rib cage, suffocating me as the memories slammed into me, one after another. Their taunts and laughter, the way they’d ignored me as I sobbed quietly in the corner with my hair in tatters.
“Look at you,” she spat. “You can’t even stand up for yourself. And you think you stand a shot with someone like Kaiden. He’s going to go all the way you know. Become a big football star…” She yanked me forward, sending another bolt of pain through me, and moved her lips to my ear. “He could have any girl he wants. Do you honestly think he’ll ever choose you?”
Lindsey shoved me hard, and I slumped against the wall, sobbing uncontrollably as I lost the fight against my irrational, traitorous thoughts.
She stared at me, victory gleaming in her eyes. “You’re nobody, Lily Ford. You should remember that.”
Spinning on her heel, Lindsey walked out of the bathroom as if she hadn’t just driven a knife through my heart. I slipped down the wall, landing with a thud as my body trembled.
Somehow, I managed to dig out my cell phone and text Peyton, and seconds later, she burst through the door with Ashleigh.
