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“Yeah,” I grumbled. “What’s her problem, anyway? She doesn’t even know me.” My voice trailed off.
Scarlett shrugged her shoulders. “Doesn’t matter. She’s always had a problem with outsiders. Especially ones who think they’re better than—”
“I don’t think I’m better than anyone.” I went rigid.
“That’s not what I’m saying. I know you’re cool. But Kendall? Whole other ball game. Back in ninth grade, a local family won the lotto once. It wasn’t much by some standards, but it was enough to move out of town somewhere nicer upstate. Kendall and her crew had made the girl’s life hell before they moved. It wasn’t pretty.”
My mouth dropped open. It seemed silly when so many more important things were going on in the world.
“Listen to me, running my mouth. I’m not trying to freak you out, new girl. Just remember that many of the kids in Credence have it rough. Money’s tight, jobs are like gold dust, and the future definitely isn’t bright. Kids are dealing with all kinds of shit daily. You can hide behind your new image, but we all saw it the day you walked into CH. You come from a different world. It’ll take people a while to get used to that. To trust you.”
Scarlett’s words stung. Even though I knew she was just giving it to me straight, the truth of what she’d said burned through me like acid. I thought I’d left that girl back in Montecito, but Scarlett was right. I hadn’t. It wasn’t my fault. It was just the hand I’d been dealt. The same way that life had dealt some of the kids in Credence a shitty hand. Just because I was lucky enough to grow up somewhere like in Montecito didn’t mean I hadn’t experienced things no one should ever go through. I had my fair share of shit too, like everyone else. But I had something a lot of the kids at Credence didn’t.
Privilege.
Even now, even after everything, we had a warm roof over our heads and some money in the bank.
Sinking into the seat, I didn’t reply. There wasn’t anything to say. It was going to take time—time for people to see past the girl who walked into school that first day. I could change my image: leave my Tiffany bracelet in my jewelry box, wear my thrift store clothes, and party in backstreet clubs, but I’d led a different life from most of the kids at Credence High. It wasn’t who I was anymore, but they didn’t know that, they couldn’t.
The car stopped outside my house, and I offered Scarlett a weak smile. “Thanks. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
She nodded, watching as I climbed out. Part of me hoped she’d say something—anything—to undo some of the damage, but it was too late. The words were there, swimming around in my head.
Mom greeted me at the door, frowning as Scarlett’s car pulled away with a puff of exhaust fumes spiraling into the air. “Thank God, I was worried sick.”
“Mom,” I groaned. “It’s a perfectly decent car.”
“It’s a rust box.”
“I’m home now, so stop, okay? Listen, I’m going to get washed up and go to bed.”
Her frown deepened. “Is everything okay? You look pale. You weren’t drinking, were you?”
“Jeez, Mom. No, I wasn’t drinking. We hung out, talked about school, and drank soda. You’ve got to stop with the overprotective mother routine. It’s suffocating me.”
Mom’s face blanched, the color draining from her usually pink cheeks. I wanted to take the words back the second I’d said them, but it was too late. “Becca, that’s not fair. Not after—”
“Everything,” I finished. “Yeah, I know. I’m sorry. I’m just exhausted. I shouldn’t take it out on you. Forgive me?” Flashing her the best smile I could muster, I pouted and opened my arms for a hug.
It felt wrong to ask since they’d already forgiven me for so much.
Mom nodded and wrapped her arms around me. “I know it’s not easy, but you need this, Becca. We all need this.”
Snuggling closer, I inhaled deep breaths, filling my lungs with air and reminding myself I was here with my mom and dad. They loved me, regardless of the mistakes I’d made.
And everything was okay.
We had a new house. Dad had a new job, and Mom had her kitchen with the amazing oven. We had each other, but I owed them everything. What Dad had done for me would be a debt I could never repay—I knew that.
So what choice did I have but to find a way to make things work in Credence?
CHAPTER7
Entering the main building,I avoided looking at myself in the glass reflection. After Scarlett’s comments last night, I’d overlooked the t-shirts in favor of the one pashmina sweater that had survived my wardrobe exorcism. A pale lilac color, it was soft, hung loosely off one shoulder, and nipped in at my waist. Next to my cropped black jeans, it looked different from the floaty skirts I used to team it with. It was probably a little over the top for school, but when I’d seen it hanging there, memories of the girl I used to be washed over me.
My old life…
Friends…
