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Disappearing behind his locker door, he switched out textbooks. When he closed the door, I looked at him—reallylooked at him. His eyes were a stormy gray color with lighter flecks interspersed. He was tall—at least a head taller than my five-foot-six—with dark hair that was mussed in that sexy just-rolled-out-of-bed way.
As if he could read my mind, his lips tugged up in an amused smirk. “You just need to keep your head down and find your people,” he said as if he’d given me the answers to the universe.
My face must have betrayed me because he studied me for a second, and his smirk dropped. “I’m not talking about me. Trust me.” His gaze hardened. “But not everyone in CH is a complete dick. People tend to stick to their own tribe. All you have to do is figure out where you belong. See you around, new girl.”
Math guy slipped into the crowd as it dispersed at the sound of Principal Garraway’s voice. I probably needed to get out of there too, but with my heart in my shoes, I was pretty much rooted to the spot.
When he’d spoken to me, a part of me had hoped he might be taking pity on me. People had been less than welcoming since I’d arrived. No one had gone out of their way to be mean or anything—yet—but, in a way, that stung even more. Throwing insults and stabby looks my way would have at least meant people noticed me. At the moment, I was barely visible.Sure, I’d never expected it to be easy, but I didn’t expectthiseither. Maybe math guy was right; all I needed was to find my people.
And in Montecito, my people had been the popular kids.
* * *
In a moment of fresh determination—orcomplete insanity—I didn’t slink out of the cafeteria at lunch. Instead, I gripped my tray and weaved through the tables until I reached the last cluster at the back of the room where I’d seen the popular girls sitting.
“Are you lost?”
Everyone stopped talking and turned to me. It felt like the whole room had quieted. Maybe it had. Maybe this was the most stupid idea I’d ever had. But it was too late to back out now. I was here, and they were all watching me. Swallowing down the nerves clawing up my throat, I smiled and said, “Hey, I’m Becca. I just transferred to Credence.”
“We know who you are,” a dark-haired girl with a short pixie cut answered, her narrowed eyes sweeping over me. Her lips pursed as her steely gaze landed on the charm bracelet wrapped around my wrist. She looked fierce; the harsh kohl outlining her eyes matched the irritation in her voice and the black boots covering her feet.
We were like polar opposites—she was intimidating and alluring in that sexy-vixen kind of way, and I looked like I was going to have afternoon tea at the Yacht Club in my cropped jeans, navy striped tee, and pristine white sneakers.What the hell was I thinking?
Ugh. I wanted the floor to open up and swallow me whole. But I couldn’t show them—her—that. Not now I’d made my bed and entered their world. So I did the only thing I could. I met her severe glare with a brighter smile. “I wondered if I could join you for lunch?”
Sliding her foot over the chair, she leaned forward onto her knees. Not bothering to smooth out her skirt, she flashed her black panties to everyone. “Do you see any spare seats?”Her eyes moved over the tables her friends occupied, and someone snickered, causing a red flush to work its way up my neck.
I tried my best not to look at the two empty seats right in front of her. “Maybe another time then.” My voice cracked, but I didn’t stick around to break down in front of them. That would have to wait until I was somewhere private like the girls’ bathroom. Clutching my tray, I spun on my heels and started walking away. As if my embarrassment wasn’t enough, she had to kill the last shred of hope I had at having any kind of social life at Credence High.
“By the way,lovethe outfit.” Her voice dripped with sarcasm, and I sucked in a sharp breath. Eyes set ahead, I fought the urge to throw my tray and get the hell out of there. Back in Montecito, I was popular, but I was never mean. Sure, some of our group thought being at the top of the social ladder gave them the right to do whatever the hell they wanted, but it wasn’t my style. I was friends with everyone. The pixie had looked at me as if I was nothing more than the dirt on the bottom of her boot.Way to go, Becca.
As I crossed the room, I felt their eyes—their judgment—burn into me. But it was nothing compared to the whispering I heard as I dumped my tray and hurried out of the cafeteria.
How pathetic.
Who does she think she is?
Didn’t she get the memo that this isn’t 90210?
Rushing out of the door, I almost collided with someone. Math guy stepped into my path, and I ground to a halt.“Jesus, you scared the shit out of me.” I clutched a hand to my racing heart, gasping for breath.
“Piece of advice. Stay away from Kendall and her crew.”
“Who?”
“The evil pixie who just handed you your ass in front of everyone.”
“Oh.”
His eyes lingered on me as if he wanted to say more, but he didn’t. Running a hand through his hair, he swerved around me and headed into the cafeteria, while I stood there wondering what the hell had just happened.
* * *
Something changedafter the cafeteria incident.
For the rest of the week, wherever I went and whatever classes I found myself in, the low rumble of voices and snickers followed. I tried not to let it get to me—I was the new girl, after all. Until people gave me a chance, I was an outsider. Acceptance had to be earned. Sure, my little run-in with Kendall was a temporary setback, but I could still make it work… Until I discovered that the evil pixie was Kendall O’Hare: Queen Bee and Head Bitch of Credence High. She wasn’t going away anytime soon, and because I had some bad karma biting me in the ass, last period on Friday she walked into English with her friends. Their eyes fell on me for a second before they continued to their desks like I was nothing. Nobody.
Invisible.
