AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Who arethey?” she asked, looking at Holly and Laney.
“Theyhave names,” Holly snapped.
“Ohhhhh. These must be poor girl’s friends,” Kiki said, condescension dripping from her bright red lips. “Glad to see someone likes her.”
I cringed, hating that my friends now had a glimpse into my life in Windham. It wasn’t all pool parties with the Graysons. It was trying not to cross bitches like Kiki so I could just finish the year, graduate, and get the hell out of there.
Laney jumped to her feet. “You,bitch.”
Kiki looked her up and down in disdain, likely noting her old beat-up Chucks. “Please don’t tell me you think I’ll fight you. My manicure alone cost more than your outfit.”
Holly stood up, ready to throw down. “You,bitch.”
“At least they’re original,” Kiki mused to herself.
I stood up and my towel dropped away as I turned to face my friends. “Ignore her. She’s an evil troll.”
“Says the drowned rat,” Kiki balked.
A flash of rage rushed through me. It was one thing to embarrass me in front of strangers I didn’t care about. But she’d crossed a line by doing it in front of my best friends. I harnessed all the self-control I was capable of and took a deep breath. “She’s not worth it,” I assured my friends loud enough for Kiki to hear.
“Damn straight she’s not worth it,” Laney said.
“Oh, I beg to differ. My daddy’s net worth is over a hundred mill,” Kiki added.
“Mill?” Laney shrieked. “Is that what obnoxious bitches say?”
“Come on,” I said, not wanting them to go, but not wanting a big scene to break out either because that only meant I’d have to deal with the aftermath alone. “I’ll walk you to the car.” I led them away from the pool and past Kiki.
“Go back to the slums where you came from,” Kiki called.
Laney and Holly both spun around. I seized their arms, dragging them away for the pool area and back toward the driveway. “Please, just keep walking.”
“Grace, tell us you’re not dealing with people like her?” Holly said as we headed toward their car.
My lips twisted, unwilling to lie to my friends.
“Jesus Christ, Grace. Come back to Coopersville,” Laney said. “Stay with me for the rest of the school year.”
“I wish I could. But I don’t live there anymore.”
Once we reached their car, I glanced back toward the pool. No one had followed us. I don’t know why I thought they would. Kiki was one of them. And there was no denying that rich people stuck with rich people.
Holly and Laney wrapped their arms around me, hugging my wet body for a long time. I didn’t want them to let go. Their presence felt like home to me.
“If she messes with you, I swear to God, Grace, I will kick the shit out of her,” Laney said.
“And I’ll break every one of her expensive manicured nails,” Holly added.
I laughed, grateful for my friends. “Despite how it looked, I can handle her.”
“We love you,” Holly said.
“I love you guys, too.”
“Seren wants you,” Laney said as we stepped out of our hug.
“Bad,” Holly added.
