Amy's POV

Lia suddenly appeared in front of me and extended her hand to help me up. I couldn't even move a muscle to get off the floor. I was too busy replaying the words Leo had said before he walked away. Jolting out of my thoughts, I grabbed her hand, and pulled myself to my feet.

"Sorry, Amy."

"Thank you," I mumbled. Did she just hide and wait for her cousin to lash out at me before coming to the rescue? I shook my head. That was ridiculous. How would that benefit her in any way? We had only just met yesterday. It was all purely coincidental.

She must have noticed the look on my face because she spoke up. "I know you're probably wondering how I keep showing up every time my cousin is a jerk to you. I'm not stalking you, I promise," she chuckled, as if she had read my mind.

"It just kind of happens. Maybe I lied to you yesterday when I said Leo isn't always like that, he's an asshole most of the time," she sighed.

I smiled faintly in agreement, not wanting to say a word.

"Since we keep running into each other, maybe the universe is trying to tell us something like becoming friends," her lips widened into a smile as she looked at me.

Friends. No. I didn't need friends and I knew better than to even entertain the idea. But I didn't say that to her.

"Lia!" a girl with brown hair called out, making her way towards us and saving me from having to respond. Lia, and the girl exchanged hugs and pleasantries before Lia introduced her to me as Mia. I found out we were in the same class, so the three of us walked in together.

My head was down as I trailed after Lia and Mia into the classroom, but a burst of mocking laughter stopped me dead in my tracks. Who is she? Why is she dressed like that? I looked up, and unfortunately the first person I locked eyes with was Leo. He was seated at the back with two other guys. One had black hair just like his; the other had brown hair.

Leo said something to them and the black-haired one burst out laughing while the brown-haired one shook his head and looked at me with something close to pity. I took a deep breath and made up my mind to ignore Leo and his friends.

I was looking for a place to sit when Leo's voice cut through the noise.

"Are you sure you belong in this class, Clumsy?" he taunted, a smirk plastered across his face.

I huffed inwardly. What was his problem? It had been just two days since I met him and he had already managed to make my life miserable, calling me Clumsy every single time. I dropped my gaze to the floor so he and the others wouldn't see my eyes well up. I had been a victim of bullying long enough to know better than to let them see you cry.

"That's enough, Leo. Why don't you all mind your business?" Lia's voice rang out across the class. The room went quiet then Leo erupted into laughter. Even without looking at him I knew it was his.

"It didn't cross my mind that you'd employ my own cousin as your spokesperson," Leo's deep rough voice rang out, forcing me to glance in his direction.

"Settle down, class," a woman walked in. She was chubby and wore glasses, just like me. From how quickly the room fell silent when she entered, I figured she was strict.

She introduced herself as Mrs Freda Rodriguez before launching into the biology lesson.

"Who can tell us what constitutional delayed puberty is?" Mrs Freda asked, her eyes sweeping from one student to another, met with complete silence. I knew the answer, but there was no way I was going to attempt it, not in this classroom. They would mock me whether I got it right or wrong.

"You know, if more of you took biology as seriously as you take your social lives, you'd do a lot better at it," Mrs Freda said, scanning the class.

I don't know what made me look back, but when I did, I caught Leo's eye. He smirked and raised his hand.

"Yes, Leo Callahan. It's good to see you've decided to answer rather than crack jokes. Let's hear it," Mrs Rodriguez said, settling into her chair.

"We have a new student," Leo's voice echoed and the class burst out laughing.

Was there another new student? No. It was me he was talking about. What had I done to deserve this treatment from someone who barely even knew me?

"Silence!" Mrs Rodriguez slammed her hand on the desk and shot to her feet. "Mr Leo Callahan, I see you're up to your usual nonsense," she snapped, her face tight with anger. Leo had a mischievous smile on his face.

"Not at all, ma'am," he said calmly, peeking in my direction before continuing. "I just wanted to remind you that it's always been your tradition to have new students introduce themselves to the class."

The black-haired guy beside him gave a supportive nod.

"I see. But just so you know, Leo you'll be having detention for disrupting my class," she said curtly.

"It will be a pleasure, ma'am," he replied with a smile.

Mrs Rodriguez let out a frustrated sigh and shook her head. She shot him one last glare before turning her attention back to me.

I wasn't surprised. Who smiles at the mention of detention? Leo must have been a regular.

I was hoping she wouldn't take Leo's suggestion seriously. I closed my eyes and said a quick prayer but my hopes dissolved the moment I heard her voice.

"Who is the new student?"

My eyes flew open and I slowly straightened in my seat. Every pair of eyes in the room turned toward me and I suddenly felt like disappearing.

"I'm the new student, ma'am," I managed.

"Well then, come forward and introduce yourself to the class," she said with a warm smile.

My heart hammered in my chest. My palms grew clammy. I rubbed them together as I made my way to the front of the class, genuinely shocked that I hadn't tripped or passed out from anxiety.

I stood there for a moment, gathering myself.

"My name is Amy Grayson." I was surprised at how clear and steady my voice came out. It gave me a small boost of confidence, and I raised my head which I immediately regretted.

A girl with a face full of makeup and a tiara perched on her head muttered, "Who cares?" and the whole class erupted into laughter. Everyone except Mia, Lia, and Leo's brown-haired friend.

She looked like one of those girls straight out of a high school movie the kind who was impossibly mean and dressed like a fashion icon. I recognised her as the one who had been glaring daggers at me the moment I walked into class.

"Quiet, class!" Mrs Rodriguez hollered, then turned to the girl. "Detention, Michelle."

A smile spread across the girl's face. I was confused it seemed like the students of Fieldman High genuinely enjoyed detention.

"Thank you, ma'am. At least I'll get to be with my baby," she winked at Leo, who blew her a kiss in return.

"Aww, so cute," the two girls beside Michelle cooed. They were dressed just like her, minus the tiara.

Lovely. Leo and Michelle were together. No wonder birds of a feather.

Mrs Rodriguez said nothing more to Michelle. She just shook her head with a disappointed sigh before returning her attention to me.

"Miss Amy, welcome to Fieldman High. You seem different, and I sincerely hope you stay that way," she said, glancing between Leo and Michelle. Leo smirked. Michelle rolled her eyes.

"Thank you, ma'am," I mumbled. I turned to go back to my seat, and then she called my name again.

My heart nearly stopped.

"Can you tell us what constitutional delayed puberty is?"

I felt every eye in the room lock onto me. I squirmed under the weight of their stares.

Mrs Rodriguez looked at me with a small, encouraging smile. Somehow it helped.

I nodded and exhaled. "Constitutional delayed puberty is also known as late puberty and can be defined as.."

I never got to finish.

"Why wouldn't you know that?" Leo cut in. "You're basically a walking definition of it. Late appearance of the features of puberty , no chest, flat.."

"Enough! Get out of my class, Leo!" Mrs Rodriguez snapped before he could finish.

The class erupted again, right on cue. As if they had been waiting for it.

His words weren't entirely true but they still cut deep. I had a figure modest, hidden beneath my oversized hoodie and baggy sweatpants but that wasn't the point. The point was that he had stood in front of an entire classroom and tried to dismantle me, piece by piece. And for what? What had I ever done to him?

I met his eyes with as much hatred as I could muster. He didn't flinch, he just smiled.

I hate you, Leo.

Amy's POV

"Don't tell me you're still thinking about what that crazy cousin of mine said," Lia frowned slightly as she tapped my arm. It was hard not to. The things Leo had said to me in just one day kept circling in my head, and we still had hours left before school closed. It was only break.

Only God knew how much more ridicule I was going to have to sit through before the day was over. This school was worse than my last one. I had been such a hopeful fool to think Fieldman High was going to be any different.

"Of course she would be, didn't you hear everything Leo said to her?" Mia sighed in irritation, glancing over at Leo's table. Leo caught her looking and waved. So did Marcus.

"That's not helping, Mia. You're supposed to comfort Amy, not state the obvious," Lia said, shooting her a look.

"Sorry, I say things as they are," Mia replied, her voice thick with sarcasm. Lia shot her another glare.

"They're so handsome. It's a shame they're jerks," Lia sighed.

"I know, but don't let Marcus and Leo's looks fool you. Their gorgeous faces don't change the fact that they're awful. I can't help but wonder why Rio chooses to hang out with them I just pray their disgusting personalities don't rub off on him." Lia's eyes darkened as she stared across at Leo and Marcus. They said something to each other and laughed. Lia stood up like she was about to march over there, but sat back down the moment Rio smiled and mouthed a sorry at her.

"She has a crush on him," Mia whispered to me and I smiled. No wonder her anger disappeared the second he smiled at her.

"Are you two auctioning me off over there?"

Lia's eyes narrowed as she peered at us, like she was searching for something.

"No, we wouldn't dare," I laughed, shaking my head at the expression on her face.

"I was just telling her how hard you're crushing on Rio," Mia teased. Lia's cheeks flushed red. She tried to hold a straight face but it wasn't working the blush gave her away completely.

"No, I'm not," she countered.

"Right," Mia said, her voice dripping with sarcasm, a mischievous smile playing on her lips.

Mia shot her a glare. Lia chuckled. That only made Mia more annoyed.

"You're so irritating," Mia whined, smacking Lia playfully on the arm.

Lia and Mia filled me in on the boys. Marcus the one with hair like Leo's was Mia's brother. Rio, the brown-haired one, was an only child. The three of them had been best friends since childhood. Rio was the calm one, not nearly as reckless as Marcus and Leo. Mia and Lia described him as friendly and levelheaded. Maybe that was why he had looked at me with such concern when his friends mocked me earlier.

"What will you be having, Amy?" Lia asked, getting to her feet. Mia stood as well.

"Anything," I said without much interest. Food was the last thing on my mind. I was more worried about how chaotic the rest of my time at this school was going to be.

Lia let out a small sigh and placed a hand on my shoulder. "Come on, Amy. Don't let them get to you that's exactly what they want. You don't have to worry anymore. We've got your back," she smiled.

"Nobody messes with our friend," Mia added, placing her hand on my other shoulder.

My eyes welled up. It just felt so good having someone smile at me like they actually meant it, especially someone my age. All I had ever gotten from people my age were looks of contempt, like I was beneath them. Maybe with Lia and Mia, things weren't going to be so awful. At least I had gotten one good thing out of Fieldman High. Friends. Something my old school had never given me.

"Thank you," I managed, blinking hard to keep the tears back. They didn't say a word. They just pulled me into a warm hug.

"Well, well. If it isn't a pity party," a voice I was already beginning to recognise cut through the moment, making Lia and Mia pull away. "The hoodie girl getting sympathy from the classy girls, who'd rather hang out with a nobody than be friends with people actually worth their time."

It was Michelle. Leo's girlfriend. And she hadn't come alone, the two girls who had sat with her in class flanked her on either side. Lia had told me their names were Arabelle and Mirabelle. Together they called themselves the Elles, and Michelle was the one in charge.

I had no idea what they were doing at our table. Hadn't Michelle had her fill of mocking me in class? Her eyes snapped to mine and I looked away.

A smug little laugh escaped her lips.

"Why did you decide to transfer here, sweetie?" Michelle asked, her voice syrupy sweet, eyes holding mine like she genuinely cared. She didn't. I knew that much.

"Nobody wants you here, hoodie girl. Lia and Mia are only sitting with you because they feel sorry for you. Trust me, the moment that pity runs out, they'll leave, and you'll be right back where you started. Alone," she snorted.

"True, Mich," Arabelle and Mirabelle nodded in unison.

"You insecure bitch. Get the hell away from our table, you and your little minions before I forget you're my cousin's girlfriend and give you a beating that not even plastic surgery could fix, wannabe queen," Lia snarled, stepping up to Michelle, who immediately took a step back. Fear flashed across her face before she buried it under a cackle.

"As always, you need someone to speak for you," Michelle said, fixing me with a look of cold disdain.

"Didn't you hear what Lia said? Leave! With your minions," Mia hissed.

Arabelle and Mirabelle flinched and edged backwards. Michelle tried to hold her ground but the confidence was fading fast.

"You'll regret this," she threatened, jabbing a finger at us before turning and beckoning her two followers. They walked away together.

Lia and Mia looked at each other and burst out laughing.

"I would give up my phone just to see that look on their faces on repeat," Lia laughed, pulling an exaggerated terrified expression.

"We both know you love your phone too much for that," Mia teased, earning a scowl from Lia, who tried and failed to look offended.

"That's not the point. You always say the wrong thing at the wrong time," Lia groaned, burying her face in her hands.

"Look who's smiling," Mia said, turning to me with a grin. "If it takes us scaring off the Elles to get a smile out of you, Amy, we'll do it every day. Right, Lia?"

"Gladly," Lia agreed, beaming at me.

"Please don't," I laughed, shaking my head.

I wasn't a fan of violence, and I didn't want them getting into trouble because of me.

"As you wish," Mia smiled, raising both hands in surrender.

"As long as they keep their mouths shut, we'll be civil," Lia added, her tone carrying just enough of a threat to be believable.

We went to get our lunch after that, burgers and juice, Lia's suggestion, no objections from either of us.

"Here's the money for mine," I said, holding out some cash to Lia. She didn't take it. Instead she gently closed my fingers around it and placed my hand back in my lap. She had already paid for my lunch earlier, before I realised I'd forgotten to bring money to the cafeteria.

"I didn't pay for your lunch so you could pay me back," she smiled.

"But it doesn't feel right," I sighed, extending the money again.

"No buts. What's wrong with me buying lunch for my friend?" She raised an eyebrow.

"Thank you," I said, letting my hand drop.

It wasn't that I wasn't grateful. It was just new to me, someone wanting to do something kind, without expecting anything in return.

"Get used to having this power squad around you," Mia giggled proudly, bumping her fist against Lia's.

They stretched their fists toward me. I bumped mine against theirs and we all laughed. For the first time in years it wasn't forced. I was actually happy genuinely, unexpectedly happy, and with friends, no less.

Damn you, Amy.

I cursed myself the moment I glanced in Leo's direction and found his eyes already on me. Michelle was planting kisses all over his face but his gaze didn't move from mine not even for a second. And then he smiled. A slow, deliberate smile that sent a shiver straight down my spine.

"Amy? Hello?" Lia snapped her fingers in front of my face.

"Are you okay?" Mia and Lia asked at the same time.

I tore my eyes away and turned back to them.

"I have to use the restroom," I said quickly, getting to my feet.

"Do you know where it is?" Lia asked, brows knitted, eyes scanning my face.

"We can show.."

"No worries, I'll find it." The words were barely out of my mouth before I was already walking away.

.......

I washed my hands, splashed cold water on my face, and stared at my reflection. I looked like a mess. But that was the least of my problems.

Damn you, Leo Callahan. His smile kept replaying in my head like it had taken up permanent residence there. This guy was managing to torment me even from across a cafeteria. I closed my eyes, took a long breath, then forced them open.

I pulled the door open and stepped out into the corridor. I had just passed the restroom entrance and was about to turn back toward the cafeteria when I heard my name.

"Amy Grayson."

I froze.

Leo. He was leaning against the wall ahead of me, arms crossed, watching me like he had been waiting. That was new, he had actually used my name instead of Clumsy.

Was he following me now? I weighed my options. Run, or stay and let him say whatever awful thing he had lined up. I chose to stay there was no dignified way to bolt when he was standing right in front of the only route back to the cafeteria. Besides, running would only give him more satisfaction.

I stared at him without speaking. Partly because I had nothing to say. Mostly because even if I did, the words wouldn't have come out.

"Running away from me, Clumsy? I got detention because of you," he said, a crease forming between his brows.

He deserved that detention and he knew it. He had even smiled when Mrs Rodriguez gave it to him, why was he making it my problem now? I thought all of this but said none of it.

"Gone mute?" His hazel eyes bore into mine.

"Leave me alone," the words slipped out before I could pull them back.

Something flashed across his face anger, maybe but it disappeared almost immediately, replaced by that familiar indifference.

"Did you say something?" His lips curled.

"No," I shook my head. I moved to step past him and was yanked back by the wrist.

My back pressed against the wall as he caged me in, leaning close. My breath caught. His face was just inches from mine.

"Baby blue eyes," he said softly, almost to himself, his hazel ones searching mine. A smile tugged at his lips and goosebumps broke across my skin.

His grip on my wrist hadn't loosened.

"You're hurting me," I lied.

He let go instantly, like he'd touched something hot, but he didn't step back. For just a moment his eyes softened, and then the coldness returned.

"Leo, what are you doing?" Rio's voice came from down the corridor. He appeared and pulled Leo away from me, then turned to look at me with an expression caught somewhere between apology and concern.

"You owe Rio a thank-you. He saved your.." Leo started.

Just then Michelle appeared. Her eyes blazed when they landed on me, then softened the instant they moved to Leo.

"What are you doing with her?" she asked him, her voice low and sweet.

"Nothing, babe. Let's go," Leo said easily. He kissed her, slipped an arm around her waist, and the two of them walked off without a backwards glance.

I exhaled slowly.

"Amy," Rio said gently. "I'm sorry about that."

The apology only stirred the frustration already sitting heavy in my chest. I was so tired of people saying sorry for Leo's behaviour, like their words were supposed to undo any of it.

"I'm Rio, by the way," he said, moving a strand of hair out of his face and extending his hand.

He was good-looking. I registered that and then immediately caught myself mentally comparing his features to Leo's, which I silently scolded myself for.

His hand was still outstretched.

Without a word, I turned and walked away. It was better this way. Getting close to Leo's friends no matter how decent they seemed. It wasn't something I could afford.

Amy's POV

The final bell was the best sound I had heard all day.

I packed up my things faster than everyone else, keeping my head down as the classroom filled with the scraping of chairs and the noise of students spilling into the corridors. I didn't want to talk to anyone. I didn't want to be looked at. I just wanted to get out.

"Hey, wait up!" Lia's voice caught me just as I stepped into the hallway. She jogged to my side, slightly out of breath, her bag bouncing on her shoulder. "You move fast for someone so small."

"I'm not that small," I muttered.

"You're tiny, and that's okay." She linked her arm through mine before I could protest. "Come on. We're taking the bus together."

I opened my mouth to say I was fine on my own, but she was already pulling me along and honestly I didn't have the energy to argue.

Mia caught up with us at the front gate, slightly out of breath and carrying what looked like three textbooks she hadn't bothered to put in her bag.

"You two were really going to leave without me," she said flatly.

"We literally waited two minutes," Lia replied.

"Two minutes is a long time, Lia."

I found myself smiling without meaning to.

We said goodbye to Mia at the bus stop closest to her street, and then it was just Lia and me for the rest of the ride. She talked the whole way, about Mrs Rodriguez, about how Marcus had somehow charmed his way out of a second detention, about a series she had been watching that she was convinced I needed to see. I mostly listened, giving short answers when she asked me things directly, and she didn't seem to mind. She just kept going, filling the silence like it was second nature to her.

It was strange being around someone who didn't need me to perform or explain myself. Who just talked, and let me exist beside her without making it a big deal.

Strange, but not unwelcome.

We got off at our stop and walked the short distance to our street. The evening air was cooler than I expected and I pulled my hoodie tighter around myself.

"Same time tomorrow?" Lia asked when we reached the point where our paths split.

"Sure," I said, and I almost meant it.

She grinned like I had said something far more exciting than sure, waved, and disappeared through her front door.

I stood on the pavement for a moment longer than necessary, staring at nothing in particular. Then I turned and walked into the house.

.......

Mark wasn't home yet.

The house was quiet in that heavy way it got when he was absent not peaceful, just waiting. I dropped my bag by the stairs, went to the kitchen and started on dinner without being asked. It was better to have it ready. Less to answer for.

I was halfway through chopping onions when the doorbell rang.

I froze.

Mark had told me more than once not to open the door to anyone. I wiped my hands on a dish towel and went to the window first, pulling the curtain back just enough to see the front step.

Lia. And beside her, a woman I didn't recognise warm-faced, with Lia's same blonde hair and a foil-covered dish balanced in both hands. And behind them, hands in his pockets, looking like he'd rather be anywhere else on earth, Leo.

I let the curtain fall.

The doorbell rang again.

I stood there for a second, weighing my options. Mark wasn't back yet. They were just neighbours. Lia had been nothing but kind to me. And that woman was carrying food.

I opened the door.

"Amy!" Lia's face broke into a wide smile. "I told you she'd answer," she said to no one in particular.

"Hi, sweetheart." The woman beside her smiled, warm and unhurried, like she had all the time in the world. "I'm Sandra, Lia's mom. I wanted to come say welcome to the neighbourhood properly." She held out the dish. "I made cookies. They're still warm."

I looked at the dish, then at her face. There was something about her a kind of steadiness that made it hard to stay guarded.

"Thank you," I said, taking it carefully. "Please, come in."

Sandra stepped inside first, then Lia. Leo followed last, ducking slightly as he came through the doorway even though he didn't need to, his eyes doing a slow sweep of the room like he was cataloguing it.

"Lovely place," Sandra said, settling onto the sofa like she'd been invited a hundred times before.

Leo dropped into an armchair and said nothing. He was looking at the wall.

"Sorry about him," Lia whispered, appearing at my elbow.

I nodded and set the cookies on the table, my eyes drifting to the front window every few minutes without meaning to. Mark. If he came back and found people in the house.

"Are you okay?" Lia asked quietly.

"Fine," I said. "Just... my brother should be home soon. I wasn't expecting."

"We won't stay long," Sandra said from the sofa, as if she had heard. "I just wanted to put a face to the neighbours."

Ten minutes passed. Then fifteen. The conversation moved easily between Sandra and Lia about the neighbourhood, about school, about a neighbour down the road who apparently had the best garden on the street. I answered when spoken to and kept half an eye on the front door.

Leo, for his part, said almost nothing. He had picked up a small decorative stone from the side table and was turning it over in his hand absentmindedly, looking thoroughly bored.

Mark. If he came home...

Then the front door opened.

My stomach dropped.

Mark stepped in, loosening his tie, and stopped when he saw the room full of people he had never met.

For a terrible second, nobody spoke.

Then Mark smiled.

It didn't reach his eyes.

"I didn't know we had company," he said, his voice smooth and pleasant. He looked at me just for a moment, just a flicker and in that look was everything he wasn't saying. Every single word of it.

My throat tightened.

"I'm Sandra, your neighbour," Sandra said, standing to shake his hand. "I hope you don't mind I wanted to welcome you both to the street. I brought cookies."

"Of course," Mark said, shaking her hand with a warmth that would have fooled anyone who didn't know him. "That's very kind. I'm Mark, Amy's brother." He turned the same easy smile on Lia, then on Leo. "Friends from school?"

"My daughter and nephew," Sandra said. "Lia and Leo."

Mark nodded pleasantly. He sat down, crossed one leg over the other, and joined the conversation like he had been there all along. Asked Sandra how long she had lived on the street. Laughed at the right moments. Said all the right things.

I sat across from him and could barely breathe.

Every time his eyes passed over me casually, briefly, the way you glance at a piece of furniture, I felt the weight of what was coming settle a little heavier on my chest.

Leo was watching me.

I noticed it without meaning to the way his gaze had shifted from bored indifference to something quieter, more focused. Like he had caught something in my face that didn't add up. I looked away before he could decide what to do with it.

When Sandra finally announced they were leaving, Mark stood and walked them to the door himself, charming and gracious to the very end. Lia squeezed my arm on the way past and mouthed see you tomorrow. Leo said nothing, but at the threshold he glanced back at me, it was quick, and unreadable before following his aunt outside.

Mark closed the door.

The smile dropped off his face like it had never been there.

I stood very still.

He looked at me for a long moment. Then he said, "I'm ordering food. You don't need to cook tonight," and walked upstairs.

Just like that.

No raised voice, no belt pulled from its loops. Nothing.

I stayed rooted to the spot long after his footsteps had faded down the hallway above me. I didn't trust it. I didn't trust the quiet, or his even tone, or the fact that nothing had happened. With Mark, nothing happening was sometimes worse than something happening. At least when I knew what was coming, I could prepare myself.

This.... this I didn't know what to do with.

I went back to the kitchen, turned off the stove, and sat at the table. I peeled back the foil on Sandra's cookies.

They were still warm. Soft in the middle, slightly crisp at the edges the kind that took actual effort to make.

I ate one slowly, alone in the quiet kitchen, and tried not to think about how long it had been since anyone had brought me something just to be kind.

I had almost fallen asleep when the knock came.

Three raps. Slow and deliberate.

I was already sitting up before the second one landed, my heart slamming against my ribs. The room was dark. The takeout boxes were still on the counter downstairs. Everything was quiet in the way that meant nothing good.

"Amy."

I pulled my knees to my chest and said nothing.

The handle turned, then the door swung open.

I had locked it this time. I was sure I had locked it. But the lock on my door had never been something Mark couldn't get around when he decided he wanted to.

He stepped inside.

"No," I said. The word came out small and cracked but it came out. "Please. No."

For a moment he just looked at me in the dark. Then something shifted in his face.

He crossed the room in three steps.

I fought. I always fought even though I knew it only ever made things worse because the alternative was lying still, and pretending I was somewhere else and I couldn't do that tonight, not after Sandra's cookies and Lia's arm linked through mine and the strange, dangerous feeling that maybe something in my life could be different.

So I fought.