Total pages in book: 215
Estimated words: 199344 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 997(@200wpm)___ 797(@250wpm)___ 664(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 199344 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 997(@200wpm)___ 797(@250wpm)___ 664(@300wpm)
My hands ball into fists under the table, and I stare at Abby, biting my tongue harder than I’ve ever bitten it before. I’ve been friends with her since I started at East View as a misguided, broken freshman, barely two months after Noah walked away from me. Not once during that time have I ever spoken to her about my relationship with Noah. I’ve specifically gone out of my way not to talk about it because of how much it hurts, and it’s just a stark reminder of how far away I’ve kept these girls. No one in this school really knows me. Apart from Tarni, they don’t know the struggles I went through at six years old, the wars I’ve already battled. All they know is the broken girl they met at thirteen years old, never really understanding the depth of my despair.
Abby shrinks away from my stare, and it’s clear her opinion is based solely on what Tarni has told her. Neither of them really understands how much their casual dismissal kills me.
“I agree,” Tarni says, her gaze locked on Noah and Shannan. “It’s time to move on because this boring, moody Zoey is killing my vibe. You and Noah were only friends anyway. You were little kids. It’s not like you were madly in love and on the verge of marriage and babies. Sometimes friends come and go, and that’s alright. Doesn’t mean we need to get hung up on it. Besides, you have us now, and having three besties will always be better than one gorgeous piece of man meat.”
I try to see it from her perspective and force a smile, but the piercing stare from across the room makes focusing on anything else almost impossible. I hate that he can still pull the tether between us without even meeting my eyes.
What’s Tarni’s problem, anyway? She’s always hated when I spoke of Noah in the past. She has gone to great lengths to change the topic, and for a while, I thought maybe she was jealous of the overwhelming, once-in-a-lifetime bond I shared with him, but now I’m wondering if I was wrong. Maybe it wasn’t my friendship with him she was threatened by, but more his friendship with me. Was she jealous all these years that he looked at me like an angel descending the heavens while looking at her like the trash I accidentally stepped in? Ever since we became friends at six, he’s hated her.
“You’re right. I’m being silly,” I tell her, but the words feel like venom on my tongue. I don’t want this to force a wedge between us because, despite her delivery, she’s right. It’s time to put it all behind me and try to enjoy junior year. “Noah Ryan is in the past.”
“Oh no, no, no, girl,” Tarni laughs. “He’s far from in the past. I mean, look at him. Someone who looks like that cannot be in the past. I’m sorry to break the news, Zo, but you’re gonna have to get used to seeing him around because I wasn’t kidding this morning. I need to get closer to him. I’ve been obsessing all morning! I have to sink my claws into that.”
Is she kidding me?
I gape at her, a fierce anger trying to break through the surface as I wave toward the embarrassment across the room. “Don’t know if you’ve noticed,” I mutter, trying to keep the bite out of my tone, “but your little boy toy has already been spoken for.”
Tarni scoffs. “Who? Shannan Holter? Once he fucks her—and I’m assuming that’ll be by the end of lunch—he’ll be done with her, leaving all the room for me to swoop in and take what’s mine.”
Cora laughs. “Yeah, right. She’s the captain of the cheer team, and there’s no doubt that he’ll be announced captain and quarterback of the football team. It’s like they’re fated to end up together. She’s not going to let him slip away now. Consider it a done deal. Noah and Shannan are gonna be East View’s newest it couple.”
God, I hate how right she is. I’ve never had anything to do with Shannan, and I don’t really know her on a personal level, but I’ve watched from afar, and when she wants something, she gets it. And it’s clear from the way she’s draping herself all over Noah that she wants him more than anything.
Tarni sighs, realizing Cora is right too, and as she watches them, she narrows her gaze. “What do you think Shannan has that I don’t?” Tarni murmurs, playing with her lunch rather than eating it. “Do you think it’s the whole cheerleader thing? I could cheer too. They’re having tryouts this week.”
“Oh God,” I laugh. “I’d love to see that. A baby deer stuck on ice is more coordinated than you.”