Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 115263 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 576(@200wpm)___ 461(@250wpm)___ 384(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115263 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 576(@200wpm)___ 461(@250wpm)___ 384(@300wpm)
“Welcome to our little school.” Her eyes widened. “Oh! I almost forgot.” She reached down and began digging in her purse. She pulled something out and handed it to me across the table. “Here. That lip gloss I mentioned.” I hesitated, not able to believe she was serious. At least I knew she hadn’t been trying to be rude earlier in class. “Seriously. I have too many to use anyway.”
I took it from her and put some on. “Thanks. It smells great.”
She shrugged and picked up her sandwich before turning to talk to her friend. I looked over at Kevin, who was holding back a smile. “It smells great?” he asked.
I laughed and nudged him with my elbow. “Shut up.”
After lunch, I was introduced to my first religion class. It wasn’t too much of a shock to me since I was raised Catholic and had taken all the classes to get my sacraments. I had just never been to a class in school. Public schools were pretty much against anything having to do with religion for fear someone would throw a hissy-fit.
And it looked like I came at the perfect time. We were starting the section on sex.
Yayness.
I couldn’t help but cringe at the old male teacher who stood up front and talked about chastity and purity and waiting for marriage.
There was a collective sigh of relief when the bell rang, but we all knew it was going to be a long four-week lesson.
When I walked into social studies, I saw some of the girls from lunch, including Gwen. Instead of the questioning stares and tight smiles, I was met with real smiles this time and waves to come sit next to them. I’d met Jane at lunch. She seemed shy and reserved with a soft voice and a simple cross around her neck. Then there was the complete opposite, Chloe, who was missing at lunch. She wore the same bow as the other girls around her blond ponytail, but she had pale streaks of pink dyed throughout.
“That’s why I wasn’t at lunch. I had to go to the office so they could talk to me about my hair. You’d think if the vice principal knew I blew his son last summer, he would let me keep the color.”
She laughed at my wide eyes. I sat there speechless, unsure of how to comment about such blatant sexuality. Gwen saved me.
“You’re kind of a slut, Chloe,” Gwen said. “I don’t think bragging about it to the vice principal will help. Especially when he finds out you broke his poor son’s heart.”
“I’m a sexual woman. Not making any excuses about that. And he should’ve known better then to get attached. I mean, I know I’m good . . . but no need to be a clinger.”
Even as uncomfortable as I was with all the bold talk, when they broke into giggles, I joined in. They bantered the same way the guys had at lunch.
“Just as long as you don’t film yourself doing sexual stunts with multiple people, you should make it to graduation without too much judgment,” Jane added.
“I did fuck Prince, and he wanted to film me. But I am not that dumb. He was such an idiot.” Chloe rolled her eyes.
“What?” It slipped past my lips, so confused by what they were talking about.
“AJ Prince. He went here last year. Was supposed to come back, but he recorded himself doing some freaky shit with multiple girls, and it got out. I think one of the girls leaked it as revenge for him not staying with her.”
“I’m telling you, clingers are the worst,” Chloe said, interrupting Gwen.
“I’ll give you that. But once it leaked, it brought his father into the limelight in the worst way. They began questioning his parenting skills and his values. He ended up resigning from his position in government and Prince was never seen again. I think the family moved to California or something.”
“Damn,” I said.
“Yeah. But learn the lesson. Never record anything you don’t want everyone to see. There is no privacy here in such a small school.”
“And avoid clingers,” Chloe added, making us all laugh.
Relief lifted the weight that had been sitting on my chest all day when I felt like they let me into their group.
Despite the circumstances, it looked like things were going to be okay here.
Chapter Three
Kevin
The unusually warm weather had continued over the past week and I took advantage of it by climbing onto the roof outside my window. Even at night, all I needed was a hoodie to stay warm. I liked it out there. Especially on clear nights where I could stare at the stars and relax in silence. Over the past year, I’d felt myself shifting, wanting to be alone more often, distancing myself from my friends and feeling less comfortable around them. I’d known them my whole life, but over time, I was being shaped into a mold that didn’t fit anymore. Being up on the roof alone let me escape the confines of that mold.