8 ??Time for a revenge plan?? (1/2)

LEIA

At dinner, I sat with my family on the dining table, a book cracked open in front of me as I tried and failed to concentrate on Bio. Labeeb and Mom stared at me. I could feel their eyes burning holes into me.

I sighed, looking up from the interesting chapter about biotechnology. ”You guys have anything to say?”

”Nope,” Labeeb flat out denied it, picking at his dry peas with his chubby fingers.

”Mom?”

She pushed her glossy hair out of her eyes in a nervous habit. ”It's just . . . we were wondering how things are at school. Honey, you don't look okay.”

She was right. I wanted to bury myself in studies rather than worry about the events of today. Not only was I angry and hurt because of Zayn and his besties but because I felt guilty.

Too many boys had touched me today. Granted, it wasn't intentional on my part . . . But such close contact with Zayn had felt good. Too good.

And that's what made me guilty.

Maybe I'd gotten mentally deranged in the course of two days—Leroy High would do that to any sane person. Don't get me wrong, I hated Zayn but . . .

Crap. I couldn't explain it without sounding like a fool.

We had a long history together. I understood him better than he understood himself—at least I used to. Now, he was . . . grown-up. And yeah. I guess no further explanation was needed.

”I'm fine,” I reassured her, not wanting to further worry her with my stupid problems. She already had enough on her shoulders.

Labeeb snorted like a pig and I cut him off with a glare. He responded with a mock lift of his hands in surrender. It didn't stop him from saying, ”Boy problems?”

Eleven-year olds could be so annoying at times.

”Labeeb,” Mom warned and I stuck my tongue out at him, acting no older than he was. She turned her concerned eyes toward me. ”You know you can share anything with me, right, honey?”

I nodded. ”It's just . . . school. You know how people react to me.” And by me I meant both my clothes and my past that everyone was aware of. Except they just had their facts a smidgeon wrong.

She placed her hand on mine and squeezed it. I could cry a river at that simple affectionate gesture. ”You're the only girl who is strong enough to face everyone, Leia. Being different––standing out––it doesn't put you down like it would anyone else. I hope you know how proud of you I am.”

And that's all the motivation I needed.

Tears sprang into my eyes and I shot her a grateful smile. ”It might have something to do with the powerful woman who raised me.”

. . .

I was making a diagram in my Bio notebook at break time. Call me whatever, but I liked to keep busy when I was eating something. I had narrowly escaped people and had zoned myself out when I heard insults hurled at me. I also hadn't opened my locker because I knew there was that stuff in it that would make me hyperventilate.

I was sitting in the forest/garden that was located at the back of our school. I think not many people knew about this place because it was empty. Or maybe nobody bothered to walk all the way from inside to here.

Or I thought I was the only one.

”Dude, you have to go with us today,” I heard what was unmistakably Anas's voice. Seriously, was there a secret meeting place inside the bushes?

Or worse, was Zayn in there too?