7
Jeez, this place ranks kids like it's their job. I'm sitting at a solid one thousand – talk about setting a low bar.
Back in class, eyes followed me like I was the main character in some teen drama. Lester shot me a look, all 'I'm just a studious boy,' but I knew better.
I flopped into my seat, the silence between us as loud as a dropped pin.
Tomorrow's the big test, and while Sawyer's grades are some kind of urban legend, I'm not sweating it. Top twenty? Please, I eat pressure for breakfast.
Post-bell, Zadie Warner sidled up, all hushed tones and side-eye. "You not the one who messed with Sasha's shoes?"
I scoffed. "When would Miss Priss even ditch her heels? Not my circus."
I whipped out my phone to show her the receipts – three days of being dragged through the mud in group chats by Sasha and her minions.
But then, outta nowhere, Zephyr's hand swooped in, phone-snatching like a pro. I looked up into his scowl.
"What now?" I asked.
"You tell me," he retorted, brows knitted like he's trying to solve the world's problems with his forehead."Seriously, who snatches someone's phone like it's NBD?" I spat out, my voice dripping with sarcasm as he backed me into a corner. His breath came out in huffs, a mix of laughter and seething anger swirling in those fiery eyes of his.
"I had your back out there, and you ghosted! Made me look like a total clown, huh?" he snarled, muscles tensing like he was ready to throw down.
I fished out a candy from my pocket, waving it like a white flag. "Truce candy?"
He glared at the sweet offering, jaw working overtime like he was chewing invisible gum. But he snatched it up, his growl softened. "Just don't get caught slippin' again, got it?"
He bolted then, all speed and no chill, but doubled back quick as a meme going viral, shoving my phone and a soothing balm into my hands. For my hurt wrist?
Clutching the silver tin with scent a blend of menthol and lavender, I felt my cheeks heat up. Who knew I could still play the blushing ingenue?
Zadie was all up in my grill, her voice a shaky playlist of curiosity and concern. "How do you know... Zephyr Yarnell?"
She was paler than a ghosted text, still faking a smile.
"Principal chewed us out today, and he had my back with that tool," I said, but her eyes were throwing major shade.
"Sydney, you can't roll with that crowd. They're next-level, and we're just... not," she said, her grip on her bag turning her knuckles white.
