Page 40 of Abyss

I huff. “Then I’m going with you. I’m not letting you go—”

“No, you’re not, Kav. This doesn’t concern you.”

“I don’t care. I’m—”

“Ms. Jain, is there something you’d like to share with the rest of the class that is more important than parametric and polar curves?” Ms. DeLaney’s voice rings across the sounds of papers shuffling, kids turning around in their seats to face me and Nathan curiously.

I shake my head, wishing I could scream,“Yes, there is something more fucking important,”but I can’t.

I zone out for the rest of class, staring at Nathan’s profile, hoping my sixteen-year-old brain will magically come up with an answer.

I’m doing the same thing during our last period, wondering where the hell Vance is planning to take Nathan. Hoping that, somewhere inside his vampire-looking visage, he has a soul, some humanity.

Right around the middle of last period, I’ve decided to go along with Nathan to wherever it is Vance is taking him. I don’t care if Nathan doesn’t want me to. If he’s my ride-or-die, then I’m his, too, aren’t I?

The thought of going along makes me feel better—maybe I can convince the assholes to take it easy, or maybe I can even sneak a few pictures for evidence of whatever they’re doing.

Pulling out my phone conspicuously, making sure Mr. Patterson, our chemistry teacher, is still turned toward the board, I quickly text Mom, letting her know I won't need a ride today and that I’ll be going to help our art teacher clean up the classroom and set up fresh supplies for tomorrow. Mom will buy the lie, given I was Ms. Ahmad’s favorite art student.

I’m just putting my phone back when a folded note is placed on my desk by the girl sitting in front of me.

My brows knit as I pick it up to read it.

Meet me near the storage rooms in the basement at four-thirty. I think I know how to help your friend. I don’t want to see him get hurt. -JA

The only person the initials could belong to, and who would know the context for what’s going on, is Josephine Andrews. I blink at the words, rereading them a couple of more times. Why would she want to help Nathan?

I raise my head, looking around the classroom. Is this a trap?

Why would she tell me to meet her in the basement? Perhaps to ensure no one sees us, since kids hardly go down there without teacher instruction. But Josephine’s older sister is one of the freshman history teachers, so maybe she swiped her keycard?

Tapping the girl in front of me, I wait for her to turn around before whispering, “Who gave this to you?”

“Aster,” she replies before turning back around. It’s clear from her body language she doesn’t want any more questions.

Aster is one of Josephine’s minions, so I suppose my assumption for the initials checks out. Aster isn’t someone I loathe quite as much as Josephine and Paulina, but I wouldn’t say we’re friendly with each other, either.

Hell, there aren’t many in this school whoarefriendly with me.

I haven’t ever been physically bullied here, thankfully. I haven’t had girls gang up on me or my clothes stolen out of the girls’ locker room.

But the cuts that inflict the deepest wounds aren’t meant for the eyes. They’re hidden behind cruel words that echo in the quiet of the night, that grate at the depths of your soul, reminding you of how little you’re worth.

“Street trash.”

“Ugly heifer. Have you seen how her thighs jiggle when she walks? Gross.”

“Heard her dad makes the same amount as our lawn guy.”

“Heard her and her little brother have to share a room. Incest much?”

Not overthinking the reasons behind the note, I rush out of class. Placing my books inside my locker, I walk down to the basement floor, standing in front of a door that can only be unlocked with a special keycard.

I wiggle the locked knob, wondering how I’m supposed to get inside, when the door swings open. It’s not just Josephine on the other side, but Paulina, too.

I eye them warily, about to speak, when a head-throttling punch has me flying backward. The shockwaves of pain barely register as I succumb to unconsciousness.

God, why do I feel so out of it? What the hell happened?

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