Page 63 of Psycho

Fuck.

I looked around as my vision clouded over, and the room spun. I’d never had a panic attack before, but I was sure this was what I was experiencing.

I found the girl’s bathroom in the corner and rushed in, gulping in as much air as possible, and still, that didn’t seem to be enough.

I braced my hands on the edge of the sink and leaned in a little, focusing on my reflection in the mirror, taking in my grandma’s green eyes looking at me.

I didn’t look like either of my parents. Perhaps a combination of the two, but looking at me and at them, and no one would believe they made me.

That was a good thing, because the alternative was to look like one of them, and I didn’t want to see either of their faces in the mirror.

I had my grandma’s eyes.

I focused on that.

I took a deep breath and held it there before letting it out slowly.

Then again.

And again.

Again…

I closed my eyes when I felt my heart calming a bit.

I could do this.

It was just a change to the plan, but it was there all along. I could do this.

I closed my eyes just as the warning bell rang, startling me out of my thoughts. I didn’t realize I had been here for so long.

I was about to leave when the doors opened, and three girls entered.

I took a step back when I recognized them, wondering what the hell I was supposed to do now that I was trapped in the small space with Jordy and her little goons.

They found me right away, and Jordy smirked.

I stepped back, and they took a step forward, almost caging me in the corner.

I glared at each of them.

“Let me pass.”

Jordy laughed, ignoring my words. “Oh, look. It’s Lainey. What are you doing in here? Are you waiting for your next client?”

I clenched my jaw but didn’t say anything.

“Like mother, like daughter.”

I tried to shove past her and the second girl she was with—Nyla Lucas—but they didn’t break, pushing me back toward the sink.

I glared at every one of them, even as my heart was pounding in my chest.

“I saw your ride this morning. Nice.”

She nodded, and her tone suggesting she thought it was anything butnice.

“Is he your newest client? What happened to that stoner kid who usually drove you to school?” Nicole asked—the third person who made up this vicious trio.

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