Page 11 of I Despise You

Chase’s friends laugh. Without thinking, I get up as Chase stands face-to-face with the guy.

“No.” Vanessa shoots up to her feet and blocks my way. “It’s none of your business.”

Brittany is just watching us with interest as she chews her food.

“He’s crying!” someone shouts.

“Crybaby!”

“Yeah, go cry to your momma!”

I focus back on Chase and the guy, just as the guy manages to break through the tight ring Chase’s friends have made and runs out of the cafeteria.

As soon as the guy is out of sight, everyone returns back to their tables, as if nothing happened.

“You have a lot to learn about how things work here,” Vanessa says.

Yeah, I guess so.

Chase is a bully.

That’s the thing I’ve just learned.

I’m not getting that photo back, am I?

“He gets away with pretty much anything,” Vanessa adds, shaking her head. “So like I said, stay away from him. You don’t want to become one of his targets. It’s not worth it. He can make your life a living hell.”

When I glance at Chase again, he looks straight at me, and my stomach tightens. His eyes linger for a few moments, and then he takes a huge bite of his burger.

He’s like a rabid wolf.

Ready to tear everyone apart.

And he also happens to be my main competition for the scholarship.

Just fucking amazing.

“You’re overreacting.” Brittany turns to Vanessa. “Chase might be an arrogant asshole, but that doesn’t mean you should scare the hell out of our new girl.”

Vanessa opens her mouth, but Brittany lifts her finger to shush her.

“Forget about him,” Brittany says. “No more talk about Chase. He’s irrelevant, okay?”

Vanessa presses her lips into a tight line, but she doesn’t mention Chase again. We eat our food in silence, and all I want is to win that scholarship even more, just to see Chase’s face once I do it.

I know it won’t be easy, but I’m willing to do my best. It’s not like I have anything else to do except completely focus on studying and reaching the spot that’s only reserved for the best.

***

IPICK UP MY PILLOWand adjust it so I can get comfortable and get some sleep. It’s been a long day, and I don’t want to think about anything anymore.

Seeing my sisters and mom during our video chat almost made me burst into tears, but I don’t want my mom to know that my first day at Richerville Prep was anything but perfect, so I kept a wide smile on my face the entire time and focused on telling her how awesome the school is.

A knock on the door startles me. I’m wearing only my Mickey Mouse pajama top and shorts, but whatever Vanessa needs, I’m sure it has to be important, so I drag myself to the door.

When I open it, my eyes widen and I almost slam it shut.

Chase is looking at me with a broad smile on his face, his gaze exploring my body, and I don’t like that my flimsy PJs are the only thing covering me.