Page 27 (1/2)

"Did you send it? That was really you?"

I nod "Yeah"

"So it’s all true?"

I nod again and she stands there, shocked If I can’t see thisI watch Chelsea’s mouth quirk as she enjoys this victory for…everyone Michael divides his gaze between both of us

"You’re a total bitch," she says in an ad tone, and then she hurries into school so she can spread the word: It was Regina, and it’s all true

"What was that?" Michael asks when she’s gone I can’t find the words to answer him, so I duck my head and make my way down the hall I’ new, but this is different Even he notices "What’s going on…?"

Bruce slaht, but his book bag hits the floor and his books go flying Before I can tell Bruce he’s an asshole, he’s on ers, red-faced And I can’t help it: I s bitch, Afton"

He kicks Michael’s books, sending them into the lockers A modest croitnesses the whole scene, and soon the halls are buzzing, but the buzzing sounds very, very confused

"Okay, tellthe books back into his bag He catches sight of so beyond me I half-turn and spot Liz "Don’t ," I tell hiets this look on his face, like it can’t be good even though it’s good, it’s great, it’s the best I open my mouth to tell him, but then before I can answer so ina Afton! Last night--"

This is so awesoirls’ rooether It used to be I had to prep h the halls

Now I have to try not to look so high

It’s a total high I stare at my reflection in the es I run the water really cold and dab at my face and hands I’m hot

One of the stall doors opens and startles me I bite the inside ofthis out all over school, but I can’t Not yet And it’s Liz, so I don’t feel like s anymore anyway She stares at me in the mirror and I turn the water off I dry my hands and head for the door

"I can’t believe you had it in you," she says at my back

I pause "Thanks"

"That wasn’t a coh for you" I face her "That’s okay But they got what they deserved"

"And what did you deserve?" she asks "Charie called uess"

"Is that what everyone thinks?" I ask

"Oh, they still hate you," she says "But they hate Anna o to the cafeteria The center table is devoid of girls Josh, Henry, and Bruce are there, trying to uphold what’s left of their popularity Without Anna, they’re nothing I find Michael at the back, as usual

"They’ve been dogging uys I take my seat across from him "Every ti to see so leveled at us, but the three of the to you?" I ask He shakes his head "They probably just want to tell Anna they weren’t totally useless today"

And then I look again I can’t help it They’re just there, and the table is totally dead, and it’s a because I did that and no one’s ever done that before I turn back to Michael The bell separated us before I could find out how he felt about it, and the way he’s staring at me, I’m not sure I want to find out

"Smile," he says after a minute

"What?"

"I can tell you want to do it," he says

I flush and look away "You say that like it’s a bad thing" When he doesn’t iets my back up "They deserve it, Michael You can’t tell et your ass kicked," he says

I can feel eyes ondifferent about it Like, maybe they hate me, but I’m cool It feels cool This is mine

"No, I’m not," I say, and then I point "Look at that table, Michael I have them"

"But ould you want them?" he asks

It’s not an accusation; it’s worse There’s discomfort in his voice and…disappointment It hurts in a weird way because I don’t knohat that means They didn’t deserve it? He can’t think that They deserved it They deserve it I could do it again and again and again and they’d deserve it each time For what they did to me

"Why do you want to make et why you have to feel so good about it"