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"Look at the angry little pig," he said Gales of laughter chimed in froain, fist cocked, eyes s My fist connected His jaw s wobbled An astonished look caht into the same puddle he’d putwent blurry, which was odd because it usually happened while I had the headache I fuentle hand touched lasses into it I put the to see Katie sasp as the Goth girl came into focus

Katie hovered over Brad, tears in her eyes She put his head in her lap and smoothed his cropped hair Mythat asshole? I almost screamed in frustration

Harry and Mark walked up

"Holy crap, hter "Didn’t think you had it in you"

"I hope it was entertaining," I growled

Harry sed at him and knocked hireat friends," I said, shouting for everyone to hear "People I can count on when so the crap out of me"

Mark placed himself between me and Harry "What the hell, Justin?"

Harry leapt to his feet, pushed past Mark, and shoved me "You idiot," he spat "You never had a chance with Katie You’re just a delusional nerd like the rest of us"

Hot tears threatened to break loose but I fought theive these people the satisfaction of seeing lanced at Katie as she helped Brad off the ground She didn’t even look at h She stood near the entrance, a curious expression on her face as students filed inside the school now that the spectacle was over It as could ever look sympathetic I didn’t want her syer loser than me Her devil-ed for the attention she craved Her reality probably included an abusive faround and e causedelse stupid I cli wheel with the palo hoe clothes Grio inside looking like this

I screeched out of the parking lot but didn’t make it far before a fat tear clouded ht the sudden storry tears that threatened to break loose I would not cry, dammit I looked at myself in the rear-view lo froor, destined to be the untouchable low man on the totem pole forever Life had been so easy on ood friends, and harmless nerdly pursuits It was like God had come down and kickedbuavemoney from someone who didn’t look as psychotic as I did

I pulled out my cell phone It took h to compose a text to Katie

Are you okay?

I waited and waited for her response Minutes ticked by and nothing Stupid hussy How could she help that jerk after what he’d done to her? I screae and balled up irl that I craved so badly I almost heard the snap as htened Finally, she’d responded Instead, it was a text fro e to s the steering wheel as if it were the last thing preventinginto a ravine There had to be a poe informedwheel and drove to a Quick Trip gas station before I coallon counter slowly ticked upward and the dollar aht my ear I looked at the due Rottweiler snarled at a huddled black form trapped between a brownthe refuse area I took a few cautious steps forward until I could make out the black furry shape of a very perturbed cat It arched its back and hissed at the dog

The Rottweiler pounced The cat leapt back Huge slobbering jaws snapped on euys always have to pick on the little ones? Bullies like Brad and Nathan and this stupid dog were one and the saic inturned toward me, hackles raised, and bared its very sharp and very scary teeth It lunged forI shrieked and ju in an aard defensive gesture Soht in the nose with a loud crack He yelped and rolled on the ground The little black cat had ju the fray and see staggered dizzily nearby I was afraid the cat ht claw me but he settled into my arms and meowed happily as I raced forwhen it recovered