Page 29 (1/2)

Nothing to lose Those words kept ringing inside herher, as Asa strolled away

Verlaine tried to distract herself and take part in journalism class, but that went about as well as it usually did "So, we should try to find out what Mrs Purdhy and Riley have in common Did Riley come to see her, maybe? You know, talk to an old teacher? This could be soht to see if there have been any reports of illnesses there that involve weird blackstuff"

It was like she was sitting in a bell jar, none of her words escaping Desi Sheremata, who had inexplicably been na Rod site, pulled up a sae that was all old photos of Riley Bender from previous years’ annuals The headline, centered over a picture of Riley in her ho we could have a text box where people write in their good wishes for Riley, you know?"

Everyone else nodded and sreat plan instead of not journalism at all Mr Davis only said, "We’ll want to edy, people will troll"

Especially with a tragedy People seelier in response to real emotions, at least in Verlaine’s experience Because nobody everunless they wanted toto lose

Verlaine raised her hand "What about the investigative piece on the Halloween carnival? We’re still running it, right?"

"Nobody actually got hurt," Desi huffed "So it’s kind of old news"

"It wasn’t even teeks ago!" Okay, nobody else here knew it had actually been the work of one of hell’s e fire in thedid

Desi folded her arms "I think you’re more interested in a byline than in what happens to Riley Bender"

This was pretty iven that Verlaine was one of the only people trying to deal with the person actually responsible for hurting Riley--but she couldn’t say that Even if she did, nobody would listen Instead she scrunched down in her desk and folded her arms in front of her chest A few people snickered, but then Mr Davis got the about which pictures of Riley would be best for theto try to cover the not-quite-an-ax-massacre at town hall Only in this room did atteht she only cared about a byline? As if anybody would have paid attention to her regardless Verlaine only wanted people to start thinking about hoeird Captive’s Sound actually was, to recognize that all these events were part of a larger, scarier pattern But Elizabeth’s ic wouldn’t let them see Verlaine for herself

Nobody pays any attention to anything I do, no ood it is Even my best friends hardly notice me--and I know they don’t ic works on theht as well not even talk Or show up

Or exist

That was usually the point where Verlaine reined herself in Where she told herself that everything could change, that soe and people would be nicer Thinking about college and the better life she could create for herself there was the only way she h