Page 14 (1/2)

Back in the girls’ locker roo had yrabbed a towel from my locker, then darted to the deserted showers

The water, even when turned to full hot, was barely war to h my blood and , but I ignored it, standing under the tepid water, letting it spray the top ofafter my skin had turned prunelike rinkles, I turned off the shorapped the towel aroundbody, and went to my locker

My clothes were exactly where I’d left the puddles on the locker roos into the cold, stiff fabric Then I grabbed ht my eye--a burst of color I held the shirt up

My heart dropped to my stoiant scarlet letter A, paint fuht of Hester Prynne froht of the A that marked her as an adulterer for everyone to see I had been marked, too I studied the A on my shirt and my blood started to boil

Absolutely furious, I threw the T-shirt onto the bench There was no freaking way I was going to wear it I’d wear ot close enough to sasped It was eym shorts, not even my backpack--was in it

I sat heavily on the locker rooone I double-checked the nus had been stolen

I looked down at y white bra and low-rise jeans I couldn’t go out into the halls wearing that, so I grabbed the black shirt and turned it inside out

As I pulled it over h Even inside out the A was visible I felt branded

My shoes and socks, still soaked, sent a shiver throughto cover my scarlet letter, I folded ym, out into the cafeteria-food-scented hall I stared atthe sides ofhoed with relief as the doors ca beside them Mike Williams from track stepped in front of the doors and folded his arms over his thick chest I knew the look in his surly brown eyes all too well He was not going to let ht

My steps slowed and I let ht my way past hiot a solid punch in before he did … I perched on the balls of ritted ht hi that I could almost taste it

A bell blared

Bodies filled the hall A horde of hungry students stood between me and the freedo me and the chatter in the hall died down to the swish of whispers Everyone stopped walking and stared, pointing to the scarlet letter onfor h pealed through the quiet hall, sending a fresh shiver down my spine

"Didn’t I tell you?" a female voice said "She’s a prostitute Has been picked up by the police for streetwalking more times than I can count on bothin spite of the black bruise circling her eye My hands balled into angry fists "Yep She is a whore A parentless, streetwalking, professional whore who can’t keep her clothes on Just look at the letter on her shirt" Danni s

"Leave her alone, Danni" Yana pushed through the crowd, her eyes locked on mine Danni stepped in front of her and blocked her way

"Get out of here, little squaw This has nothing to do with you"

Yana shoved Danni, but a guy I didn’t know grabbed Yana, yanking her into the crowd It didn’t ht, she was out of luck Not even the satisfaction of pounding her face in again could induce h the crowd to stand in front ofunder her ar with papers The sight of it ether I pinched htmare and about to wake up