They both stare at me for a moment and then Mr. Stanfield nods. “You heard him, Abigail. You have a few weeks to get your wrist healed. If you’re still here by the time it’s healed then you can continue to compete for the internship. If not, then Trinity Prep will have done a great job of weeding out someone who doesn’t belong.”
Chapter Twenty
Days go by quickly and uneventfully. Carefully, I break my pills into even smaller doses and take them well before I’m going to bed to ensure that I can sleep through the pain but still wake up before I’m going to be late.
It’s working well, but that seems to be the only thing that I have going for me. Madeline still won’t talk to me. Alice makes it a point to stare at me from across the cafeteria, but so far she hasn’t approached me. Quinn…well, Quinn won’t talk to me. He won’t look at me. It’s like I don’t exist to him or the rest of the class.
Until today. Friday.
I’m so ready for the week to be over, but I pull on some clothes and head down to the cafeteria early so that I can eat without people staring at me. For the first time, my wrist isn’t absolutely killing me, and I take that as a good sign that the rest of the day is going to be awesome.
In fact, I’m whistling as I turn the corner to the cafeteria. I’m still in a splint, but my wrist doesn’t ache like it used to. My thoughts feel clearer and brighter than they have in the past. Things are definitely looking up for me.
But then I stop dead in my tracks. Hung over the doors to the cafeteria is a huge banner. It’s obviously homemade, but the size and the appearance aren’t what give me pause. It’s what it says.
OPEN SEASON BEGINS
Underneath the banner is a picture of me. It’s my picture that I sent in as a part of my application. I have no idea how someone got a hold of it, but I’m up there on the wall under a banner that talks about open season beginning.
I suddenly feel very chilled and I consider going back to my room until class starts, but there’s no way that I’m going to make it through this day without something in my stomach.
Taking a deep breath, I push open the double doors and head inside. Immediately, the chatter stops, and everyone turns to look at me. Smiling nervously, I walk to get some food and then head to the table where I’ve been eating by myself – in the corner, away from everyone.
Before I reach it, though, Alice walks up to me. “What the hell are you doing here?” She asks. It’s the first time that a student has willingly spoken to me all week long, and I pause for a moment, trying to figure out what’s going on.
“Just getting breakfast,” I tell her, but before I can say anything else, her hand darts out and smacks the bottom of my tray. I don’t have a good grip on it with just my left hand, and it immediately flies out of my hand, food smacking me in the face before clattering to the floor.
“You don’t eat here anymore. Wanna know why? Because you don’t fucking belong here. Don’t you remember our first little meeting in the bathroom, Abigail? Nothing’s changed except that now everyone else knows how bad you suck.” Alice grins at me and steps back a bit from the milk that is slowly pooling on the floor.
“Abigail sucks!” I don’t know the voice that called out, but when I turn to see who it is, Alice disappears from in front of me and everyone starts laughing. Something hard hits me in the back. An apple, maybe, and I reach up to rub the stop, but before I can, other students throw things.
Banana peels.
Bits of toast.
A full cup of juice.
I throw up my arms to protect my face, but the first direct shot that hits my wrist has me gasping in pain. “Stop it!” I scream, but everyone only laughs. They’re chanting “Abigail sucks!” and taking turns launching their food at me.
Turning, I run from the cafeteria, trying to keep from crying. I’m dripping with food and my clothes stink. Once the doors close behind me, I turn and look through the window. The entire class is in there, laughing and cheering.
Open season.
I get it now.
Taking a shuddering breath, I turn around, and gasp when I see Quinn behind me. Hardening my face is hard. I want to cry, but there’s no way that I can do that in front of him. Not after what just happened. Not because I’m sure that he’s the one who’s behind it.
“You happy now? The entire class has turned against me.” My voice is shaky and my face hot, but I don’t back down. “Do you honestly think that this is going to make me leave the school? What the hell is wrong with you? And why now? I thought that everyone hated me but they were just going to leave me alone!”
He shrugs and closes the gap between us, making my body start to ache for his touch. It’s fucked up, and I know it, but I want his hands on me. It would make me feel grounded, and like someone actually saw me and cared for me, even though I know that it wouldn’t be real.
Nothing about how he makes me feel is real, and as long as I remember that, I’m going to be okay.
“Sweet, stupid, little Abigail. Did you not get it? You need to leave or you’re going to end up with the same fate as poor Javier Morgan,” Quinn says, reaching out and brushing some food from my cheek. I shiver and pull back at his touch, but he doesn’t look surprised or offended.
That’s the name again. He and
