I continue to write my thoughts, not putting much thought on what I’m writing down or if it even makes sense. I click the side of my phone and see that I already have twenty percent charge on my battery.
That’s all that I needed. I turn on my cell and immediately call Candice.
She answers the phone with a tired voice. “Hello? Elle?” I look at the time and realize she was probably in a dead sleep when I call this early in the day.
“Sorry Candice. I just needed to talk to you.”
“Is everything okay?”
“Last night someone shot at me.”
I can hear Candice sitting up in her bed. “What the fuck?”
A knock on my bedroom door startles me. “Dearie, I have your food ready.”
“What’s happening?” Candice says confused.
“It’s just Marta.” I say standing up.
“Who the fuck is Marta?”
“She’s like a butler, kind of.” I open the door and Marta rolls in a cart with a silver tray on it.
Marta smiles at me endearingly. “It’s a steak, medium well. Anna says not to be shy today. Anything you want, dial three and she will pick up and make anything and everything.” I thank her before closing the door.
“Wait, did you say you were shot at?” Candice says completely confused. “And now you’re having a fucking steak?”
“I have so much to tell you.”
Candice laughs. “You’ve only been there for three days.”
“I know, and I have no clue where to start.” For some reason the thought of nachos enters my mind, and I ask Candice to hold on a minute.
“Why what’s happening now?” She asks.
“I’m going to order nachos from Anna. One second.” I pick up the bedroom phone and dial three.
Even though my cell isn’t near my ear, I can hear Candice perfectly clearly. “What the fuck is going on up there?”
Chapter 11
“Didn’t expect to see you here any more, fresh meat.” Selena says with a wide smile while walking past me in the food court. “Would have thought after your little adventure in the woods, you would have left Ryland for good, Pissy Pants.”
I look at Bryce and Danna. Word does travel fast. I have no clue how they even know what happened. It seems like my nickname around school has upgraded from Apple Pie, to Pissy Pants.
I ignore the bitch and continue to try and enjoy my sandwich.
One of Selena’s minions opens her mouth. “More like Shitty Pants. Instead of running through the woods at night like an animal, you should run your ass back to the ghetto.”
Bryce stands up. “You should probably shut your trap, Mary. Have I told you how your boyfriend and I are recent Facebook buddies? Wonder why he’s wanted to befriend the school’s only out of the closet guy out of nowhere.”
Mary looks at him with disgust. “Fuck off Bryce.”
He points a finger at her. “That’s exactly what I plan on doing. I’ll share some pictures when it goes down.”
The three witches leave without saying another word. Bryce continues to eat his lunch with his head up high.
Danna looks at him with an eyebrow raised. “You’re fucking Mary Shrill’s boyfriend, and I don’t know about it?”
He laughs. “I didn’t know she had one till after I said it. That will keep the bitch trio away for a bit.”
Danna smiles. “You wield your super gay powers so easily.” She looks at me. “So really, Elle, how are you doing?”
I look at her coldly. “Not everything is a story.”
Danna gets up and sits in the empty seat beside me. “Please, don’t think of me that way. I truly want to know how you’re doing, to make myself feel better. I worry about my friends.”
“Is that what I am?”
Danna looks at Bryce and he shakes his head. “Of course, you are.” She says. “Forever the Outsiders have just been Bryce and me. We need a recruit.”
Bryce laughs. “We need fresh meat in the club.”
“Do you guys seriously call yourself the Outsiders?” I ask.
Bryce nods his head. “I know this is technically your second day physically at school, but have you ever seen us talking to anybody besides each other?”
I smile. “I do now. Count me in the gang, but I feel like we need matching t-shirts that say Outsiders on them. It’s a sick gang name.”
The three of us make plans to commemorate our confirmed friendship by hanging out tonight after school. None of us can confirm what we will do though. Bryce says food must be involved. I ask if they can pick me up at the guest house, and Danna says they will be by around six.
“So, is there some sort of secret handshake the Outsiders have?” I ask.
“It’s on our to-do list as well.” Bryce says. “It took us a while to figure out the name.”
∞∞∞
I get ready to go out with the gang at the guesthouse. I realize in horror how few clothes I have. I can’t walk around in my school uniform out in the town. Then again, I now consider myself part of a group called the Outsiders, and that feels like something a member would do. I make a mental note to ask if they want to help me go shopping soon.
I’ve got a few hours to kill and decide to get a quick workout in the gym. Working out always calms me down. Although I feel much better today, I still get shaky thinking about what happened with Chase.
I wanted to run away from this town. I talked to Candice about it, and she immediately called me stupid for even thinking it. I told her about Chase and the shooting range incident. She asked me if there was any reason to not trust Chase in what he said. I didn’t really have any evidence.
I told her about Jaxson, and the pie festival. She thought it was funny. I should have guessed that would get to her sense of humor. She felt like Jaxson wasn’t trying to be
