32 Payback time …

L

A wave of apprehension washed over me .

There was something in his gaze that sent a chill down my spine .

His eyes , dark and prating , seemed to look right through me as if he knew secrets about me that even I ,

didn’t know .

He looked like he could be a businessman or

something else … I couldn’t say but what unsettled me more was how he stared at me , as if he had been * waiting for me to notice him .

I felt my pulse quicken

a quick tremor passed through m

my head , I wanted to look away but I just cou.

’t why was he

here ? Was he a new teacher ?

–

Suddenly , something said sharply in my ear , startling me as I bolted up from my seat .

“ LOOK AWAY ! ”

I finally managed to tear my eyes away from the man , only to notice I was standing and everyone in my ss was staring at me strangely including Mrs Caldwell

32 Payback time ….

and Ms.

Hayley .

“ Is everything alright , L ? ” Mrs Caldwell asked eyeing me strangely .

“ You look like you’ve just seen a ghost .

”

My eyes went back to the entrance of the door , the man was still there and his eyes were still on me .

I

wanted to tell the teachers what I saw but they were humans and I could be the only one seeing it , I didn’t want them to think I was stupid .

“ I … ” I trailed off stuttering .

“ There’s an empty seat next to me and I was wondering if the new student would like to sit here ,” I said quickly with a strained smile .

“ That’s so sweet of you , L ! Ms Hayley beamed with pride and turned to the man at the door “ I told you Mr Dupree , our school is ‘ the best  or your son , you don’t have to worry about him fitting in .

”

The man nodded but didn’t say anything .

“ Xander , go ahead and take the empty seat next to L and let’s go back to our teaching .

”

Xander nodded and waved at the man by the door

before making his way towards me .

I forced myself not to look at the mysterious man by the door .

Read thetest and free novels at .Com/a

The man

19:24

2/0

32 Payback me .

couldn’t be his father – he looked far too young and Xander seemed like my age .

Xander finally slid into the empty desk beside me .

The man by the door lingered for a moment longer , his eyes still on me , before he turned and left .

I exhaled slowly , realizing I had been holding my breath .

Something about that man wasn’t right .

And Xander – I turned to look at my new ssmate and caught him looking at me .

“ Hi ! ” I murmured , blushing at being caught before I quickly turned away .

“ There was something off about him , too , though I

couldn’t quite figure out what .

W

lesson , discussing , with me bare

ntinued the

ontributing

anything .

Xander on the other hand remained aloof ,

drumming his hand on his desk without looking at Mrs.

Caldwell .

“ Xander ! ” Mrs Caldwell suddenly called his attention , though her smile seemed a little strained .

Could she feel it too ? I wondered .

“ We’re discussing Margaret Atwood’s “ The Handmaid’s Tale ‘ .

I don’t suppose you’ve

read it ? ”

32 Payback time …

His lips curled into a faint smirk .

“ I’ve read it , ” he said , his voice low and smooth .

“ It’s a good book , but it’s a little too … idealistic , don’t you think ? Offred was a fool .

She should have known better than to chase a dream that was never real in the first ce .

”

My brows furrowed .

There was something strange about the way he said it , as though he wasn’t just talking about the book as if he was speaking from

–

experience .

His words made me uneasy , though I couldn’t exin why .

Mrs Caldwell was caught unawares , she just stared at Xander for a few seconds before turning back to the lesson .

The ss continued , but my focus wavered .

My thoughts kept drifting back to ler , to the strange man – Mr Dupree who had stared at me so intensely and to the feeling that something was about to change .

My mind flitted to the dream I had when I was sick , and I wondered if it had to do with any of this .

I reminded myself to tell Nanny and ask her for interpretation today .

As the bell rang , signalling the end of ss , I gathered my things , my mind still racing

something wasing , I could feel it …

10:24 :

32 Payback time …

I made my way to the student cafeteria for lunch .

It was the first time I had ever dared to step foot inside .

In the past , I had always eaten my lunch either in the bathroom or outside by the field , too afraid of being bullied .

I entered the bustling cafeteria , picked up a tray of food , and made my way to an empty table .

I could feel eyes following me but I didn’t care .

Finally , I settled on an empty table near the centre of the room .

As I sat down , their whispers reached my ears .

“ Is that really L ? ”

.

“ What happened to her ? ”

“ She looks … different .

”

I ignored them , focusing on my food .

I had just taken .

bite of my sandwich when a familiar voice cut through the whispers .

“ Well , well , well , ” Marissa said , her voice dripping with mockery “ Look who’s finally decided to grace us with her presence .

To join the rest of us in the cafeteria .

”

I didn’t look up from my food .

I calmly took another bite , the room was now quiet as everyone turned to

atore at 110

32 Payback time ….

“ Hey ! ” Marissa snapped , mming her hand down on the table .

“ I’m talking to you .

What’s the matter ? ”

I looked up at her now .

She was standing before me , nked by her usual group of friends .

Her eyes raked over me , a sneer twisting her perfectly glossed lips .

“ What do you want , Marissa ? ” I sighed “ Don’t you know it’s bad table etiquette to interrupt someone eating ? ”

“ What ! ” she scoffed “ You must have a lot of nerve , L , showing up like this and speaking to me in that manner .

Did you think wearing some cheap new clothes or putting oil in your hair is going to change

anything ? No darling , you’re still the same freak you’ve always been .

”

The girls with her giggled , the filling the Cafeteria .

gh – pitchedughter

One of them , chimed in .

“ Yeah , you can change your clothes all you want , but you’ll never stop being the

school weirdo .

”

I ignored them and continued eating my sandwich .

I could feel anger bubbling up inside me , but it was different now controlled , focused .

I was no longer

–

Фрушар тити

the helpless victim they expected me to be .

When Marissa saw I was barely reacting to them and apparently frustrated decided to escte things .

With a dramatic flourish , she picked up her used food tray and dumped its contents onto my food .

Her friends .

followed suit .

giggling as they emptied their trays into my food .

“ Oops , Marissa said with feigned remorse .

“ Looks like you won’t be eating in here after all .

Why don’t you run along to your usual spot in the toilets ? ”

In the past , this would have been the moment where I fled , tears in my eyes with their cruelughter following me .

But not today .

Today , I was different …

With deliberate slowness , I s up .

I picked up my tray , now a mess of mingled food and looked at Marissa directly in the eye .

Her smug expression faltered as I held her gaze .

“ You know , Marissa , ” I said coolly , “ I’ve been thinking about youtely .

About how small and insignificant you are and I was going to forgive you , truly … but I guess you do not deserve it .

”

Before Marissa could respond , I tipped my tray

32 Payback time

dumped some food from my tray over her head .

Gasps .

and shocked exmations filled the air as food dripped down Marissa’s perfectly styled hair and designer

clothes .

“ What the hell ?! ” she shrieked , stumbling backwards .

I didn’t stop there .

I turned to her friends , who stood frozen in shock and emptied the rest of the food over them as well .

The cafeteria had fallen into silence , as

everyone stared at me .

“ Listen carefully , Marissa , ” I turned back to her .

She was trying to wipe food from her face .

“ This is thest day you’ll ever try to offend or bully me .

Your father is a mere Gamma .

How dare you think you have the right

to torment me ? ”

Her face turned bright red as she tried to talk but I pressed on , not giving her a chance to interrupt .

“ I’ve faced things you couldn’t even imagine and survived , Marissa .

Your petty attempts at bullying

insults me .

”

Then I turned to the address of the rest of the cafeteria , my eyes sweeping over the shocked faces of my ssmates .

C

32 Payback time ….

“ Let me make something clear to all of you .

If you don’t want to end up like Marissa and her friends here , I suggest you mind your business from now on .

I’ll be in senior ss next year , and then I’ll be gone for good .

But until then , if any of you so much as looks at me the wrong way , you’ll regret it .

Do I make myself clear ? This is your final warning .

”

I straightened my shoulders , grabbed my backpack and strode towards the exit .

As I reached the door , I paused and looked back over my shoulder .

“ Oh , and Marissa ? You might want to clean yourself up .

That really doesn’t suit you .

”

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