Chapter 4
Alice leaned her back against the brick wall that was just outside of school property. She should have followed Bella to English class, but there was no way she was going to risk failing another test.
Of course, the question of if skipping class was better, was an entirely different story.
Both options had the potential to blow up in her face if she went home, which was part of the reason she was planning to avoid such a thing for as long as she possibly could.
Besides, it wasn't like Cynthia ever noticed when she was gone.
She still wasn't sure how to define her parental situation. Her dad had never been in the picture – dead as far as she knew – and her mom died when she'd still been a baby. Her step-dad had eventually married Cynthia only to be killed in a car accident about a year later. So, essentially, Cynthia was her step-mom once removed.
It probably had quite a bit to do with why she refused to treat the woman with any amount of authority.
Still, she knew it could be worse.
There was plenty of worse going on in the school; from the track marks on Alistair's arms to the anger issues Emmett had to the bruises that were only noticeable on Sasha's body in the girl's locker room... Alice knew she was lucky.
She just had to fend for herself seven days a week and avoid going home as much as possible.
Alice pulled out her lighter, lighting up the cigarette she'd gotten from Jasper at the same time that she'd gotten the gum.