Chapter 2

I stared at the message, a million things running through my mind pounding. My eyes scanned the screen for what seemed like hours.

My first thought was, obviously, Heather, since who the hell else would send this? Seriously. But Heather had been in Chicago for the past three weeks for a cheerleading tournament in Dallas.

That should have been reassuring, but somehow it made me feel worse.

Like, there's ANOTHER person who hates me?! Great, just what I needed.

I dialed up Marissa's house and spoke a million miles per minute.

"Dude. I'm dying you have no freaking idea. Can you come over like now? I'll tell you the full story once you get here, but please please please bring Advil. Oh, and Tampax. I'm a little low on supply, if you know what I'm saying. Get the medium flow size. Oh fuck, I'm such a hot mess just...please."

I said this all in one breath, and was gasping for air at the end of it.

But there was no Marissa at the end of the line promising to rush here right away.

After a few minutes, all I could hear was SNICKERING.

After a few minutes, MIKEY MCKENZE finally decided that THIS was the best time to speak up.

"So, how many grams is your flow again?" He cackled more, doubling over in giggles.

My hand flew up to my forehead. I was so caught up in my situation that I hadn't stopped to figure out who the heck I was talking to.

"Mikey," I said slowly with clenched teeth, "put your sister on. the. phone."

Mikey could barely get the words out, he was laughing so hard. "Sorry...Marissa...isn't..here."

"Do you know when she'll get back?"

"No. And I'm technically not allowed to be on the phone right now. Bye Sam! Hope your...problems are sorted out!"

"MIKEY I SWEAR IF YOU HANG UP THIS PHONE I WILL HUNT YOU DOWN AND A POOL OF BLOOD WILL BE ALL THAT'S LEFT OF YOU."

Mikey let out a short snort. "That's ok, Sammy," he said, "I think you've already got enough BLOODY issues as it is."

"I WILL TEAR OUT YOUR INNERMOST - "

Click.

I looked down at the phone. Was it something I said?

Well that got me nowhere. And I'll probably be isolated from the McKenze house for a while.

The next day went by so slowly. I couldn't believe I would actually have to end things with Casey. Looking both ways down the hallway and eating lunch alone in the library was the only way I wouldn't happen to run into him. Or the person who had found that picture.

At the end of the day, I was trudging home when I remembered that Casey was going to pick me up tonight at 7. I paled, as I would have to tell him sooner than I had hoped. I raced into Grams' apartment and slammed the door, thinking and regretting what was going to happen later tonight.

At 6:45, I slapped on my baggiest sweatpants and wrinkliest shirt. I wanted to make myself look as UNpresentable as possible to soften the blow. As I stared in the mirror at my uncombed hair and undereye bags from losing sleep over this texter person, I decided I'd have to go through with it.

But when the doorbell rang, I faltered and my voice was caught halfway up my throat. THIS COULDN'T BE HAPPENING NOW.

I opened the door, and sure enough there was Casey.

We went out to his car, and he asked me where I wanted to go. I shrugged.

"Ok...I heard the bowling alley is open late on Fridays."

I shook my head as Casey turned the corner and sped past a green light.

"All right, what about mini golf? Hey, are you ok?"

"Casey, I don't think we should."

"Not in the mood for golfing, huh? Maybe we could - "

"No, that's not it. I don't think we should see each other anymore."

Casey stopped talking abruptly. He ran a red light, pulled into a gas station parking spot, and slammed on the breaks.

"What?"

I didn't meet his eyes and took a deep breath. "I'll come by to pick up my stuff tomorrow," I mumbled. I wanted to throw myself at him right then and scream that this wasn't my fault.

I stepped out of his car to be assaulted by the cold, biting wind. I ignored him calling my name out.

Ping.

A text appeared on my phone. My eyes shifted down.

Congrats, Sams! I guess that picture will be stored for a little longer. Good job by the way; obedience is a virtue. I hope you sleep well tonight. Because I bet that sofas at the Senior Highrise are SO uncomfortable.

A/N: HOW WAS YOUR HALLOWEEN?! My friends and I raided the neighborhood of candy; omg I feel so bad because we beat all the little five year olds to the good houses and left barely anything...
Hahah we also went to Baskin Robbins and asked for like ten free samples and then left right after without getting anything. I'M SORRY WE CAN BE SUCH JERKS TO SOCIETY SOMETIMES OOPS.

What did you guys go as? I went as a gypsy but it was so hard to get my hair into place because WAVY HAIR IS THE HARDEST THING TO MANAGE EVER. CAN ANYONE ELSE UNDERSTAND THIS WITH ME?

Reviews are much appreciated :) Please accompany your review with a random letter and a number between 100 and 300. Thankssss I'll try to update Primaddona or Best Revenge sometime next week. I'll only update when someone else updates though hahah there's my blackmail for you!

Actually I'll probably cave anyway but whatever byeeee