Chapter 3

3

Before class that afternoon, Brittany passed Jake's desk.

The next second, she gasped and snatched a pink envelope like it was contaminated.

Brittany held it up for everyone to see.

"Seriously? Who even writes letters anymore?"

Jake wasn't there.

The class started gossiping.

A girl in the back, all bitter, said, "Who wrote that? Doesn't she know Jake's Ivy League material? Why bother him with this crap now?"

Brittany walked over to her. "Here, you read it."

The girl didn't hesitate. She ripped open the letter.

I stood up. "Isn't it kinda wrong to read someone else's letter?"

Brittany sneered at me. "Why are you so nervous, Sarah? You didn't write it, did you?"

Before I could answer, Ashley jumped in.

"It's okay, Sarah. Never mind."

Like if I tried to stop it, I'd be guilty as hell.

The girl scanned the letter and started reading in a mocking voice. "Dear Jake, I've had a crush on you forever. Do you ever get butterflies? Every morning when I wake up..."

"But at least I like you, right?"

She frowned. "It's signed...Ashley?"

Ashley jumped up.

"No way! I didn't write that!"

She was pale, and her eyes were full of hatred.

Just then, Jake walked into class, his face like thunder. He looked around and said one word: "Pathetic."

He ripped the letter to shreds and threw it in the trash in front of everyone.

The class booed.

"Wow, Ashley. I thought you were so innocent."

"Yeah, right. You said you didn't care about hot guys. What a liar."

Ashley cornered me after school.

"Sarah, why did you do that?"

She grabbed my backpack and wouldn't let go.

I sighed and put on my sweetest face. "I don't know what happened! You usually get, like, a D on your essays, so I figured the letter needed some help. I just wanted to help you! I swear!"

She eyed me suspiciously. "You didn't read mine, did you?"

"Of course not!"

I kept my gaze steady.

Back then, because the letter had my name on it, Ashley's sappy words made me the joke of the school.

"Look at the valedictorian! So innocent! Who knew she had such dirty thoughts?"

"She wants to 'cuddle him in her dreams!' How gross!"

I got bullied for weeks.

Dead rats in my locker...

Forced to drink filthy water...

That was just the beginning.

Ashley came to comfort me.

I covered up the rat in my locker, afraid to scare her, and told her I was fine.

Ashley was all fake-tears. "Should we tell Mom and Dad? Get them to come to the school?"

I shook my head. "They're busy. It's just...a month to go. I can handle it. After the SATs, it'll be over."

I was too blind to see the glee in her eyes.

Ashley wasn't about to let me off that easy.