Chapter 12
[Heard you were sick? You okay?][]
Heard? From who? And if he heard, why didn’t he come check on me?]
Oh right. He was busy with Madison.[]
I stared at those words for a long time. Didn’t text back.
What was I supposed to say?]
That I almost died? That I was in the hospital? That I needed him?]
Forget it. He wouldn’t care anyway. To him, I was just some parasite.[]
And parasites getting sick? That’s just normal, right?
The next day, I dragged myself to class feeling like hell.[]
Not because I loved learning, but because this teacher took attendance seriously. Miss one class and your grade was screwed.[]
The second I walked in, the whole room went weird.[]
Everyone stopped talking and stared at me. Then the whispers started.]
“The leech is here.“]]
“Heard she faked being sick to get Dylan’s attention last night.“]
“And he totally ignored her. Hilarious.”
“So pathetic. Even after all this, she won’t give up.“[]
I walked to my desk with zero expression on my face. Another lovely note was waiting for me.]
[Kill yourself, parasite!]]]
I swept it into the trash and pulled out my textbook.[]
Madison was sitting up front. She turned around looking all concerned. “Avery, you look awful. You feeling okay?“]
Her voice carried just enough for everyone to hear.[]
The whole class went silent, waiting for drama.]]
I looked up and stared her down for the first time. “Thanks to you, I’m fantastic.” My voice was rough but everyone caught it.[]
She blinked, then her face went all wounded. Tears started forming right on cue.[]
Trum Clingy Orphan‘ to Unbothered Queen. The Black Button Is Me llest Vavron
Chapter 12
“Avery, what’s that supposed to mean? I’m just trying to help and you’re being…“]
She bit her lip like some innocent little angel.]
“Cut the crap.” I interrupted, voice flat and cold. “Madison, try having some basic human decency.“[]
Everyone freaked out. The leech was actually hitting back?!]
“Avery!” Dylan’s voice cut through the classroom.[]
He’d just walked in and caught my last words. He stormed over looking pissed as hell.[]
“What the hell is wrong with you? Madison’s trying to be nice and this is how you act?”
I stared at him and almost started laughing. Of course. In his mind, Madison could do no wrong.[]
And me? I was always the problem.[]
“Yeah, she’s so nice,” I said sarcastically. “Nice enough to give me a cute nickname. Nice enough to make sure the whole school knows I’m a parasite.“]
“That’s not…” Dylan tried to explain but couldn’t finish. Because he knew it was true.]]
“Dylan, how long are you gonna keep pretending?” I stood up and looked him dead in the eye.]]
“YOU told Madison I’m a leech who won’t leave you alone, didn’t you?!“]
His face went pale. “I didn’t…“[]
“Yes, you did.” I cut him off. “I heard you say it myself.“]
The whole classroom was dead silent. Everyone holding their breath, watching this trainwreck.[]
Dylan said nothing. Didn’t deny it. Because he actually had said those things.
“So that’s what you really think of me.” I laughed, but it sounded broken. []
“Eighteen years, Dylan.“]
“From six years old till now. E
