Chapter 9
The next day. “The Leech” had spread through our entire grade.[]
First my class, then the whole sophomore year, then everyone in school knew.[]
Everywhere I went, people were talking.]
“Look, there’s that leech girl.“[]
“So pathetic, won’t leave the poor guy alone.“]]
“Heard she’s been like this since they were kids. Gross.“[]
I kept trying to confront Dylan about it.[]
Wanted to ask if he really said all that shit. Wanted to know why he’d destroy me like this. Wanted to know what eighteen years meant to him.[]
But every time I got close, I chickened out.[]
What if he admitted it? How was I supposed to deal with that?]
And if he denied it? Should I even believe him? Madison had sounded so sure, so detailed about everything.[]
Plus the way Dylan acted around her now… it was pretty obvious something had changed.[]
The worst part? I couldn’t trust him anymore.[]
The guy who used to fight my battles had become the one hurting me most.[]
The person who promised to protect me forever had just thrown me to the wolves.]
Trust is like glass–once it’s shattered, you can’t put it back together.]
The online harassment kept getting worse too.[]
Someone created a group chat specifically to destroy me.[]
Called it “Get The Leech Out of Riverside High.“[]
Every day they’d post pictures of me with disgusting captions.]
“Leech spotting: cafeteria bloodsucking session.“[]
“Parasite stalking her host again. Shameless.“]]
“Someone needs to get this freak expelled.“[]
People even started following me around, taking pictures of everything I did.[]
Chapter 9
When I went to work, they called it “putting on a show for Dylan.“[]
“Stop acting poor. Just trying to get sympathy.“[]
“Oscar–worthy performance. Should be an actress.“]
When I saved money and ate cheap food, I was “fake playing victim.“[]
“Look at her wearing rags on purpose. So manipulative.“]
“These girls are disgusting–leeching off people while pretending to be innocent.“].
When I studied hard, I was “trying to trap Dylan with grades.“]
“Who cares if she’s smart? She’s still trash.“]
“Probably planning to follow him to college. Gross.“]
Nothing I did mattered.]
In their eyes, leeches didn’t deserve to exist in the first place.]
I didn’t deserve to live. Didn’t deserve to breathe.[]
Didn’t deserve to take up space in this world.[]
The final straw came on a rainy night.]]
Right before midterms, I was at the library studying super late.
I’d basically been living there for weeks.]
Not because I loved studying, but because I couldn’t stand going back to my dorm. Couldn’t deal with my roommates‘ nasty comments and disgusted looks.[]
When I came out, it was past ten at night.[]
The sky had opened up–pouring rain, water already pooling everywhere.[]
I stood in the library doorway, not sure what to do.]
I didn’t have an umbrella.[]
Weather said it would be sunny. Who knew it would just start dumping rain?[]
I was debating whether to make a run for it when I saw someone I recognized well.[]
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Chapter 10
Dylan was walking over with an umbrella.]
My heart jumped. Was he here for me this late?]
Did he know I didn’t have an umbrella? Was he actually-[]
“Dylan…” I started, hope creeping into my voice. “What are you still doing here?“]
He frowned, clearly annoyed. “Have you seen Madison? Is she still inside?”
Oh.]
He was looking for Madison. My heart dropped into my stomach.]
“No.” My voice came out barely a whisper.[]
“That’s weird. She said she’d be at the library.“]
He pulled out his phone to call her, fingers flying across the screen.[]
Just then, Madison came out from another exit.]]
She was wearing this white dress that was getting soaked by the rain.[]
“Dylan!” She ran over with this huge smile. “You came to pick me up!“[]
“We agreed on it, didn’t we?” Dylan moved the umbrella over her without even thinking. Like he’d done it a million times before.
Madison finally “noticed” me. Her acting was flawless–pretending she hadn’t seen me standing there the whole time.]
“Oh! Avery’s here too. You don’t have an umbrella?“]
Her voice was all fake surprise mixed with pure satisfaction.]
I shook my head. Couldn’t trust myself to speak.]
She smiled sweetly. “What a shame. Our umbrella’s only big enough for two people.“]
Then she added, “Maybe you should wait here? See if anyone you know comes by?“[]
Dylan glanced at me.]]
It was this weird look–hesitation, maybe some guilt, but mostly just annoyance.[]
His mouth opened like he wanted to say something.]]
I waited. For him to say “I’ll walk you back.” For him to say “You take the umbrella.” For him to show even the tiniest bit of
Chapter 10
care.
But he said nothing. Just held the umbrella over Madison and walked away.[]
Madison looked back at me with this smug little smile.[]
She’d won. Completely and totally won.]]
I stood there watching them disappear under that umbrella.[]
Dylan was being so careful, tilting it mostly over her to keep her dry. Just like he used to do for me.[]
The rain kept getting heavier. Each drop stung when it hit me, but nothing hurt like my chest did.]
Twelve years ago, he tilted that umbrella completely over me.]]
Twelve years later, he walked away with someone else.[]
And I was just the leech left standing in the rain.[]
The pathetic part? I kept waiting. For him to turn around. For him to remember I existed. For him to realize I was still stuck out there.
But he didn’t. Just kept walking without looking back.]
Like I was already gone.[]
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