Page 7 of Broken Souls

“Crossbred,” Ember mocks.

“Virgin.” Hannah smirks.

How is that an insult? Virginity is just a form of innocence. It doesn't make you superior or inferior. It's just a stepping stone if you choose for it to be.

“The fact you think being a virgin is an insult shows how brain dead you are.” The words come out before I can stop them. Usually I don't bite back when they bully but when someone says something so utterly stupid, I can't stop myself from correcting her. When their eyes narrow, I know I messed up.

“Excuse me?” Ember steps forward.

“What did you call me?” Hannah screeches.

“Stop blocking the gates, halfwits,” Joel orders as he charges through them. He doesn't even look at me. He keeps walking ahead. The bell rings so I side step them and walk straight on.

“This isn't over, Elora,” Mitchell calls after me with his vicious voice.

I go to my locker and lean against it. They're going to beat me up. There's no way they're going to let me get away with giving them a taste of their own medicine. One on one, I could possibly take each. Well, probably not Mitchell. But when all three attack me, my already sore body is too weak to get up. I've really got to not run into them when there's no one else around. I'm not saying they wouldn't be able to do it at school but they risk getting expelled. Ember and Hannah have cornered me in the girls' bathroom before but no teachers found out. Most of the time teachers don't do anything about bullying so there's no point telling them.

“Elora, where were you yesterday?” Amelia leans into the locker beside me.

“Just took a day for myself,” I answer, given I can't tell her that my mate rejected me.

***

At lunchtime, Amelia and I sit down in the spots we usually sit in unless we go to the library during lunch.

“I could go for something sweet.” Amelia makes a sour face at her sandwich. “But I don't want to wait in the canteen line.”

“I'll go for you,” I say, in the mood for a chocolate bar myself.

“Thank you.” She passes me a few coins and I walk to the canteen.

There are multiple lines and they all seem the same length so I just jump in one. Dennis and his friends are in front of me so I listen to their conversation to give me something to do while I wait.

“Like can you believe it?” Dennis sounds exasperated.

“Dude, get over it,” one of his friends says, and the rest of them laugh.

Citrus hits my nose and I see Joel in the line beside this one, a few spots ahead of me. That scent is starting to piss me off. My wolf approves but I don't. Even though my wolf is wallowing in despair over being rejected, she still perks up at his scent. This year is going to be a bitch.

“I'm serious,” Dennis says. I turn my attention back to the conversation to distract myself. “She actually called me ugly.”

“So what!” his friend says.

“What if she's right? Do other girls think I'm ugly?” Dennis asks, worried. He's used to girls liking him so his ego must be dropping. I decide to speak up, in hopes of hurting Joel, if he's even listening.

“Well I think you're pretty hot, Dennis,” I say in a sweet voice. Joel's head snaps in my direction. He looks startled by my words. I didn't just get Joel's attention, but also Dennis's.

“Really?” he asks, grinning.

“Yeah.” I smile to sell it. Smiling feels foreign. Ugh, I'm flirting. What am I doing?

“That's good to know.” He winks at me then turns to order his food since he's at the front of the line. I hope he doesn't think anything of my compliment.

After getting Amelia and my snacks, I walk back to her. But she's not alone. Reeve is standing near her, making me scoff. When I reach them and he sees me, he frowns.

“Cya, Amelia, I hope you reconsider my suggestion.” He smiles at her before walking away.

“Was it a no?” I sit down.