Pitched

“This is bullshit. I was only saying hi.” A stare-off ensues before Dean tosses a few curse words at the boy and heads into the cafeteria.

“I’m GG,” I tell the boy who is still standing in front of me.

“And I’m out of here.” He doesn't head inside the cafeteria but strolls down the hallway, stopping to talk to a small group of girls. They all giggle at something he says to them.

I try and shake it off before I walk into the cafeteria, looking all around for Tricia. I spot her at one of the tables. She glances my way but turns her face away like she didn’t see me. Maybe she didn't. I head toward the table she’s sitting at with a few other girls. They all stop talking when I reach them.

“Hey, Tricia. I’ve been texting you. Have you been getting them? I’m terrible with my phone.”

She turns her head to finally meet my gaze. “Been busy.” She shrugs as if she couldn’t care less about me.

“Oh, okay.” I stand there, an awkward feeling taking over. It’s like everyone is staring right at me. The silence grows, making me even more uncomfortable.

“I’m kind of in the middle of something here. You mind?” Her tone is cold.

“Sorry,” I say before I make my way towards the exit. Tears prick my eyes at her dismissive behavior, but I manage to hold them back. Out of the corner of my eye I spot Colt. He’s hard to miss. He towers over everyone, and his eyes are locked on me. He’s standing next to a table with some of the boys I saw at the party. That guy Dean from earlier is standing there also.

I make my escape, going to the library to eat my lunch. More than anything I want to go home but I know that’s not an option. Oh, I’m sure Grams would come get me in a second, but then it would be followed with questions and worry. She and Grandpa have done so much for me I don’t want to put anything else on them.

I pull out my Kindle to read while I eat the lunch my grandpa made for me this morning. I try to focus on the page, but my thoughts keep going back to Colt. I knew I would run into him sooner or later. The school might be big, but it’s not that big.

For some reason I got it into my head that he might text me or something. He’d taken my phone for a minute. It’s a stupid thought because he ordered me to stay away from him. But that didn’t stop me from thinking about him.

The rest of the day drags until my final class. Tricia walks into the room a few seconds before the bell rings, dropping down in her seat. She pulls her phone out and starts playing with it under the table, acting as though I don’t even exist. Mr. Brescia speaks briefly then gives us an assignment before he’s back at his desk clicking away at his computer. He’s as checked out as a lot of the other students are around here.

I hate the awkward silence that lingers between Tricia and me. I glance over to see her clicking away on her phone. There is no doubt now that she’s mad at me about something. I’m guessing it has to do with Colt.

When I was at Guiding Temple and the announcement went out that I’d been promised to the prophet Jerima, I’d experienced something similar to this. Once the girls there found out I was going to be Jerima’s next wife, a lot of them started giving me the cold shoulder. They acted as though being another wife to someone was something I wanted. As if it were some great thing that I didn’t get to choose who I’d marry.

“Colt just took me home. Nothing happened,” I blurt out.

“Like I care. You can sleep with anyone you want.” She shrugs me off.

I sit there in shock. “I’ve never slept with anyone. Is that what people are saying?”

She huffs an annoyed breath. “Something must have happened.” She turns her head, her eyes finally meeting mine. I can see the hurt lingering there. I go back to being quiet, not wanting to upset her more. Her phone chimes in her hand toward the end of class. Her head drops at whatever she just read.

“Tricia, are you okay?” I ask, but the bell rings. She hops up from her chair, and I can see the tears in her eyes. She grabs her bag, leaving without a word. I grab my own bag, letting everyone else exit before I do. Then I head to the bathroom.

When I enter, I hear sniffling in one of the stalls. I spot Tricia’s shoes underneath. She’s the only other person in here.