Forgotten Rules (Rules 4)

A short moment of silence ensues.

Will fills the void. “Do you always do that?”

“Do what?”

“Let her boss you around.”

His question cuts me deeper than expected.

“What? She doesn’t boss me around. She’s my friend.”

He cocks an eyebrow.

“I swear, that’s just how we are. She’d do the same for me.”

“Whatever you say.” He shrugs, retreating to the living room. “Control freak,” he adds seconds before he’s out the door.

I can’t suppress a smile.

I know I told him we’re not friends now.

But… that doesn’t mean we can never be.

Kassidy

“Are you excited for your first day?” I ask Winter, taking an abrupt left that makes my car screech so loudly a lady walking her dog jumps two inches in the air. Glaring at my red car, she guides a hand to her chest. Shameful, I zoom down the street.

I’m sorry that I’m poor, ma’am.

I’ve grown quite familiar with that feeling recently—shame. I desperately need to get a job so I can afford to get my clunker of a car fixed. Still no luck. None of the places I applied to called.

“Excited for it to be over.” My cousin sighs, fidgeting with her clothes. I get it. Being the new girl ranks pretty high on the list of things that suck ass.

“Oh, come on. Don’t be so dramatic.” I laugh. “You’ll fit right in. Everything’s going to be okay.”

“Anything I need to know? Any mean girl I should stay away from?” She shifts in my passenger seat.

“Bianca Reed and her minions,” I’m quick to say. Winter does not want to get in trouble with psycho Bianca. Everybody knows she’s a little… intense. “Definitely don’t give them a reason to hate you.”

She nods. “Noted.”

Pulling up into the school’s parking lot, I snatch the first spot I can find and kill the engine.

I glance at her. “Ready?”

“Absolutely not.”

“It’s going to be fine. You’re not alone. Kendrick and I are here, remember?”

She doesn’t reply, but I can tell the thought reassures her. She’s family. I’ll always have her back. We make our way to the entrance together. Diving deeper and deeper into the crowd, I catch Luke’s smile as we pass each other in the hall.

Luke Jenson, typical jock and Riverside High’s proudest accomplishment. He’s our varsity team’s golden boy, reputed best QB the school’s had in decades. Zoey dated one of Luke’s douche friends sophomore year, and although their relationship didn’t survive its first month, Luke and I remained friendly. And by friendly, I mean we smile at each other in the halls and talk in art class.

As Winter and I weave our way through the halls, I scoff at her worried expression.

“See? It’s just like any other school.”

She doesn’t reply, yet again too focused on trying to breathe.