Your Loss: A Dark High School Romance by Layla Simon

Author:Layla Simon [Simon, Layla]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-02-27T00:00:00+00:00

At school the next morning, even keeping my head down doesn’t stop the worst of the bullies from catcalling me in the hallways, sniggering in the classrooms, loudly telling their friends that a new cut of my now infamous video is available online.

I shrink in my seat, wishing invisibility was a thing. My shoulders draw so far up around my ears my neck ceases to exist.

So much for spending the first three months of the school year wishing my fellow students would notice me, say something to me, acknowledge my existence. Returning to that state of unseen and unremarked would be a godsend.

The moment the bell goes for lunch, I scurry away from the hoards of would-be teasers and retreat to the safety of my bench of undesirables. It’s empty and I try to ignore the disappointment that wells inside me.

“Hey,” Keanen calls in greeting long after I’ve given up on him. He slides onto the bench seat next to me, grinning. “If it isn’t Miss Popular.”

“Miss Notorious is the word I think you’re searching for.”

“Mm. Well, if Bradley ever gets around to selling posters like he’s claiming, will you autograph mine?”

The thought of someone printing out large reproductions of my most embarrassing moment isn’t a thrill. A sigh escapes my lips, and I struggle to find a light response to match his friendly tone.

Apparently reading my discomfort, Keanen offers a shoulder pat. “Sorry. I’m not really sure what to say to you, so I’m making a mess of it. I can just stop talking if you prefer.”

I shake my head. “Can you help me think up some other nasty gossip to circulate so everyone forgets about me?”

“Sure. I heard Khai gives a handy to the referee before every match and that’s why he gets awarded so many penalty kicks in a season.”

My eyes light up. “Scandalous.” It’s also fair play to punch up and as captain of the rugby team, Khai can certainly take the hit.

For the rest of the break, we trade ever more ridiculous gossip, made more fun by it being one hundred percent untrue. It’s also unlikely to spread, given that even if we both weren’t already pariahs, Lachlan’s stunt yesterday would certainly cement me in the role.

Nobody’s going to take me seriously ever again.

With Keanen’s kind laughter to buoy me, the thought doesn’t hit as hard as it would have this morning.

I say goodbye and am halfway to class when three male students stop in front of me, blocking my way. When I try to move aside, they match me, step for step, letting me know it’s deliberate.

“Can I help you?”

The snarky question is absolutely the wrong thing to say. The largest of the three and self-appointed ringleader is Carrod Melchi. The moment I finish speaking, he sniggers and slides his foot forward. “Got some shoes that need cleaning. Heard you could help with that.”

Oh, ha-bloody-ha-ha. I roll my eyes and try to flank them again, but they’re nimbler on their feet. “Can you let me past? I’ll be late for class.

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