Chapter 25

After Alice’s attack, I head to the bathroom and clean myself up the best that I can. I think about just heading home for the day, but I refuse to give her the satisfaction. When the blood has stopped and I am more or less presentable I hurry to class, slipping into my seat usual moments before the bell rings.

I do my best to focus on the lesson, but I’m still shaken from what happened with Alice. I reflexively reach for the phone in my pocket, pulling it our and tapping into the messages before I realize what I’ve done.

I don’t have Felix to turn to anymore. I can’t even go back and read old messages. I sigh, even if I could, it wouldn’t be the same now that I know who Felix really is.

My chest aches as I realize how isolated I truly am. I’m grateful for Lynn, but when it comes down to it, she’s not strong enough to deal with all the hate that comes my way.

I tuck my phone back into my pocket trying not to let the feelings of sadness and isolation overwhelm me. I vow to myself that I’ll at least make it home before I let myself cry.

The rest of class passes slowly. I catch myself reaching for my phone a few times but stop myself before I can pull it out. I need to break the habit of relying on Felix when I’m upset.

Eventually the bell rings and I pack my things back into my bag. I go to stand up and realize that I can’t. I look back to see if my belt loop managed to snag on something, but there is nothing it could have caught on.

I try to stand again, wiggling slightly and see that I still can’t leave. I hear snickers from in front of me and see Alice leaning in whispering to her friends, eyes shooting in my direction.

Heat rushes to my face as I realize that Alice must have put something in my seat before class to humiliate me. As I continue to struggle, she walks over with a group of her lackies.

“Oh look, a stuck slut.”

The group laughs and a few take out their phones and start snapping pictures. I ignore the comment, knowing that there’s nothing I can do now. The glue is already on my seat.

I consider just staying until the crowd disperses and everyone has gone home, but the look on Alice’s face tells me that she’s willing to stay as long as it takes to see me thoroughly humiliated. I blink back tears, remembering my vow not to cry until I get home.

I wiggle some more, hoping to loosen the glue. I feel a slight give and I stand, hoping to come free this time.

I start rising from the seat, but my triumph is cut short when I hear a ripping sound from behind me. Someone’s phone camera flashes, and laughter shakes the room. I reach back and feel that a large section of my jeans has ripped, exposing my underwear to the class.

Alice smiles. “Don’t even pretend to be embarrassed. I’m sure a little whore like you loves the attention.”

I sniff, unable to hold back my tears and longer. I grab my jacket and wrap it around my waist before rushing out of the room. I keep going out the front doors of the school and toward the path that will lead me home.

I tried to stick it out, but this was too far. It’s not like the teachers care if I’m there. I make it home and slump to the ground letting the tears run down my face.

I pull out my phone, sure that pictures and videos of the incident will already be all over the school forum. When I see that my suspicions have been confirmed I tuck my phone away, unable to look at it any longer.

I rest my head against the back of the door. I am going to be stuck with these people for the rest of my life. Vedant won’t reject me and since I’m Iris, he’ll never find her and let me go for her sake.

I will be tied to these miserable, hateful people forever. I let a primal scream rip through me, and my sadness and anger reach their peak.

Why couldn’t I have been taken in by any other pack? Why was my whole life plagued by one strong of bad luck after another? Why does the goddess let me suffer this way?

I scream again, letting all of my anger and grief pour out of me. It’s not fair.

Molly’s comforting presence moves closer to the surface, although she doesn’t speak. At least I have her. I make my way to my room and fall into bed, hoping my dreams will be better than reality.

The next day at school is just as bad as I imagined it would be. The moment I walk through the doors I am swarmed by people commenting on the pictures posted on the forum last night. Some are making of the way I got stuck, but others are using it as an excuse to comment on my body.

I duck my head and try to move past them, but they just follow. A boy from another class moves in close. “Not a bad ass for the town freak, although I have to say I prefer the shot from the front that was posted a few weeks back.”

I shove past him, but he continues to follow me as I make my way to my locker. A few of his friends come up and join him jeering and making lewd comments of their own.

I slam my locker and head into my classroom, checking my seat before sitting down. Those in other classes fall back, but everyone else still crowds around.

I see Vedant enter and can’t help feeling hopeful. Maybe he will help me. Somewhere in him, deep down, is Felix, the caring, empathetic person I had poured my heart out to online.

I meet his gaze, my eyes pleading, but he turns and takes his seat. He doesn’t care.

My heart sinks. I don’t know why I keep thinking things will be different. Even before I knew that Vedant and Felix were the same person, I had let myself hope that he would come to his senses and had been let down every time.

Vedant being Felix doesn’t change that and I’m not sure why I thought it might. Whatever persona he had used online, was clearly fake because the Felix I knew wouldn’t stand by and let anybody suffer this way.

I start to unpack my bag ignoring the crowd still gathering around me. I take a deep breath. If I don’t give them any attention they will go away.

The warning bell rings, and the group slowly starts to disperse. I continue to stare straight ahead as they continue to shoot looks and whispers my way.

For a second, it looks like Vedant looks back at me, but I turn my head. He made his choice.