In the hallway, we came across Vanessa. She looked at me with such bitterness that it was like her eyes were burning holes into my skin. Before I could even think of avoiding her, she strutted over, her steps sharp, and her gaze sharper.
"So, you're still here," she spat, her voice dripping with venom. "I figured you'd be gone by now."
I blinked, stunned by her hostility. "What do you mean?" I asked, trying to keep my voice calm despite the rising heat in my chest.
She gave me a cold smile, one that didn't reach her eyes. "Seems like you're going to be a hard weed to prune."
And just like that, she spun on her heel and walked away, leaving me standing there, fists clenched tightly at my sides. My blood was boiling. Who did she think she was, calling me a weed? What did I even do to her? I itched to march after her and give her a piece of my mind—scratch that arrogant smirk off her face. But she didn't give me the chance to respond, disappearing down the hallway before I could find the words.
I stood there, shaking with frustration. What did she mean, "I'd be gone by now"? What exactly was she planning, and why did she hate me so much? My mind raced, and no matter how I turned her words around, they left a bitter taste in my mouth. Whatever she was up to, it couldn't be good.
'what was that all about?' I asked TJ
"What was that all about?" I asked TJ, my voice barely concealing the frustration that burned in my chest.
TJ, who had been watching the entire encounter from a few steps back, shrugged with wide eyes. "Honestly, I have no idea," she said, sounding just as confused as I felt. "But Vanessa's always been like that, especially when she feels threatened."
"Threatened?" I scoffed, still replaying Vanessa's words in my head. "What could she possibly feel threatened by? I've barely even spoken to her."
TJ gave me a knowing look, her expression softening. "You really don't see it, do you?"
I frowned, not liking the tone in her voice. "See what?"
"Nick," she said plainly. "He's probably the reason Vanessa's acting like a jealous queen bee. She's had her sights set on him for a long time, and you... well, you've kind of become the center of his attention. Even if you don't want it."
I groaned, rubbing my temples. "This is ridiculous. I'm not interested in whatever game she's playing. And Nick... I don't know what his deal is either. He's infuriating, and now I have his enemies to deal with too?"
TJ nodded sympathetically. "Yeah, welcome to Nick's world. It's messy, but Vanessa? She's not someone you can just ignore. If she sees you as competition, it's only going to get worse."
I clenched my jaw. "Well, I'm not going anywhere. She's going to have to deal with it."
"By the way, I've been meaning to ask you—what did the principal tell you when he summoned you to his office?" TJ asked as we walked.
I sighed, the memory of that tense meeting still fresh in my mind. "Someone told on me about slapping Nick, and it wasn't Nick. He didn't even know the principal was aware," I said, glancing at TJ. She was quiet for a moment, lost in thought.
"I bet it was Vanessa who did it," she said, her tone sharp with realization. "That's why she was expecting you not to be here. She must've assumed you'd be kicked out by now."
I stopped in my tracks, turning to face TJ. "That... actually makes sense," I said, pieces of the puzzle falling into place. "She figured I'd be expelled, so when she saw me still here, she was pissed."
TJ nodded. "Exactly. She probably thought she'd gotten rid of you and was surprised when her plan didn't work."
I felt a surge of anger, but more than that, a renewed sense of determination. "So Vanessa's been playing dirty this whole time, huh? Well, she's in for a surprise if she thinks I'm going to back down."
Vanessa seemed to be worse than I had initially thought. If she discovered my biggest secret, I was doomed. From the way she operated, I knew she wouldn't hesitate to dig into my past, find any weakness, and use it to humiliate me. If she found out that I was only here because of a scholarship, my life would crumble.
Losing Tracy would be unbearable. She had been the best thing that had happened to me since I arrived at this school, a genuine friend in a world full of pretense. Eric had always had my back too. He was kind and understanding, but if they both found out the truth, would they stop being my friends? Would they see me differently?
And Nick... if he discovered my secret, it would be the best news he could ever receive. He'd use it against me in the cruelest way possible, tormenting me even more than he already had. The thought of him knowing filled me with dread.
I had to protect my secret, no matter what. I couldn't let Vanessa, Nick, or anyone else take away everything I had worked so hard to achieve. But I also feared that the weight of this secret would grow heavier, and if it ever came to light, I wasn't sure I could handle the consequences.
Part of me felt I should tell TJ the truth. Deep down, I believed she would understand, and maybe—just maybe—she wouldn't care about my status. She'd always been supportive and had never judged me, so why should this be any different? But the fear gnawed at me. What if she didn't accept me? What if, after hearing the truth, she started treating me differently?
My emotions were all over the place, swirling in a confusing mix of fear and hope. All I knew was that I needed to tell her. She deserved to hear it from me first, not from Vanessa or anyone else trying to tear me down. But the timing had to be right—I had to find the perfect moment when I felt brave enough, when she would be receptive to the truth.
Telling her might be a risk, but keeping it from her was even worse. If she found out another way, it would hurt more. The longer I waited, the heavier the secret became. I just needed to gather the courage to speak up.