Page 33 of Dead Girls Don’t Forget

She didn’t miss a beat. “You hit them back?”

“Yeah.”

“Good.” She nodded once, like that settled it. “You okay?”

“I’m fine.”

She let the silence sit for a few steps, then added, “You know I’m here if you ever want to stop being fine for a minute, right?”

I glanced at her. “Yeah. I know.”

Across the field, Naomi was already surrounded by her usual group. Even from a distance, it looked heated. Hands sliced through the air, heads shook, and more than one person talked over the others.

Cassidy tipped her chin toward them. "Would it kill them to argue a little louder? I need context."

My mouth twitched.

"Aha," she said. "You almost smiled."

"No. That was a grimace."

She bumped her shoulder into mine. "Have you checked the school forum?"

"No. Why?"

Her eyes lit up. “Someone posted a video of you and Jackson from the party. He liked it in under twenty minutes. The whole campus is losing their minds.”

"It was a dance."

“Babe, you were wrapped around him like you were trying to climb him. That was not ‘a dance.’”

I snorted. “You’re so dramatic.”

“And you’re so full of shit,” she shot back, smiling.

Coach Miller's voice carried across the field. "Alright, girls, listen up. Today is endurance. Five miles on the forest loop. I'll be running behind you. Stretch first."

We spread out and I moved through the warm-up automatically. When we set off, Naomi took the front immediately with the rest falling in behind her. The pace was too slow for me almost right away, so I passed her when the trail widened. She tried to block me but I slipped around her easily. By mile four the group had stretched out, most of the girls tired and sweating. My legs burned, but I still had plenty left. When the school came into view I picked up speed and finished well ahead.

Naomi arrived more than thirty seconds later, breathing hard and visibly pissed. She stalked straight toward me, eyes locking on my jaw.

“Nice bruise,” she said with a nasty little smile. “Suits you.”

I met her gaze evenly, wiping sweat from my neck.

“Jealousy doesn’t look nearly as good on you,” I replied.

Coach Miller stepped between us before she could answer. “Enough. Cool down.”

A quick shower and breakfast later, I made my way to Environmental Science. The lecture hall was still filling when I slid into my usual seat. Jackson came in, scanned the room, found me, and dropped into the seat beside mine like it had always belonged to him.

"Hey, baby. Miss me?"

"If only I got the chance," I muttered.

He grinned as he settled in. Then he saw my jaw and the smile disappeared. His whole posture shifted, easy warmth replaced by something darker and quieter.

"Who hit you?" he said, his voice low and rough.