Prologue
The silence is deafening.
Elizabeth could cut it with a knife if she wanted, but she feels it would look weird.
Diana Lith stands a short two feet away, her eyes dropped, looking at the floor. She is quivering slightly, afraid.
She looks a little dirty in her hand-me-downs, her platinum hair pulled back into a messy ponytail.
Disgusting… Elizabeth thinks to herself. Why can’t she look better?
She crosses her arms. “You need new clothes. Didn’t I tell you that yesterday? She says.
Diana cringes. “I already told you! I can’t!” She says angrily, attempting to walk past Elizabeth and the trio of girls behind her.
Elizabeth rolls her eyes, tiredly stepping in front of her.
“Why can’t you? Don’t you have money?” She says, pursing her lips disapprovingly. “Or is your mom just another lazy slut who stays at home? And don’t bother saying your dad works.” She smirks, knowing she hit jackpot. “Because I know you don’t have one.”
Diana pales, then flushes, as her famous temper kicks in.
“You don’t know anything!” She yells, attracting attention from several other students. “Stay out of my life!”
Elizabeth raises her eyebrow, feeling all eyes on her. “I wouldn’t suggest speaking to me that way, honey.” She says patiently. “Something might happen. Your mom is my dad’s secretary, after all.”
“What did I do to you?” Diana asks. “What did I do to deserve your snuck up little nose in my business?”
Catcalls echo through the halls, and She hear snickers behind her. Elizabeth glances over her bare shoulder, catching Julie laughing softly.
Someone’s about to be defriended…
Julie chokes, catching the poisonous glance she throws her and quickly pastes a angry look on her face.
Elizabeth smiles triumphantly, knowing she has won. “You lived and breathed honey.” She says. “But I’m not hear to discuss your loser status, or your nasty clothing. I heard a rumor yesterday.”
Diana’s too angry to be worried.
Bad move, darling…
“I heard that you were spotted holding hands with Joseph yesterday.” She says, feeling a burst of jealousy with the words.
Diana’s eyes make brief contact with hers, and a sudden panicked look flooded her face.
“What?” She stutters, her face flushing. “No! That isn’t true!”
Elizabeth smiles, twirling a lock of her hair.
“You’re a bad liar, Diana. I have pictures.” She says, before stepping closer and snatching her phone from her hand.
“Stay away from him!” Her tone grows nasty, and she throws the phone to Diana’s feet, making cracks on the screen. “Consider that as a warning.”
Elizabeth flounces away, the trio behind her.
The middle school hallways ring with the laughter of several students, as she leaves to attend first period.
“Mom!”
