Chapter 1

I clutched my plastic lunch tray tighter as I shuffled through the cafeteria line, trying to ignore the way my secondhand jeans hung loose around my waist. The Goodwill tag scratched against my neck—a constant reminder that even my clothes had belonged to someone else first.

Just get your food and find a quiet corner, I told myself. Same as every day.

But as I reached for a slice of pizza, I heard expensive heels clicking across the linoleum behind me.

Madison Blackwell.

She moved through our school like she owned it, surrounded by Chelsea and Brittany. At their usual table by the windows, they'd spread out catered sushi and imported sparkling water like some luxury picnic.

"Oh my God, look at what they're serving today," Madison's voice carried across the cafeteria. "I can't believe people actually eat this garbage."

That's when I felt the cold liquid hit my back.

"Oh no!" Madison's voice dripped with fake concern. "I'm so sorry, Scarlett! My iced coffee just slipped right out of my hands!"

I stood frozen as the sticky liquid seeped through my thin shirt, probably five dollars' worth of coffee now dripping onto the floor around my worn sneakers. The entire cafeteria paused, watching.

"It's... it's fine," I managed.

Madison stepped closer, lowering her voice. "No, it's really not fine. Let me help you clean up."

Before I could protest, she was guiding me toward the bathroom, her practiced smile never wavering. Chelsea and Brittany followed, giggling softly.

The bathroom door swung shut behind us.

"You know what? I'm tired of pretending to be nice to you."

Madison's sweet facade vanished instantly. My heart raced as she backed me against the sinks, the fluorescent lights casting harsh shadows across her face.

This isn't happening. This can't be happening.

"Madison, I didn't do anything—"

"You exist," she cut me off. "You show up here every day in your pathetic thrift store outfits, acting like you belong in the same school as us."

The cold porcelain pressed against my back as she moved closer, her expensive silk scarf catching the light.

"You think just because you're smart and teachers like you, that makes you equal to us?" Her laugh was bitter.

"You're trailer trash, Scarlett. You and your sad little waitress mother. You don't belong here, and you sure as hell don't deserve to breathe the same air as us."

She's talking about my mom. She's talking about my mom like she's nothing.

Before I could react, she grabbed her scarf and twisted it around my neck, pulling tight. The silk felt smooth for just a moment before the pressure hit.

"Stop," I gasped, clawing at the fabric. "Please—"

"This is what happens when you forget your place," she hissed.

The metal clasp on her scarf scraped against my throat as she pulled tighter. I felt a sharp, burning pain as the edge cut into my skin. Dark spots danced in my vision.

Just as I thought I'd pass out, she released me. I collapsed against the sink, gasping and touching my neck where something warm and sticky was spreading.

Blood.

Madison smoothed down her scarf like nothing had happened. "Oops," she said, examining the small red stain with mild annoyance. "This was expensive."

"If you tell anyone about this," she continued, checking her reflection, "I'll make your life so much worse. No one's going to believe some trailer park nobody over me."

They left me there, bleeding and shaking.

---

The walk home felt endless. The school nurse had given me a small bandage after I lied about scratching myself on a locker door. Madison's words echoed in my head: No one's going to believe you.

Our trailer sat at the end of Riverside Mobile Home Park, its white siding dulled by weather. Mom's beat-up Honda was already there.

"Scarlett? That you, baby?"

Mom emerged from the kitchen, her waitress uniform wrinkled and stained. Her dark hair was pulled back messily, and the circles under her green eyes seemed darker every week.

She took one look at me and her face crumpled.

"Oh my God, what happened to your neck?"

"It's nothing, Mom. Just an accident at school."

But she was already moving toward me, gently tilting my chin up. When she saw the scratch, her eyes filled with tears.

"This isn't an accident, Scarlett. Someone did this to you."

All the fear and humiliation came flooding back, and suddenly I was crying—ugly, choking sobs I'd been holding back for hours.

"I'm sorry, Mom," I whispered as she pulled me into her arms.

"No, baby, no." Her voice was breaking.

"I should protect you better, but I... I just don't know how."

I didn't want to tell her. I wanted to handle this myself, to not give her one more thing to worry about. She already works doubles at the diner, comes home with coffee burns on her hands, counting tips just to keep us afloat.

But seeing her cry for me, seeing how much she hurts when I hurt—I can't pretend anymore. Madison called us trash, but my mom is the strongest person I know.

She held me tighter, her whole body shaking. She was crying harder than I was.

"Mom, listen to me." I pulled back to look at her face, wiping away her tears.

"It's not your fault. None of this is your fault."

Her tired eyes searched mine desperately. "I try so hard to give you what you need, but there's never enough money."

"I've been doing this alone for so long... I just don't know if I'm enough..." Her voice broke completely.

Mom never blamed him directly for leaving, but I knew what she'd been through. Dad had walked out when I was two, leaving behind nothing but unpaid bills and a twenty-year-old woman with no idea how to raise a child alone.

"You did figure it out," I said firmly, taking her hands. "You kept us together. That's everything, Mom."

We stood there in our tiny living room while the afternoon sun slanted through our discount-store curtains. Outside, Mrs. Rodriguez called her kids in for dinner.

Mom pulled back and touched my cheek. "Are you hungry, baby? I brought home some leftover pie from the diner."

"Yeah," I said, managing a small smile. "That sounds perfect."

As she headed toward the kitchen, humming softly like she always did when she was trying to make things feel normal, I touched the bandage on my neck one more time.

Tomorrow would come whether I was ready or not. Madison would still be there with her perfect clothes and cruel smile.

But tonight, I had pie and my mom's love.

The next morning, I almost convinced myself that yesterday had been some kind of nightmare. Maybe Madison would pretend nothing happened. Maybe things would go back to normal.

I was so wrong.

The smell hit me first—something rotting and awful wafting from my locker. Students nearby were already backing away, covering their noses and pointing.

"Oh my God, what is that?" someone gagged.