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but didn’t move, hoping she would just pass by. Of course that was wishful thinking.
      “Well, well, well, looky here. It’ s the detention queen,” a singsong voice called.
      Lola slowly faced Roxanne. “What do you want?”
      It was all so childish and tiresome and petty . Lola wished Roxanne would leave her alone and stop picking on her for whatever reason . It seemed s o trite compared to what she faced every day at home.
      Roxanne tossed her head and placed a hand on a hip. A green hooded sweatshirt emphasized her eyes, dark skinny jeans molded to her legs.
      “What do I want? Let’s see.” She tapped her cheek and cocked her head. Almost i mmediately Roxanne straightened and her eyes narrowed. “I want you to stay away from my boyfriend.”
      Lola took a step back at the look of loathing on Roxanne’s face. Even h er cold beauty was blocked out by it, leaving something ugly in its place.
      “That’s not a problem,” Lola told her.
      “Yeah. I almost believe that. Except I know Sebastian has been waiting outside his house every night to make sure you get home okay from work. I don’t like it. ”
      Lola knew it w ould do no good to explain she didn’t know why he was doing that, nor did she want him to do that.
      “How do you know that?”
      Roxanne took a step closer. “Because he told me. Says he feels bad for you, like there might be something wrong at your house.” She stopped. “Sebastian has a big heart and thinks he needs to protect people.”
      She knew better than anyone just how big his heart was and how protect ive he could be. Resentment Roxanne knew as well reared up, but Lola squashed it down. Roxanne was his girlfriend, of course she knew things like that; she should know things like that.
      Lola had merely been his friend since she’d moved in across the street thirteen years ago. She wasn’t anymore. She had to remember that.
      “I know.”
      Roxanne’s lips thinned. “I don’t know what game you’re playing at, but you might as well stop.”
      “Game?” Lola had no idea what she was talking about.
      “This past year you’ ve lost weight, gotten all pale, and have this sad look on your face all the time. You don’t talk to anyone. You’ve turned creepy . ” Roxanne’s voice shook and her hands fisted at her sides. “ And now you try to be cool by getting in trouble. You obviously want attention.”
      Lola was stunned by her words, by the heat in her tone. Was that what people thought? That she had withdrawn and changed as a ploy to get attention? Bitter anger swept through her.
      “You don’t know…what you’re talking about,” she choked out, close to tears.
      Roxanne laughed and a shiver went down Lola’s back. “I know you want Sebastian back in your life and I know it’s not going to happen .” Her nostrils flared as she leaned toward Lola. “You stay away from my boyfriend. Or else .”
      Lola fist ed her hands and challenge d , “Or else what ?”
      The hate on Roxanne’s face was staggering . She jabbed a long fingernail at Lola, pierc ing the sensitive skin below her neck. “Or else you’ll be sorry.”
      Roxanne flounced past, taking the scent of raspberries and loathing with her.
      Lola drew i n a ragged breath, feeling weak. She raised a shaking hand to her neck and touched the sore spot. Roxanne wasn’t just nasty, as she’d first thought; she was scary .
      Sick with all that had happened in recent days, Lola fell to a bench and let it hold her up.
      What Roxanne had said were lies. Regardless of whether it was true or not; it still hurt. And telling her to stay away from Sebastian when he’d barely spoken to her in a year? That wouldn’t be hard to do.
      Lola’s life was such a mess. She felt so helpless, like everyone else controlled her with their actions and words.
      I wonder what would happen if I wasn’t here anymore?
      The forbidden thought scared her. That she would think