Free Tru Love by Rian Kelley Page B

for that head of fabulous red-brown hair. She keeps her nose pointed forward and searches for something interesting about the girl in front of her that will provide a distraction. Short, spiky black hair, silver earrings in the shape of conk shells. . .that’s as far as she gets before the pull to scan the cafeteria, to look into the sea of faces for that one face, attacks her resolve. She shakes her head. Counts the number of kids in front of her in line. Eleven. Is a bag of Doritos really worth it, she wonders?
    She has to eat something.
                  She’s busy arguing with herself and doesn’t notice the silence that falls over their part of the room until it hurts her ears. She looks over her shoulder. Serena and Victor are standing behind her, holding hands. They’re facing away from her. Genny can’t see over their heads, to the point where everyone’s attention seems focused.
                  “What is it?” Genny places her hand on Serena’s shoulder and rises on her toes so she can see better.
    “Chasyn Trent,” Serena says and Genny can hear the twist of her lips in her voice. Serena doesn’t like the girl; well, very few people do. Chasyn likes herself enough for all of them.
                  “What is she doing?”
                  “Getting up close and personal with Truman Lennox.”
                  Genny steps out of line so she can see it for herself. Sure enough, Chasyn is standing beside Truman, a tray of food in her hand. She’s talking and Truman is looking up at her from his seat. He’s frowning, a look that turns frosty when Chasyn puts her hand on his shoulder in a casual gesture, but then curls her fingers into his hair.
                  “Pushy B,” Serena grumbles.
                  Victor laughs. “What do you care?” he asks.
                  “I’m speaking for every woman present,” she says, “especially for my BFF.”
                  Victor turns and looks at Genny. “Really?”
    “No,” Genny denies through the shimmering heat wave emanating from her body. “Your girlfriend is delusional.”
    She ignores the clawing feeling in her stomach. Refuses to put a name to it. Won’t even look at it from the corner of her eye. Instead, she takes the opportunity presented by the change of interest, and skips a few places in line. She reaches the counter in seconds and is on her way out of the cafeteria in under a minute, apple, Doritos and diet coke in hand, and not looking over her shoulder to see what became of Chasyn’s advances.
                  The sky is clear today. The gray burned off leaving a blue that looks almost breakable. Genny sits on a bench at the back of the school, looking at the Mercedes and BMWs parked in the lot. She pops the top on her soda and waits for the bubbles to settle before sipping. She tossed the apple on her way; it tasted like cardboard. She’ll choke the chips down if she has to; just knowing they’re comfort food will help.
                  She’s definitely had a rotten two days. The best part of that: if bad things really happen in threes, then tomorrow should be her last day of darkness. Then she’ll go back to her charmed existence: a mother who understands her; a father who doesn’t, but really wants too. And a friendship restored? That might be too much to hope for. That might take a few more days.

 
     
     
    Chapter Nine
                  Genny arrives for detention at exactly two-forty. Teachers rotate the baby-sitting responsibility; today, it’s Mr. Plume, one of the P.E. teachers and the girls’ volleyball coach. He looks at Genny with disappointment. Clearly, as team captain, Genny has an obligation to be a model citizen.
                  “Genny.” His voice is heavy and his mouth gets that pinched look he wears when a game isn’t going