Free Crossing the Barrier by Martine Lewis

them, she had tried, but she was yet to succeed.
    After a few moments of calm concentration, she imagined building a huge red wall, brick by brick, and, once it was done, she opened her eyes slowly.
    The wall held.
    It wasn’t powerful or anything—in fact, it felt wobbly—but it held nevertheless, making Beatrice less of an annoyance.
    With a sigh of relief, Lily slowly took her book from her bed and flipped through the pages. She didn’t want to move her head for fear the shield would break apart. The thing was so unstable Lily was convinced a wisp of air would make it crumble like a house of cards.
    “Elizabeth,” Beatrice called, banging on her door.
    The wall collapsed into a heap, and the full force of Beatrice’s displeasure slammed into her.
    “Come downstairs, right now!”
    Lily glanced at the clock. It was eight, and she wondered what could be so important at this time of night. She got to her door, and by the time she opened it, Beatrice was halfway down the stairs, a fake smile plastered on her face. Her mind screamed at her not to go, but this little part of her, the one that still hoped for her mother’s approval, made her follow nevertheless.
    As she walked down the stairs, Lily felt other presences, and she plastered the same fake smile her mother sported. A moment later, she saw Zoe standing in the foyer with an elegant blond woman who could only be her mother. Lily fought the urge to turn around, knowing she would hate what was coming next. Why, now of all times, didn’t she stand up to Beatrice and refuse to be ordered around as she had intended to do?
    But no. She was so desperate she had to come along. She must be a glutton for pain.
    “Elizabeth dear, I think you know Zoe from school. Would you entertain her while I speak with her mother about business?” Beatrice said, smiling sweetly at Lily.
    Beatrice had to be kidding. Zoe threw Lily a grin that made Lily’s dislike of her grow even more, if that were at all possible.
    “Of course,” she answered. “Zoe,” she greeted the popular girl with a nod.
    “Elizabeth.”
    Lily didn’t like to be called Elizabeth, but coming from her visitor, she liked it even less. With an internal sigh, she made her way to the living room, and Zoe followed.
    “You have a nice house.”
    Lily knew Zoe didn’t mean a word of it; she was only making sure their mothers would think she was being friendly. All Lily felt from the girl was jealousy and meanness.
    “So,” the blonde said, taking a seat on the sofa and crossing her legs elegantly. “I hear you like Malakai.”
    The white sofa was a sharp contrast to her sleeveless red dress.
    “I’m sorry, Zoe, it’s none of your business,” Lily said, keeping the fake smile on her face.
    Lily was puzzled. She hadn’t known Zoe knew of her. Apparently not only did she, but she’d also found out Lily liked Malakai somehow. It just didn’t make sense, especially since Lily had told only Sandra, and Sandra would never have told anyone, especially not Zoe.
    As Lily looked up, she saw Beatrice through her office door. Luckily for Zoe, she was not facing that way and didn’t have to play pretend anymore.
    “That’s where you’re wrong,” she said, looking at her perfectly manicured red nails as if something were stuck under them. “Everything that has to do with the football team is my business.”
    Lily raised an eyebrow, amused. She knew what Zoe felt, and it was so pathetic it was actually funny.
    Zoe was afraid. Not only was she afraid her own little world would change and recognize her for who she was, but she was afraid Lily would be part of that destruction. And Lily understood the weakest point in Zoe’s little world was, in fact, Malakai.
    Independent Malakai. Malakai, whom Zoe could not control as she wanted.
    “Well, Zoe, sorry to disappoint you, but I do what I want, and so does Malakai.”
    “Yes, he does,” Zoe said, a fake pout on her ruby red lips. “That’s why I’m here. To warn