Free Hickville Confessions: A Hickville High Novel by Mary Karlik Page B

wasn’t Ryan’s fault.
    When she didn’t respond to his statement, he turned back to Mrs. Bettis. “Can we work on refocusing the club?”
    Most of the room nodded.
    Mrs. Bettis said, “I’ll discuss your suggestion with the principal. But for now, there will be no meetings.” She dismissed the group.
    Ryan waited for everyone to file out of the classroom before moving away from the back wall.
    Braden McGuire made his way to where she stood with her sisters. “I really am sorry for what they did to you. I don’t blame you for the club being disbanded.” He spoke to Ryan, but his gaze kept darting to Mackenzie.
    “Thanks. I understand what you meant about the club.”
    “The girls that did this aren’t here any more. Why punish those who didn’t have anything to do with it?”
    According to the word scrawled across her locker, there were still Ryan-haters in school. Besides, the girls hadn’t been kicked out forever. But maybe there was a way to keep the club together—just not as the Purity Club. “Have you ever heard of a high school group that teaches about dating violence?”
    He dragged his gaze from Mackenzie to her. “No. Why?”
    “Hannah Ellis mentioned it at lunch. Maybe that could be the new focus.”
    “We don’t have that problem here.”
    Kelsey jumped in. “I bet there is more of a problem than any of us realize. You don’t have to be beat up to be a victim.” For half a second, Ryan wondered if Austin might have done something. But before she could completely form the question, Kelsey continued, “My ex never did a thing to me physically. But he played a lot of mind games—and that’s a kind of abuse.”
    Ryan could have hugged her. It was obvious that Kelsey was deliriously happy with Austin, but Ryan had wondered how much crap Drew had done to her before she’d opened her eyes. To Braden she said, “I’ll find out more about the group. Who knows—maybe it’s what this school needs.”
    “Sure.” His focus went back to Mackenzie. “Hi. I’m Braden McGuire.”
    Ryan saw Mackenzie’s eyes widen beneath her bangs. She nodded. “Mackenzie Quinn.”
    “What year are you?”
    “Freshman.” Mackenzie backed up half a step.
    Braden smiled. “Cool.” To Ryan he said, “Let me know what you find out.” He left and Mackenzie let out a breath.
    Ryan smiled at her little sister. “He was flirting with you—or trying to.”
    “No, he wasn’t.” Mackenzie shook her head. “Guys don’t notice me.”
    Kelsey put a hand on Mackenzie’s shoulder. “Yeah, they do. You just can’t see them while you’re hiding behind those bangs.”
    “That’s crazy.” Mackenzie headed for the door as though the classroom was the last place she wanted to be.
    Ryan smiled. It was nice to see something positive happen for her sister.
     
    *
     
    The girls climbed into the beat-up blue truck that Kelsey drove. After school, Ryan and Mackenzie worked at their dad’s feed store and Kelsey either worked a shift at the Early Bird Café or at the store. Today they were all working at the store.
    Ryan was exhausted and her face hurt. Some of the sores had crusted with a yellowish scab, others oozed watery yuck. She looked like something from a bad zombie movie. Her brain was fried and she was tired of acting like none of it bothered her. The last thing she wanted to do was smile in front of customers.
    “Do you think Mom would let you take me home before you go to the store?”
    Kelsey started the engine. “Text her.”
    Ryan pulled her phone from her purse and tapped out the question. Across the parking lot, the guys were heading from the field house to the practice field. Most of them walked in groups. Justin didn’t. He lagged behind the others. Did he have friends on the team? She’d always figured that if you were on the football team or the basketball team or the whatever team, you were automatically part of a group. But not one guy spoke to Justin as they passed him. She’d seen him