Free That Witch! by Zoe Lynne Page A

for the girl.
    Oh, how the mighty had fallen.
    Somehow she managed to finish lunch without having to talk to anyone. Not that her friends hadn’t noticed there was something wrong with her, but they weren’t the type to ask. More than likely because they really didn’t care; they just wanted the gossip. Since Cassidy wasn’t offering any ante, they probably figured it wasn’t worth their time to pry, so she made it to her fifth period economics class without anyone in her face.
    It was actually rather peaceful. She kinda liked being alone, but it wouldn’t last. It never did.
    That point was painfully proven by the time she got to her locker after acing her economics pop quiz. Jenna came bounding over, bleached blonde hair bouncing around her cardigan. “So… you gonna tell me why you’re so quiet?”
    “Nope.”
    “Cassidy, what’s wrong? You know you can talk to me about anything, right?”
    Yeah, so you can go tell the rest of the school, right? “I’m fine.” She couldn’t pull her books out of her locker fast enough.
    Jenna huffed, clearly agitated by Cassidy’s lack of speech. “But Cassidy—”
    “Just stop, okay? Leave me alone. I’m fine.” The red, metal door of Cassidy’s locker slammed shut, the sound accentuating the end of her sentence. Jenna finally got the message. Or so she hoped. Either way, she wasn’t about to stand around a moment longer. “I’ll catch you at practice,” Cassidy mumbled before trudging off down the long hallway to Mrs. Miller’s classroom.
    Reaching the door, she greeted the teacher, who stood to the side, posted like one of those weird British soldiers with the fuzzy hats who didn’t move.
    Cassidy made her way inside and intended on heading toward the back to her usual desk. Yeah, that’s what she should have done. Instead, she saw the desk beside Brynn’s empty, and for one reason or another, which she might never comprehend, she plopped into the seat and set her backpack down on the floor at her feet. When she looked up, not only was Brynn staring at her wide-eyed, but Laura had ambled into the classroom and was shooting daggers at her with those freaky zombie-type contact lenses she insisted on wearing, because obviously, she didn’t think she looked enough like a whack job already.
    Cassidy smiled oh-so-sweetly in return. Laura seethed, and Brynn’s eyes widened even more as she sank down into her seat. For a moment there, she had been so wrapped up in what was going on with Brynn, she’d forgotten she could totally use her bitch card, which she happily waved in the air at Laura.
    The freak growled at her as she passed her by, opting to take another seat instead of fighting Cassidy for the one she’d claimed for the day. “Relax, spaz. You can have your seat back tomorrow. No need to growl like a dog.”
    Brynn didn’t look at all too happy with her choice of words toward her friend, but Cassidy had had all she could handle of Brynn’s rejection for one day. Locking her gaze with Brynn’s, she whispered softly enough so Brynn could hear, but the rest of the kids couldn’t. “What did you mean this morning?”
    “Is this really a good time to have this conversation?” Brynn whispered back, keeping her eyes straight ahead.
    “I don’t see why not. It’s not like we’re talking about drugs or illegal crap. It was a movie, for the love of all things holy.”
    “I shouldn’t have been watching it.”
    “Shouldn’t have or didn’t want to?”
    “Shouldn’t have.” Brynn finally looked over, meeting Cassidy’s stare with an intensity she’d never seen from the shy emo girl before. “It made me think about… things, okay?”
    “And whatever you thought about made you bolt from my house without so much as a good-bye or an explanation?” Cassidy’s pale brows shot up as Brynn’s cheeks turned a bright shade of crimson.
    Oh. Is she trying to say what I think she’s trying to say?
    Cassidy shifted in her seat, suddenly uncomfortable