Chapter Sixty Seven

JADE'S POV

It took hearing that stupid statement from Liz to realise that the stares and whispers from earlier weren't about Ches and her new hair color, no, it was because of me.

The air had left my lungs when the words finally sank in, the insinuations making it hard to believe and like a dummy, I couldn't even say a word in my defense.

The tears I'd been holding all morning, from that altercation with Amber to my hair being yanked and drawn by Emma, came rushing back and in that moment, there was nothing I could do to stop it.

The ringing of the bell indicating the start of first period had saved me and as the student dispersed, I kept hearing repetitions of stupid, derogatory words- whore and slut taking the lead.

Eventually, I'd found myself alone in the long hall, not even Ches in sight, and now in hindsight, I'm glad that she'd not been there.

I don't imagine I'd have wanted the pity that would be so evident in her eyes and voice or the questions that would have followed, asking