Chapter 76

“Figure what out?” I ask, but they’re not here to talk. This time, they don’t just verbally assault me. Two girls come up from behind and grab me by the arms while Harper steps forward and backhands me across the face as hard as she can. I taste blood in my mouth, and I see stars as I look back at her. She grins and moves aside for Becky who’s so gung-ho for violence that she’s practically drooling. She hits me closed-fist in the stomach, and I double over, held up only by the girls on either arm. I’m struggling, kicking and flailing as hard as I can, but I’m not going anywhere. When I do finally break one arm free, there are two more girls to come and help pin it back.

They take turns hitting me until I’m so dizzy and out of breath that when they let go, I fall to my knees. The beating doesn’t stop there. They kick me, pull my hair, tear the seams from my blouse. The girls keep at it until a round of applause sounds from the stage. That’s their cue to step back and leave me t