Quinn breezed past my lab table, passing out lab glasses, and the pair he was handing me smacked me in the face.

“Oops.”

“A little extra credit going on back here? Keep your eyes to the front, Miss McNeel.”

Brynn snickered at the table diagonal from mine and I knew I had given her solid ammunition against me.

Right now, I could only reluctantly pray that Garreth would transfer to an AP chem class, because it was highly unlikely that I would be lucky enough to spontaneously combust, putting an end to my misery.

The bell rang and we all shuffled for the door — and sure enough…

“Setting your sights kind of high, aren’t you? New boy’s got the pick of the crop here, so don’t get all starry-eyed, Freak,” Brynn hissed as she jabbed me with the corner of her textbook.

As usual, I didn’t give her an answer. She didn’t deserve one.

Study hall, American history, and English literature came and went and at last the day was over. Claire had accepted a ride home with Ryan. She didn’t seem too concerned about leaving her car unattended in the school parking lot. More importantly, she didn’t seem too concerned about leaving me unattended in the parking lot either. So now my perfect day came to a screeching halt as I prepared to ride the big yellow bus of doom. I made my way across the macadam toward the noxious fumes of the yellow convoy, feeling deflated.

I pulled up the sleeve of my purple T-shirt, and sure enough, a nice black-and-blue mark was developing, thanks to Brynn’s dire need to inflict pain whenever necessary. My lips set in a tight line as I yanked down my sleeve.