Faire Exchange: Chapter 21

Zoe loses her temper.

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Zoe walked into Ms. Ivory's class hoping to shake Gregg Herron's hand. It waas about time someone told Rina off. But right now that hand was too busy propping up Gregg's sagging head, which would probably drop right down on the desk if he moved his arm. He ought to have been proud, but after dodging those lightning bolts, he must have been more worried about whatever else Rina might do to get back at him. Poor guy.

Zoe sat down and swept her hand behind her neck, pulling back nothing. Right, her ponytail was gone now. She still hadn't gotten used to it.

She shouldn't have had to get used to it at all.

She saw Nadia Xu come in, and rolled up her fist. That traitor—what did she think Rina was going to do for her? She might even be feeding Rina some of her ideas! Just wait, Nadia. It wouldn't be long before Rina turned one of those ideas on you.

Nadia sat next to Gregg.

Why?! What was Zoe even seeing? Zoe knew those two were friends—they sat together a lot, so much that people wondered if they were boyfriend and girlfriend. But why would someone who hates Rina be sitting next to Rina's friend, without them screaming their heads off at each other? Were they really that close?

Zoe leaned over to listen. They were whispering, so she only caught a few snatches of what they were saying.

"I'll be fine," Gregg said. "Martin and Jeremy … She didn't chase me …"

"… talked to her … very upset."

"What are you two talking about?" Zoe said, loud and clear.

The two of them gave a start.

"Wh-What do you think we're talking about?" Gregg said.

Zoe got up. "I know you're talking about Rina." She walked around the desks, heading toward their row. "But I don't understand." Zoe pointed at Nadia. "Don't you realize who this is? Didn't her friend just try to zap you a few minutes ago? You really think Nadia's got your back?"

Nadia said, "Y-You don't understand."

"Right, Nadia's my friend," Gregg said. "We've always been friends."

"Well, she went to Rina to comfort her after you ran off," Zoe said. Not you. Some friend, huh?"

"She was just telling me about that."

"Really." Zoe pointed at Nadia. "Just whose side are you on?"

"I'm… I'm…"

"It's not any of your business, Zoe," Gregg said. "Just leave us alone."

"Rina is totally my business." Zoe tugged on a lock of her hair. "Especially after, you know, this."

"Look, there's a lot you don't understand."

"Right, I was just telling him," Nadia said. "I've been talking to Rina, and there's a lot of stuff nobody knows."

"Like what?" Zoe said. "She's done nothing but make us all miserable ever since she got here. And I'll bet you're helping her."

"What? No. I'm trying to help her do better."

"Better at putting curses on us."

"No! She wants to change. She wants to behave now, and I think she really means it."

"Yeah, right," Zoe said. "And I'm the king of France."

"No, she does! She's really lonely, and homesick. If you could just give her a chance—"

Zoe slapped Nadia.

"Zoe Walters!" Ms. Ivory yelled.

Zoe's palm stung, and she saw the red mark on Nadia's face. Ms. Ivory was marching toward her. Zoe had been so worked up, she didn't notice that Ms. Ivory had even entered the room.

Tears streaked over Nadia's face.

"I-I'm sorry," Zoe said. "I didn't mean—"

Ms. Ivory grabbed her arm.

And Zoe let herself get dragged to the teacher's desk. As Ms. Ivory chewed her out and wrote her up, Zoe kept rubbing her palm. That slap had felt a lot better than she thought it would. Or should.