Forsaken Read Online Free Page B

happened.
    Now what? She’d pined for Brady for so long. But he was a monster, nothing at all like the boy she’d built up in her mind. He was an asshole.
    She shouldn’t feel heartbroken over him. But she did. She couldn’t help it. Years of complete infatuation could not be swept aside in one afternoon.
    When did Brady become such a jerk? He used to be so nice: quiet and well-meaning and polite. Nora couldn’t believe who he had transformed to.
    Maybe it was his friends’ fault? Maybe the guys with him pressured him to do that. Nora remembered the smell of beer on their breaths. Was she a special target, or would they have done the same to any girl they found that day?
    The worst part was that her stupid brain wouldn’t let her flip a switch and forget about Brady, just like that. She’d held out for him for too long. Now that the illusion was shattered…
    Well, she did the only thing she could do. She buried her head into her pillow and sobbed. Deep, heart-wrenching sobs tore through her body. They left her drained and exhausted.
    Eventually, she pushed herself up from the bed. She couldn’t hide forever.

    She shut her eyes tight and willed the pain to go away. It subsided a little. Nora opened her eyes again.
    Hunter had saved her. He risked himself to help a girl he thought was his friend. And how did she repay him? By punching him in the gut.
    Idiot! Nora ridiculed herself. Complete and utter idiot!
    She stood up. The immediacy of what happened with Brady had overwhelmed her completely. She’d lashed out at the most convenient target: Hunter.
    Would he ever forgive her? Nora stared hopelessly at the ceiling. It was too late to change the past, but maybe she could somehow apologize to him in the future. She owed that much to him, at least.
    Scratching at her door caught her attention. She opened the door to her Labrador, Buster, who jumped onto her and licked the trails of her tears away.
     
    —
     
    Nora overslept the next morning and had to rush to school. She arrived fifteen minutes late, earning a stern look from Mrs. Millburn.
    Nora’s gaze darted to Hunter’s spot at the back. It was empty.
    A strange mix of disappointment and relief flooded over her. Hunter wasn’t there. It meant the much-needed apology would have to wait. But, it also meant the guilt of lashing out at him would keep gnawing at her.
    Nora slid down in her seat and watched the door the entire class, hoping Hunter would come. But he never did. The bell rang, interrupting her brooding, and Mrs. Millburn called Nora up to her desk. Great.
    “Yes?” Nora asked, over the sounds of shuffling students and brass conversation behind her.
    “I just wanted to inform you that your late arrival today was unacceptable, Miss Colburn.” Mrs. Millburn raised an eyebrow and waited.
    “I know. I’m sorry. I overslept this morning. It won’t happen again.”
    “See that it doesn’t.” Nora started to turn away, but stopped when Mrs. Millburn continued. “I also wanted to let you know that your presence afterschool today will be unnecessary.”
    “What? How come?”
    “Mr. Geralds wasn’t in class today. Seeing as he won’t be here, there’s no point for you to come in by yourself.”
    “Oh.”
    “Of course, I expect to see both of you here at precisely 3:15 on Monday, to make up for this missed session.”
    “Okay.” Nora turned to the door. “Thank you, Mrs. Millburn.”
    Nora shouldered her way through the thick throng of students in the halls and caught up with her friends in the cafeteria.
    “Nora!” Stacy was the first to notice her, and she jumped out of her seat to grab Nora in a big hug. “Where have you been? We were all so worried!”
    “Worried?” Nora tried to sound nonchalant. “Why?” She hadn’t told anybody what happened yesterday, and she doubted Brady or any of his buddies had. Since Hunter was absent, he couldn’t have mentioned anything, either.
    “Haven’t you heard ?”
    “Heard