Rival Revenge by Jessica Burkhart Page A

word—everyone just started working. The silence in the room was deafening in that weird way and I wished I’d picked a room with a TV just to have some sort of background noise. I didn’t want to sit here with them—they were probably waiting for me to leave so they could talk about me. But if I got up and left now, it would look like they’d chased me out of the room. I had to keep pretending that I didn’t care and was fine.
    So I went back to work, forcing myself to stay. I still couldn’t believe they’d picked this room. Out of every other room they could have chosen—it had to be this one. And the entire time, no one talked—everyone worked on homework. I kept sneaking glances at the wall clock.
    Julia, sitting by Ben, looked over at me for a second and her mouth opened, then she closed it. And that was my cue to leave before she started grilling me about why I was here. I didn’t look at anyone as I put away my stuff and slung my book bag over my shoulder. Troy was the only one to look up and give me a half smile.
    I left and went down a side hallway. I walked by one of the TV rooms that was empty and had the door open. I halted mid-step and went back to look inside. This was the room. The couch. The TV. The place where Jacob and I had met for our first viewing of our documentary, Horse Sense. I’d been so nervous to sit next to Jacob on the couch—I’d almost jumped up when his arm had brushed mine. The memory made me smile.
    When we’d filmed the movie at the stable, Jacob had acted weird the entire time. While I’d held Charm, Jacob had stayed as far away from me as possible. He’d left the second we’d finished filming and I’d been crushed. I’d thought it was because he’d stopped liking me or wasinto someone else. I’d had no idea it was because he was afraid of horses. Jacob had gone along with my idea for me because he knew how much I loved horses . It was one of the sweetest things anyone had ever done for me. I stood in the doorway for a long, long time thinking about good memories and how quickly things can change.

THE NEW BAD GIRL
    WHEN I GOT BACK TO WINCHESTER, I WAITED
for the feeling of security, of being in my own dorm and away from everyone, to wash over me. But it didn’t. Instead, I just felt annoyed at seeing Homecoming posters every five feet.
    â€œSasha?” Livvie, my dorm monitor, called. She stepped outside her office and I turned back to face her.
    â€œYeah?”
    â€œCome in here a sec. I want to chat.” Livvie waved her arm in front of her, motioning for me to walk into her office.
    I did and she closed the door behind us.
    â€œSit, sit,” Livvie said. She brushed her long brown hair back and sat behind her giant wooden desk. It wasfreakishly organized. Like, down to the paper clip collection. But that was Livvie.
    I sat, trying to think if I was in trouble. My grades were fine—great, actually. I hadn’t missed a class and I couldn’t think of one reason for Livvie to call me in here.
    Livvie smiled. “You’re not in trouble,” she said, as if reading my mind.
    â€œPhew,” I said. “I thought something was wrong.”
    Livvie looked down at her desktop calendar, then back at me. “Well, I’m hoping there isn’t. Sash, Paige mentioned to me that you broke up with Eric. She said that you and Callie are going through a rough time. I’m sorry to hear that and please know that Paige only told me because she’s worried about you.”
    I shook my head—I wasn’t mad at Paige. “Worried how?”
    â€œWorried that you’re overextending yourself. Studying and riding all of the time. I’m all for working hard,” Livvie said. “But you’ve got to take a break every once in a while. Your grades are wonderful, Mr. Conner tells me you’re doing great at the stable, and none of your teachers have a