chapter44
AnyahadnnedtodistanceherselffromLilyaftershowingheraroundtheschool.SheneverexpectedLilytostandupforherandevenmaimJack’slegwhenhebulliedher.Whileshewasdeeplytouched,sheknewtheycouldn’taffordtooffend Jack
ShehadtobegformercyforLily.<b>She</b>wasdeterminednottoletLily<b>get</b>hurt.
“You’llpay?”Jack<b>spat</b>onAnya’sface.“Doyouthinkyouhaveenoughmoneytopayup?
Lillyliftedhergazeslightly,hercoldeyesglinting.<b>She</b>slippedasilverneedleintoherpalm.Thenextmoment,herdemeanorhumedicy.N?velDrama.Org content.
AnyonefamiliarwithherwouldknowthatshewantedJackdead.
Lilymadetomoveforward,bunpulledher back<b>.</b>“Holditin.Youmayhavepowerfulbackers,buthaveyouconsideredhersituation?<b>Her</b>familyisnotwell–offorinfluential.Ifyouhelphertoday,she’llfaceevenmoreseverebullying”
“Isthatso?”LilyncedatJancoldly.
Shespunaround,sprintedahead,andseizedJack’sneck.Herholdwasforcetal,andJackimmediatelystruggledtobreathe.
Startled,hickeysnearbyshouted,“Whatareyoudoing?LetJackgo!”
“Howdareyouattackhim!TheDaltonfamilywillnotspareyou!”
IanandSeanjoltedwithshockaswell,theirjawsdroppingopen.
NobodyexpectedthenewstudenttotakeonEmberCreekHighSchool’sbullyonherfirstday.Moreover,shewasnotafraidintheslightest
tansuddenlyfoundLilytobequiteimpressive.
Withakick,Lilybroughtjack’ckeysdown.Sheraisedherhand,andJackwasheldalott.Atthat,everyonefellsilent.
Jack’sfacewasnched,andhiseyeswererollingback.Heseemedtobeonthevergeofdeath,JustasJackthoughthewasactuallyabouttodie,Lilyloosenedhergrip,andJackdroppedtotheground.Lilylookeddownathimwiththebearingofaqueen.“Anyaisundermyprotection.”
Ifthishadhappenedinthepast,Jackwouldbedead bynow,givenLily’stemper.
Nheless,shedidnotwantto<b>make</b>toomuchtrouble,soshesparedJack’slife.IfJackcontinuedtopushhisluck,Lilywouldn’tbesoeasyonhimthenexttime.LilypulledAnyaaway
Thecrowdthathadgathered<b>quickly</b>dispersed.Noonedaredtostopher.
Clutchinghisneck,JackfranticallypulledinbreathsandpointedatLily.“You!Iwon’tletyougetawaywiththis.I’llyourentirefamily.”
Lilystoppedwalkingandtamedtolookathim,herexpressionnk,“Ihaveagrandmother.She’satthehospitaldowntown.Ifyou’renotafraidofdying,gothere.”
Bridgeport’sDalton<b>family</b>heldnosignificancetoLily.ShedoubtedtheheadoftheDaltonfamilywoulddaretokillherentirefamily.
Lilywasjustabouttoleavewhenthevoiceofagirlrangout,“LilyBrooks,you’resocockyfromthemomentyouarrivedatEmberCreek.Haveyouconsideredhowyourtimeat<b>school</b>willgo?
ItwasHeather.Slowly,shewalkedtowardLilywithanimposingpresence.
Shewasrtivelytall.Atfivefootseven,shewasaheadtallerthanLily.ShelookeddownatLily.“EmberCreekHighSchoolisnotyouryground.”
TalysedandpushedAnyaforward,“TouchherGoon.”
“Idoit!I’mnotafraidofyou.<b>”</b>
IntendingtopleaseHeather,AlexisraisedherhandtostrikeAnya.Atonce,Lilygrabbedherhandandgaveitafirmsqueeze.Herhandbecameincapacitated.
Alexisimmediatelyscreamed<b>.</b>
Heathernarrowedhereyesasshefeltherbloodruncold.
LilytookholdofAnyaandturnedtoleave,butHeather’speoplestoppedher.
“Lethergo!”Heathersaidexpressionlessly.Onlythendidtheymoveoutofherway.Lilyand<b>Anya</b>left,leavingbehindamessinthe<b>cafeteria</b>.