Chapter65
WhenAnyaleftthecafeteria,shewasstillinastateofshock.
DanandSeanfollowedLilyoutinsilencentookapeek atLily,tryingtoreadherexpression.Hehadexpectedhertobeanxiousorevenafraid.
Tohissurprise,shewasnot.Herfacewasicy,andherbackwasstraight.Shelookedproud.
“Thankyou.”Anyafinallysnappedoutofhertrance.Sheloweredherheadandsaidinasmallvoice,“Butyoushouldn’thave<b>…</b>”
Withasigh,shedroppedtherestof thesentenceandasked,“Whatshouldwedo?Jackwileafteryou.Maybeweshouldtelltheteachers<b>.</b>”
LilywastextingLoid.Whensheheard<b>Anya</b>,sheliftedherhead.“Whyshouldwedothat?
Shehadbeenpreupiedwithsendingatextearlier,soshemissedthefirstpartofAnya’swords.
“Attheveryleast,theteacherswilldefendyou.Wereallycan’taffordtocrossJack.Idon’twanttogetyouintotrouble.”<b>Anya’s</b>expressionwas<b>grim</b>.LoldhadrepliedtoLilyLilydippedherheadandtypedoutafewwordsquickly:“Getafewbodyguardstoprotectmygrandma.I’llcoverthecost”Aftersendingthemessage,Lilyputherphoneaway.ShesethercoldeyesonAnya’sface.HerstaremadeAnyauneasy.
“W–Whatisit?”AnyaassumedshehadattendedLilysomehow.Sheimmediatelygrewnervous
AfterstaringatAnyaforawhile,Lily<b>suddenly</b>grinned.“Let’sgo,Iprotectyoufromnowon!
Anya’sheartinstantlywarmed<b>.</b>ShelookedupatLily’sface,whichwasbathedinsunlight.Lilywasstunning.
Despiteherearlieranxiety,Anyafeltcellewedforsomereason.ShebelievedLilywouldbealright.
NearbynrubbedhisforeheadinexasperationafterhearingLily’sboldwords.Hegaveheragentlereminder.
“DoyouknowhowpowerfulBridgeport’sDaltonfamilyis?YouparalyzedJack’slegtoday.Theyreallywillmakeyoupayforitwithyourentirefamily’slife.Youcan’tstandseeing
afellowstudentbeingbullied,buthaveyouconsideredhowthefalloutwillbetoomuchforyoutohandle?
Lilytiltedherheadup.Shelookedatfan,herexpressionsomewhatdevilish.“<b>So</b>he’sgotmoney<b>and</b>power.Andthat’swhyyoujustwatchasotherstudentsgetbulled?”
Jan’sfaceflushed.Hedippedhishead,embarrassed.“Twanttohelptoo,buttheFlescherfamilyipletelyoutmatchedbytheDaltonfamily”
Lilyletoutachuckleandignoredhim.PullingAnyaalong,sheturnedandwallordaway.
Lookingatherback,Lanfeltdeeplyconflicted
After<b>a</b>longwhile,hecaughtupwithLily.Hisexpressionwassolemn. ‘‘tadmitthatI’mabitofa<b>coward</b>.Ichoosetodisregardmanythingstoavoidcausingtroubleformyfamily.Lily,I’mnotasgoodasyou.”
He’dmadeuphismindwithafirmresolve.“Iwon’tdrawbackthistime.I’llprotectyouandAnya.IfJackgivesyouanytrouble,Iwon’tgoeasyonhim.“”
Tamfeltashamed<b>at</b>howhehadbeenlivinghislife..
Withnofearofthoseinpower,<b>Lily</b>savedAnyafromjackonherfirstday inschool
Lilyncedathimindifferently.“Watchoutforyourselffirst”
Aftershesaidthat,herphonechimeditwasamessagefromLoid:“Whohaveyouoffended?
Lilypromptlytestedback:“Bridgeport’sDaltonfamily.”
Loid’sreplywasswift<b>as</b>well:“Noted.Don’tworry.”
ThatmessagetookLilybysurprise.Shesmiled,thenreturnedherphoherpocket.
TheincidentinthecafeteriathatafternoonquicklybecameknownthroughoutEmberCreek.EventheHeadofStudentAffairs,CorvinaFrias,wasalerted.
IntheStudentAffairsOffice,Corvinaheardthereportfromastudent.Sherubbedhertemplesandasked,“WhereisJackDaltonrightnow?”
“He’satthehospital,”thestudentansweredhonestly.“ordingtothedoctor,hislegismostlikelyirreparable.”
Chapter46All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.