Page 193 of Always Love You More

I move along with the shuffle of other kids, making my way into the cafeteria. I didn’t have time for breakfast this morning or time last night to pack a lunch, so I’m starving.

Taking a tray, I start down the line, grabbing anything that looks close to edible. I swear the shit they serve barely resembles food, but my lips tip up when I see a bowl of chocolate pudding. At least I know that’ll be good.

Leaning forward I reach for it, just before another hand snatches it.

Turning, I look over at the girl who took it, glaring when I see her smirking at me.

“That’s mine,” I snap.

Slowly, she drags her gaze down to her tray, baiting me. “No, actually, I think it’s mine.”

“Juliette,” the girl behind her whisper-hisses, nudging her with a shoulder. “What are you doing?”

Juliette shrugs, feigning innocence. “Nothing. Just getting my lunch.”

“Yeah, well”—I reach for her tray—“that’s my fucking pudding.”

She scoffs. “What? You think you’re just entitled to everything because of who you are?”

I raise a brow. What does she meanbecause of who I am?

“You know”—she leans into me, dropping her voice—“your loser brother used to steal from my dad’s store.”

“What?”

“He wasn’t even that subtle about it.”

“What Carson does has nothing to do—”

“No.” She shakes her head. “I’m not talking about him. I’m talking about the dead one.”

“Keep moving,” the lunch lady hollers, but I don’t listen. I barely even hear her.

“The fuck did you just say?”

“Johnny was his name, right?”

I go utterly still. “Don’t say his fucking name.”

“Juliette,” her friend warns.

“Can’t say I was surprised when I heard what happened, though. I mean, he was a thug; not like his life was going anywhere. We’re all probably better off—”

All I see is red.

The next thing I know, I’m on top of her, smashing my tray into her face. The crunch her nose makes as it breaks gives me a sickening sense of satisfaction.

She’s shoving at me to get off of her, blood dripping down her face. People around us are shouting, their voices a blur as her words play through my head.

The dead one.

Johnny was his name, right?

Life was going nowhere.

Probably better off.

My mind is spinning, the voices too loud, too many. I feel arms around my waist, pulling me back, and my body sags, my legs nearly giving out.