32 Payback time …

Lyla

A wave of apprehension washed over me .

There was something in his gaze that sent a chill down my spine .

His eyes , dark and penetrating , seemed to look right through me as if he knew secrets about me that even I ,

didn’t know .

He looked like he could be a businessman or

something else … I couldn’t say but what unsettled me more was how he stared at me , as if he had been * waiting for me to notice him .

I felt my pulse quicken

a quick tremor passed through m

my head , I wanted to look away but I just cou.

’t why was he

here ? Was he a new teacher ?

Suddenly , something said sharply in my ear , startling me as I bolted up from my seat .

“ LOOK AWAY ! ”

I finally managed to tear my eyes away from the man , only to notice I was standing and everyone in my class was staring at me strangely including Mrs Caldwell

32 Payback time ….

and Ms.

Hayley .

“ Is everything alright , Lyla ? ” Mrs Caldwell asked eyeing me strangely .

“ You look like you’ve just seen a ghost .

My eyes went back to the entrance of the door , the man was still there and his eyes were still on me .

I

wanted to tell the teachers what I saw but they were humans and I could be the only one seeing it , I didn’t want them to think I was stupid .

“ I … ” I trailed off stuttering .

“ There’s an empty seat next to me and I was wondering if the new student would like to sit here ,” I said quickly with a strained smile .

“ That’s so sweet of you , Lyla ! Ms Hayley beamed with pride and turned to the man at the door “ I told you Mr Dupree , our school is ‘ the best pla or your son , you don’t have to worry about him fitting in .

The man nodded but didn’t say anything .

“ Xander , go ahead and take the empty seat next to Lyla and let’s go back to our teaching .

Xander nodded and waved at the man by the door

before making his way towards me .

I forced myself not to look at the mysterious man by the door .

Read the latest and free novels at

The man

19:24

2/0

32 Payback me .

couldn’t be his father – he looked far too young and Xander seemed like my age .

Xander finally slid into the empty desk beside me .

The man by the door lingered for a moment longer , his eyes still on me , before he turned and left .

I exhaled slowly , realizing I had been holding my breath .

Something about that man wasn’t right .

And Xander – I turned to look at my new classmate and caught him looking at me .

“ Hi ! ” I murmured , blushing at being caught before I quickly turned away .

something off about him , too , though

quite figure out

W

discussing , with me bare

ntinued the

ontributing

anything .

hand remained aloof ,

on his desk without

Caldwell .

Caldwell suddenly called his attention ,

she feel it too ? I wondered

Margaret Atwood’s “ The Handmaid’s

don’t suppose

?

Payback time

curled into a

he said , his voice low

… idealistic , don’t you think ? Offred was a fool

than to chase a dream that

My brows furrowed .

strange about the way he said it , as though he wasn’t just talking

experience .

words made me uneasy , though I couldn’t explain

at Xander for a few seconds before

continued , but my focus wavered

the strange man – Mr Dupree who had stared at me so intensely and

mind flitted to the dream I had when I was sick , and I wondered

and

the end of class , I gathered my

, I could

10:24 :

Payback time

my way to the student cafeteria for lunch

time I had ever dared to

in the bathroom or outside by the field , too afraid of being

tray of food

eyes following me but

empty table near the

down , their whispers

Is that really Lyla

.

to her ?

She looks

ignored them , focusing on my

had just

sandwich when a familiar voice cut through the

her voice dripping with mockery “ Look who’s finally decided to

join the rest of us in the

up from

bite , the room was

atore at 110

32 Payback time ….

snapped , slamming her

talking to you

matter ?

looked up at

, flanked by her

raked over me , a sneer twisting her perfectly

do you want , Marissa ? ” I sighed “ Don’t you know it’s bad table etiquette to

a lot of nerve , Lyla , showing up like this and speaking

or putting oil in your hair is

you’re still the

her giggled , the filling the

pitched

them , chimed

you can change your clothes all you want , but

school weirdo .

continued

bubbling up inside me , but it was

was no

Фрушар тити

helpless victim they expected me to be

Marissa saw I was barely reacting to them and

, she picked up her used food tray

Her friends .

followed suit .

they emptied their trays into my

said

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