Chapter 52

Shirley always started to stutter when she got nervous. It was the thing everyone at school teased her about the most.
The moment she finished talking, two girls standing by the door couldn’t help but snicker, mocking her under their breath.
“B-b-because… I… I… abba abba
They burst into laughter, their sharp voices echoing through the crowd like little knives. Each giggle landed hard on Shirley’s heart.
She opened her mouth, wanting to say more, but embarrassment made her drop her head. Her voice came out so small it was almost a whisper. “Charlotte, as long as you’re okay… I… I’ll go now.”
She turned away, but Charlotte grabbed her gently by the collar and held out a box of pastries. “Take it.”
Shirley shook her head, refusing. She didn’t dare get closer to Charlotte. Thank goodness Charlotte wasn’t afraid of snakes, and at least she hadn’t been scared today. But who knew what those girls would come up with next?
“Take it!”
Charlotte’s voice was a little sharper now. Shirley jumped and quickly took the box, worried she’d made Charlotte upset. Charlotte was her first friend at Vanguard High School, and Shirley treasured that.
“Hey, isn’t that from The Oak & Vine?” one of the girls at the door whispered, her eyes wide.
“Yeah, it is. My dad got some when someone wanted a favor from him. They’re crazy expensive. Just one tiny piece costs almost ten thousand.”
“How could someone like Charlotte, straight from the countryside, afford something like that? Makes no sense.”
“I heard her main family wanted to send her to Pathfinder Academy, but she went behind their backs and pulled some strings to get into Vanguard instead. Who knows what she did to make that happen.”
“A problem kid gets into Vanguard High, then hands out a cake worth nearly ten grand like it’s nothing… She must have some serious connections.”
The two girls exchanged looks, not saying it outright, but everyone could read between the lines.
“They say she’s an illegitimate kid. Guess it shows, right? It’s in her blood. Just dirty all the way through.”
“And I heard she bullied Olivia. Seriously, what bad luck to end up in the same class as her.”
Their voices trailed off in mutters, but then one of them raised her voice and yelled, “Charlotte, get out of Vanguard High!”
Charlotte heard it all. She just gave a
small, careless smile, then bent
down to pick up a bag from the
ground letting
dangle from her.
finger.

Shirley pulled back, nervous about what was inside. “Charlotte, put it down… Be careful, it could bite.”
But Charlotte just smiled. “It doesn’t bite people. Only trash.”
“Huh?” Shirley blinked, not getting it.
Charlotte flicked her fingers, sending the bag sailing right into the trash can. She brushed off her hands totally calm. No one understood what she was doing.
Then, out of nowhere, a snake slithered out of the bag and made a beeline for the door.
Screams exploded through the classroom. Students jumped onto their chairs in a panic.
The two girls at the door saw the snake racing toward them and
scrambled to get away. They l
so frantic, they crashed rightonto each other and hit the floor
In a flash, the blue snake wrapped around one girl’s leg and sank its fangs deep into
her calf.
“Ow, it hurts!”
“Help me, somebody help!”
The other girl was so terrified, she fainted right then and there.