Oops, Wrong Girl to Bully Chapter 16

Angelina’s POV

Dinner was quiet. Mom had made spaghetti. Simple. Cheap. But she'd added meatballs, which meant she'd spent money we didn't have.

Leo ate like he was in a race. Mom picked at her food. I forced myself to eat normally.

After dinner, I helped Mom clean up. We didn't talk much. Just washed and dried in comfortable silence.

When the dishes were done, I went back upstairs.

Need to plan. Need to think.

But my body had other ideas. The moment I lay down on the bed, exhaustion hit like a freight train.

The weekend passed quietly.

Saturday and Sunday blurred together. I stayed in my room mostly. Did the homework the original Aria had been neglecting. Caught up on assignments.

Mom and Dad didn't ask questions. Just seemed relieved I was acting normal.

But every morning, I got up before dawn.

5 AM. Before the sun rose. Before anyone else woke up.

I'd put on running shoes and head to Central Park.

The park was empty at that hour. Just me and the occasional jogger. The occasional homeless person sleeping on a bench.

I ran the perimeter. Then did bodyweight exercises. Push-ups. Squats. Burpees.

This body is too weak.

Last time, lifting Jayden had been a struggle. This body couldn't handle sustained combat.

In my old life, I could bench press 200 pounds one-handed. Could run a marathon without breaking a sweat.

This fifteen-year-old body? Struggled with basic conditioning.

Need to fix that.

By Monday morning, I'd settled into a routine.

5 AM: Wake up, run.

6 AM: Home, shower, change.

6:30 AM: McDonald's for breakfast.

7 AM: School.

I grabbed an Egg McMuffin and hash brown. Ate in the parking lot while watching the sun come up.

First day back since the window incident.

I wondered what people would say. If they'd even remember.

Probably not. High schoolers had short attention spans.

I went to school. The building looked the same. Brick facade. Athletic fields in the back. Groups of students hanging around the entrance.

I walked past them. A few people looked up. Did double-takes.

Right. The hair.

But nobody said anything.

I made it to my classroom. First period: Ms. Wilson's algebra class.

The bell hadn't rung yet. Most students were on their phones or talking.

I walked to my desk.

Logan was already there. He looked up, saw me, and his eyes went wide.

"Whoa. Aria?"

"Hey."

"Your hair looks—" He caught himself. "I mean, it looks good. Different."

"Thanks."

I sat down. Pulled out my textbook.

Behind me, whispers started.

"Is that really her?"

"She looks so different."

"Didn't she jump out a window last week?"

I ignored them. Opened my book to the homework problems.

Then I heard footsteps.

Fast. Purposeful.

Someone grabbed my shoulder.

"Aria!"

I turned.

Emma Rodriguez stood there. High ponytail. Face full of acne. Wearing too much perfume.

And she was smiling.

That fake, overly-bright smile people used when they wanted something.

"Oh my God, you're here! I thought maybe you weren't coming back after the whole window thing last week."

She didn't wait for me to respond. Just kept talking.

"But thank God you're here because I totally need your help." She reached for my backpack. "You brought money today, right?"

"What are you doing?"

She blinked. "Oh! Sorry, I was just—I need to borrow some money. For the lab fee. I completely forgot to bring cash and it's due today and I'll totally pay you back next week, I swear."

Emma's grip tightened on my wrist. "Hello? Earth to Aria? I asked you a question."

I looked down at her hand. Then up at her face.

She was frowning now. Impatient.

"Did you hit your head when you jumped out that window last week? Because you're acting really weird right now."

I didn't move. Just stared at her.

This bitch.

The original Aria's memories flooded through me. Every single time Emma had "forgotten" her wallet. Every single time she'd needed "just a few dollars" for lunch, or lab fees, or some bullshit emergency.

Always with that same bright smile. That same promise: I'll totally pay you back next week.

She never did.

And the original Aria had been too scared to ask.

Personal ATM machine, I thought. That's all I was to her.

No. Worse than that.

In the memories, I could see Emma laughing with her real friends. The ones who actually had money. Making fun of "that pathetic Sterling girl" who was stupid enough to keep lending.

World's biggest sucker, Emma had called me. I swear she'd give me her kidney if I asked.

More laughter.

Good deeds never go unpunished, I thought bitterly.

Around us, I could hear whispers. My hearing had gotten sharper since the rebirth. I could pick out individual voices even in a crowded room.

Three girls, two rows over. Trying to be quiet. Failing.

"Oh my God, is Emma seriously asking Aria for money again?"

"Dude, she does this every week. It's so embarrassing."

"I lent her ten bucks once. Never saw it again."

"That's why I always say no. But Aria's like... I don't know. Too nice? Too dumb?"

"Definitely too dumb. Who keeps lending money to someone who never pays them back?"

Stifled giggles.

I smiled.

Emma saw it and relaxed slightly. "There we go. I knew you'd help out." She squeezed my wrist. "So how much can you spare? I need like—"

"How much do you need?"

My voice came out smooth. Pleasant.

Emma's whole face lit up. "Oh thank God. I thought for a second you were gonna be weird about it." She laughed. "I need twenty dollars. The lab fee's due today and I completely forgot—"

"Sure."

She blinked. "Wait, really?"

"Yeah." I pulled my wrist free from her grip. Reached for my backpack. "But I have one condition."

Here we go, I thought. Let's give everyone something to remember.

Emma was already nodding. "Of course, of course! Whatever you need. I'll pay you back next Friday, I swear. Cross my heart—"

"Get on your knees."