Chapter 3

I first met Maggie in tenth grade.

I remembered it was a hot, stuffy afternoon. I snuck out during lunch to buy a soda. Right after I paid, someone snatched it from me.

A tall, chubby girl named Fiona smirked, "Oh, got money now? You broke my lipstick last time. Time to pay up."

I had no parents, only a grandma. No one would cause a scene at school to defend me. They picked on me on purpose.

I said, "I told you I didn't break it. You handed it to me and dropped it before I could take it."

"You did." She squeezed my arm hard. "Everyone saw it. Do you want to deny it?"

The pain made my eyes water. I fought to grab my soda back.

My grandma spent a whole month doing odd jobs and only gave me two dollars. I'd been craving that soda for ages.

"Give it back! Give it back to me," I shouted.

"Ugh! Who wants your cheap drink?" She lifted her hand. The soda bottle crashed to the ground and shattered.

My eyes widened. The next second, someone pulled my hair. "No money? Steal from your family and pay me tomorrow. Or do you want to be locked in the classroom all night again?"

I bit my lip hard. The group laughed at my mess.

"What are you doing?" A sweet voice cut through.

Maggie had been standing in the shade by the convenience store. No one had noticed her.

"Who's that?" Fiona frowned.

"Oh, the rich girl," someone called out.

Fiona snapped, "Mind your own business. Scram."

Maggie stepped forward, her face serious, and stood in front of me. "Let her go. I'll pay you whatever it is."

The group exchanged looks. Then Fiona let out a nasty laugh and held up two fingers. "2,000 dollars."

"I'll bring it tomorrow. I only have this much now." Maggie pulled out 500 dollars and handed it to her.

Fiona stared at her in disbelief, counted the money, and scoffed. "Idiot."

With that, she left with her friends.

Maggie crouched down next to me, looking at the spilled soda. "Are you okay?"

I pressed my lips together, moved away, and snapped, "I didn't break her lipstick. You paid for it, but I won't pay you back."

I could never earn 2,000 dollars in my life.

"Okay, fine," said Maggie.

I didn't know where she went for a minute. When I looked up, she held out a bright orange soda. "Do you like this? So do I."

I stood up. She looked up at me.

I slapped her hand away. "I don't like it."

Maggie froze. I thought she was being nice.

I thought Maggie and I would never be close.

But I was wrong. One day after school, her driver hadn't come. I saw her stop outside a stationery store.

"Wow, you're so rich. Buying ten-dollar pens? Buy me one, too. Not that one. I want the twenty-dollar one," Fiona ordered.

Maggie frowned, "Didn't your mom give you money to buy a pen?"

Fiona lost it and swung a slap at her. "What did you say? Running your mouth, huh? Hold her down and slap her till she shuts up."

Fiona's mom died years ago.

Maggie panicked. She tried to step back but was grabbed and dragged out.

She stumbled and fell into a puddle.

The store was in an alley, with few people around. Slaps landed across her face. Maggie screamed.

I kicked Fiona hard in the stomach.

I didn't know where I got the strength. I grabbed Maggie and ran before they could react.

"Don't you ever exercise? You're so slow!" I panicked.

She had breathed in dirty water and coughed as she ran.

I gritted my teeth and pushed her. "Go first."

"No way!"

"Go get a teacher!"

Maggie refused to leave me. We were caught and beaten badly.

They took all her money as well as the little doll pendant my grandma had sewn for me.

Her driver was looking for her, so she hid.

"Tell him you fell," I told her.

"What about you?" she asked.

"My grandma's eyes are bad. She won't notice the bruises. I'll say I gave the doll to you."

"Gave it to me?" She latched onto the wrong part.

Maggie grabbed my hand hopefully. "Will you give me one next time? I love that kind of thing."

I nodded.

"Deal. Oh, what's your name?"

"Jessica Perkins."

"I'm Maggie Zimmerman."

Everyone knew who she was: the richest girl in school. Her dad's name was on all the school donations.