Seizure(77)

Then my finely tuned ears caught the sound I dreaded.

Madison. Somewhere behind me.

I flexed my sonic ability, trying to tease her voice from the cacophony of gossip and giggles.

“… be sorry this time. Someone has to teach her …”

“Now.” Ashley. “Jason’s gone inside.”

Fabric swished in my direction.

I took a deep breath. No fear.

“Boat girl.”

I ignored the taunt.

“Boat. Girl.”

Slowly, I turned.

Madison stood a few feet from me, arms crossed, flanked by her sycophant flunkies. She’d spoken loudly, intending her performance to be very public.

My pulse raced. I didn’t trust myself to speak.

Madison arranged her features in a puzzled expression. “I thought we made it clear you weren’t welcome here?”

Conversations halted. A loose circle formed. Feral excitement gleamed in the onlookers’ eyes. The crowd smelled blood.

“You shouldn’t be here,” Courtney parroted.

“Nope.” Ashley flashed a predatory smile. “This isn’t for you.”

“It’s a free country.” But my voice was shaky.

“Actually, it’s not.” Madison giggled. “It’s quite pricey. But I imagine you wish that were true, since you can’t afford places like this.”

Scattered chuckles. I could sense the crowd holding its collective breath. Not a voice spoke in my defense.

The silence lengthened, but I was determined not to break it. This was Madison’s show. If she wanted drama, she’d have to carry the performance.

Then a familiar scent drifted my way.

Beneath the Dior perfume and La Mer body lotion, Madison emitted the aroma of nervousness.

Outwardly, she looked relaxed. But my enhanced vision noted her tense muscles, saw the tightness to her jaw. The vein in her neck was pumping mile-a-minute.

The confident pose was an act. Madison Dunkle was wound tighter than a snare drum.

“You’re out of your depth, Tory.” Madison pitched her voice to carry. “And not just here. Bolton Prep is far too prestigious to accept riffraff out of misguided pity.”

“Pity?” My face was burning, but I kept my tone calm.

Ashley laughed. “Everyone knows you can’t afford the tuition. They only let your pathetic group attend because some lame administrator needed a good deed for PR.”

“But we’re the ones who suffer.” Madison shook her head in solemn distress. “Deserving students, forced to share classrooms with a band of island hicks. It’s a wonder we learn anything at all.”

Enough. Chance said to attack? Done and done.

“I’m not deserving?” I rolled my eyes. “Last I checked, I outscored you in every class we shared. You know, the sophomore courses I took as a freshman?”

Madison’s eyes widened. She covered her anxiety with a smirk, but the nervous smell ripened.

I didn’t let up. “Unlike you, I bust my ass every day. That’s why I’m a Bolton Scholar and you’re not. We’ll both be taking the AP schedule next year. If you ask nicely, maybe I’ll agree to tutor you.”

Madison’s smirk wavered. Another scent flooded my nose.

Embarrassment.

I’d hit a nerve.

The answer dawned on me.

“You were accepted into the AP program, right?” My face was the model of sincerity. “I know you applied.”

Madison stiffened. “You don’t know anything.”

My nose told me otherwise.

“Wow.” I shook my head. “Awkward. That’s not going to help those college applications. But maybe your parents’ money can buy you in somewhere.”

Snickers, hastily covered by hands. But the target was different this time. Eyes had shifted to Madison.

She started to speak, but I cut her off.

“Honestly, it’s pathetic how you continually follow me around. Don’t you have anything else to do? Get a freaking hobby.”

The snickers became chuckles. Fickle as ever, the crowd had turned. Watching Madison squirm was even better entertainment.

“We do not follow you,” Ashley snapped. “You’re a loser!”

“Could’ve fooled me. Everywhere I go, you guys trail along like lost puppies. When I look out my bedroom window, I expect to see you three rooting through my trash.”

“Hold on!” Courtney looked stunned. “You can’t talk to us like this!”

“I’m sorry, are my words too big for you? Need make more simple?”

Laughter swelled. I was on a roll. Why had I ever let these bimbos get to me?

“You’re a nobody.” Madison’s cheeks were scarlet. “Not one person here wants to see your face again.”

“Don’t worry about me, Maddy. I’ll be fine. If people dislike me for no reason, that’s their problem.”

Game. Set. Match. Ashley whispered into Madison’s ear. I overheard easily.

“She’s making you look stupid. And Jason’s coming back.”

Embarrassment overpowered all Madison’s other scents. She’d also started to sweat. Surprisingly, I hadn’t.

I stood calmly, waiting for her to lob me the next volley.