Chapter 43

ALEJANDRA.

I’m feeling a little down after meeting with Robert, but I try not to let what he said get to me. It’s hard not to take what he said personally, but I know he only said what he did out of his own pain. He’s hurting over the death of my mom. Instead of letting people in, he pushes them away.

So… I put all thoughts of him aside. It’s not worth dominating my thoughts or ruining my mood. Instead, I focus on all the good things. Like my mates. Phoenix sits on one side of me during class and Desmond on the other. Puma looks back at me and grins, like he knows I’m thinking about him—which he probably does—and Forrest plays with my hair at my back. It’s impossible to be sad around my mates, which is probably exactly what they want.

They distract me in the best possible way.

The other kids at school are acting weird today, though. They’re all staring at me and I can hear them whisper things. Even in class when we’re supposed to be doing our work, they’re talking about me. And ei