42

BLOOM’S POV

“That applies to you, Bloom. No matter how you dress up, you’re still disgusting.” There it was. This was that premonition that something would go wrong today.

I could easily have ignored Cecily, but she wasn’t alone. Her company of two other girls snickered at her words like it was the funniest thing they had ever heard. Now, I couldn’t just let it go. Sighing, I stared her up from her feet to the top of her head.

“What’s that for?” Cecily asked with a displeased look. She obviously hadn’t gotten the memo yesterday that I wasn’t the same cowardly Bloom. “Cecily, poor, poor Cecily,” I said loud enough for only her to hear, and her face blank.

“What’s with that tone? Do you think because—”

“No, Cecily.” I put up a hand to silence her, and she spluttered in shock. First, I would take care of her friends, then I would face Cecily. “You’re her new friends, aren’t you?” Their silence was enough. “You’re probably from this Pack, right, and not the other one where Cecily came f