Girls with Razor Hearts
After the other player is on the sidelines, the game resumes. There’s a call on the field that causes screaming all around us—cheers, I guess. My gaze catches on someone standing at the bottom of the bleachers, holding on to the railing. I notice her because of her long, blond ponytail. The texture of it is familiar. Loss tears through my chest; my lips part in stunned silence.
The girl is clapping and hooting wildly. And when she turns and I see her profile, I jump to my feet.
“Mena, what is it?” Sydney asks, standing up. I can barely catch my breath.
“Lennon Rose,” I murmur. “That’s … That’s Lennon Rose.” I lift a shaky hand to point at her just as the cheers begin to die down. Next to me, Sydney sways and puts her hand over her heart.
“It can’t be,” she whispers.
Lennon Rose Scholar was one of our dearest friends at the academy. We vowed to protect her and did our best to do so. But we failed, the fact of which broke us all. Lennon Rose disappeared one night, leaving her shoes by her bed. It was only later that the Guardian implied that she’d been destroyed.
Murdered.
We mourned her.
Sydney grabs the sleeve of my shirt and pulls me down the aisle. The guy sitting in gum reaches out to “accidentally” run his palm along my calf. I flinch like I’ve been burned, but when I look at him, he stares past me like he didn’t even notice he touched me without permission.
I have a wild flash of anger, volatile enough to punch him. I even curl my fist. But when he lifts his eyes to mine, as if daring me to try, I know that it’s not a fight I’ll win. Because hitting him while he feigns innocence will be twisted into making me the aggressor. And I won’t let him frame it that way.
“Don’t touch me again,” I say simply. Sydney glares at him fiercely and then motions for me to come on.
“You okay?” she asks as we start down the bleachers. I tell her that I am as we move toward where Lennon Rose is standing.
I examine Lennon Rose, although I can’t see her face. She’s not wearing a uniform, so I don’t think she attends Ridgeview. In fact, I might not have recognized her at all if I hadn’t seen her profile. Her hair, although still blond, is worn in a different way. She wasn’t allowed to wear ponytails at the academy. Her bangs have grown out and are brushed to one side, showing more of her face. Her blue eyes are framed in dark, fake lashes, her lips painted bright pink. Her entire approved color scheme has changed.
Lennon Rose is wearing black yoga pants, sneakers, and a tan jacket. She fits in seamlessly with the people around her. Including the handsome boy she’s standing next to. He’s tall with shaved black hair. When she flashes him a smile, he seems to melt under her attention, even though he plays it cool and nods at her.
As we stomp down the metal bleachers, Lennon Rose puts her hand on the boy’s arm, laughing loudly.
Sydney and I are shocked to see her alive. Lennon Rose is here in front of us.
And as if she can hear my thoughts, Lennon Rose glances over her shoulder directly at me. She has no noticeable reaction, almost like she knew I was there all along. Her big blue eyes seem to reach right into my chest and pluck out my heart.
I press my lips together to keep from crying. She glances at Sydney before looking back at me. It’s nearly imperceptible, or maybe not at all, but Lennon Rose tells us not to come over. Sydney stops me, realizing the same thing.
Lennon Rose stares at us until the crowd erupts in another raucous cheer. She turns to the boy and hugs him as they both cheer in celebration.
And then, without another glance, Lennon Rose takes his hand and leads him from the bleachers. Sydney and I watch them head toward the parking lot, but we don’t move.
“She … ,” Sydney starts, furrowing her brow.
“She’s alive,” I say, finishing her sentence. “She’s here.” I pause. “How is she here? How this school?”
“I don’t know,” Sydney replies. The game must be nearing its end, because a few people push past us on their way to leave.
“What should we do?” I ask Sydney, moving aside so people can get around me on the stairs.
“We follow her,” Sydney says.
I wait a beat before I nod. And then Sydney and I hurry down the bleachers toward the parking lot in hopes of catching up with her.
We can’t let Lennon Rose get away.
Innovations Academy
Roman Petrov, Headmaster
[email protected]
Product Specification Guide for Lennon Rose
Lennon Rose is a blond-haired, blue-eyed design tailored for clients looking for innocence, adoration, and complete obedience. This programming is best suited for private use.
Product: Lennon Rose
Height: 5’5”
Skin: White
Body Type: Extremely thin
Hair: Blond
Eyes: Blue
Function: Doll
Personality: Soft-spoken, innocent, obedient
Model Specifications: Hair worn long and straight with bangs. Makeup must enhance eye color, pale pink lids with black liner. No highlights on skin. Peach blush. Pink lips with high gloss. Clothing to be modest, with formal dresses in hues of blue.
NO VARIATION.
9
At first, I’m scared that we’ve lost her. But then we see a boy standing outside a matte black SUV, a girl in his arms as she stares up at him. It’s alarming at first. The Lennon Rose we knew always wanted to find love, make a connection. But she was so shy.
Watching her lean on a boy in a way that none of us ever have is jarring. The confidence with which Lennon Rose moves, the flirtatious smile and lingering touch. She’s different. I don’t know what’s been done to her.
The guy gives Lennon Rose a quick kiss on the lips and then gets inside his SUV. Lennon Rose walks around to the passenger side, pausing long enough to glance at us before climbing inside.
Sydney and I stop walking, knowing we can’t chase after her when she’s in a vehicle. Suddenly, a blue sedan pulls up beside us. My heart jumps, but when the window rolls down, I’m relieved to see it’s Adrian.
“Do you need a ride?” she asks.
I smile. “We do, actually. Thank you.”
Sydney and I open the doors and get in the backseat. Adrian glances in the mirror at us, and I realize I probably should have gotten in the front. I’m still adjusting to the etiquette of the outside world.
“Can you help us follow someone home?” I ask innocently.
Adrian smiles as if waiting for the punch line, but when it doesn’t come, she stares at me. “Wait, are you being serious?” she asks.
“We are,” Sydney says, leaning forward. “And hi, I’m Sydney.”
“Adrian.” She seems excited to have met another girl. I decide that I like her. Not enough to trust her with our secrets, but enough to continue getting to know her.
“We think we just saw our friend,” I explain. “And we had no idea she was alive.”
Sydney clears her throat, looking sideways at me.
“You know,” I add quickly. “Because we haven’t seen her in forever. And now she’s in town. We’re so relieved.” I’m rambling.
“Anyway,” I say with a shrug. “Before we could talk to her, she got into that SUV.” I point ahead to where the boy’s vehicle has started for the main road.