Chapter 2Saving Grace High

My new classroom was at the very end of the hallway. The door hung crookedly on its hinges.

As I got closer, the noise inside sounded like it would blow the roof off.

I took a deep breath and pushed the door open. The room instantly fell silent.

Every gaze shot towards me. Like they were looking at a monster. I guess my washed-out magnet school uniform was pretty conspicuous here.

I didn't make a sound. I kept my head down, looking for an empty seat.

Before I could sit, someone grabbed the back of my collar.

It was Jax. I'd heard his name. The king of the school's delinquents.

He cornered me. His shadow loomed over me. "New kid?"

A cigarette dangled from his mouth as he squinted at me. "Know the rules here?" "Gotta pay the protection fee."

I didn't speak. I silently turned all my pockets inside out.

Empty.

Finally, in my pants pocket, I found something. Half a cold, hard bagel I'd swiped from the kitchen counter that morning. It was rock-hard.

I placed it in his open palm. "This... this is it."

He stared at the pathetic thing in his hand. Stunned for several seconds. His expression went from shock to a furious rage at being mocked.

"What the f*ck!" He violently threw his hand out. Bagel crumbs scattered everywhere. "Who the hell do you think you are?!"

His roar was huge. It made my ears ring.

But I hadn't eaten a proper meal in two days. Since that sip of cold water in the morning, my stomach had been burning.

His shout was the last straw. My vision went black. My legs turned to jelly. I fell straight forward.

My last conscious thought was that my head hit something. It didn't hurt much. I just had absolutely no strength left.