“Oh really! What are you pretending? You sound like Cinderella. Be kind and be brave, blah blah. That’s what that ridiculous girl kept saying in the film, right?”

“Not lame at all. Or from the movie. I haven’t seen Cinderella. I don’t go to the movies. Anyway, she wins in the end and the ugly sisters get their just deserts. Isn’t that how it goes? So I’m right.”

“Huh, well I bet the prince ends up being a horrible snorer and they don’t live happily ever after. You and your, my mom said this, and my mom said that. So boring. You got to grow up. You’re lucky I’m your friend. Really, you should be grateful I even put up with you. Go on, thank me. Or we won’t be friends anymore.”

Perhaps because Lacy mocked her mother, or she finally understood this girl was not her friend, Nem didn’t push back at the anger. She had developed a way of curling her mind around the twine of powerful emotions like anger to send the luck thing outward. Right now, words should be appearing in the diary, on their own. Beside the name the little minus sign would be written. Later she could add her own phrases and comments next to the entry. She’d learned this was how she could have some control.

Lacy stared at her, blue eyes wide and demanding. She expected her apology but Nem had no intention. Miss smarty pants needed to learn a lesson. Or two. She met her friend’s gaze.

“I think you’re the one who’ll be sorry. I don’t care if we’re not friends anymore. You’re not a very good friend.”

Lacy glowered at her and a little muscle pulsed at the side of her neck. She shook her head slowly while maintaining a sweet smile stretched across her face. When she spoke, her voice was cold.

“Well Nem Stratton, you’ve got your wish. You’re officially no longer my friend. You won’t have anyone because I’ll tell everyone you’re nothing but trouble. They all told me to stay away from the weirdo. Now I will. Hope you have a bad life. Seems as though you have exactly what you deserve. Bet your mother’s glad she’s dead, so she doesn’t have to…”

Nem slapped the girl’s cheek. She couldn’t help herself and she wasn’t sorry. She was livid.

Lacy raised her palm to the red mark which had already begun to appear. Without another word, she rose and marched off across the playground toward a large group of girls. When she reached them, within seconds they all looked back in her direction and laughed. Several called out taunts.

Cind-ugly-ella. Little Orphan Nemmie. Twinkle, twinkle little bitch.

Nem felt her cheeks burn and she didn’t know what to do. The anger still whirled within but now embarrassment and shame had been thrown. Like kerosene to a flame, her emotions exploded but she didn’t know how to handle the feelings. All she could think was to get away.