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T R A I L O F C R U M B S

“I don’t want to talk about it. I don’t want to think about
it. I just want to move on with my life.”
“It will change you. It probably already has.”
She didn’t know how to answer. Had it changed her
already? From A student to dropout. Creeping through the
school halls as though hunted by a tiger. Alternating between
self-loathing and confusion. A year ago—a lifetime ago—she
was dealing with Patty and missing her mom. It was enough,

even that. But this.
“Maybe you should go to the police,” Ash said.
“No!” Reports, statements, probing exams, digging
around the school. Cornering people for interviews. It would
be her word against West Edmonton High royalty. Every nasty
detail dragged out, examined, questioned. Or discounted and
thrown away before it even started. A whole new world of

humiliation. “And don’t you dare. I’ll never forgive you.”
“It’s your choice. I’ll leave it up to you.”
“Thank you.”
He watched her, then filled his chest a few times before
speaking. Trying to muster something, Greta thought.
“I’m sorry for freaking out,” he finally said. “That won’t
help you, I know. You can talk to me, Greta.”
She looked him in the face, saw a forced softness there.
But his hands were rolled in tight fists, knuckles white. Veins

popped at his wrists. An energy—a suppressed tremor—ran
from his planted feet to his stiff neck. No, he couldn’t be her
counselor, her impartial listener, as she worked through this
story again and again.

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