Chapter 12 [ Heard you were sick ? You okay ? ] [ ] Heard ? From who ? And if he heard , why didn't he come check on me ? ] Oh right . He was busy with Madison . [ ] I stared at those words for a long time . Didn't text back . What was I supposed to say ? ] That I almost died ? That I was in the hospital ? That I needed him ? ] Forget it . He wouldn't care anyway . To him , I was just some parasite . [ ] And parasites getting sick ? That's just normal , right ? The next day , I dragged myself to class feeling like hell . [ ] Not because I loved learning , but because this teacher took attendance seriously . Miss one class and your grade was screwed . [ ] The second I walked in , the whole room went weird . [] Everyone stopped talking and stared at me . Then the whispers started . ] " The leech is here . " ] ] " Heard she faked being sick to get Dylan's attention last night . " ] " And he totally ignored her . Hilarious . " " So pathetic . Even after all this , she won't give up . " [ ] I walked to my desk with zero expression on my face . Another lovely note was waiting for me . ] [ Kill yourself , parasite ! ] ] ] I swept it into the trash and pulled out my textbook . [ ] Madison was sitting up front . She turned around looking all concerned . " Avery , you look awful . You feeling okay ? " ] Her voice carried just enough for everyone to hear . [ ] The whole class went silent , waiting for drama . ] ] I looked up and stared her down for the first time . " Thanks to you , I'm fantastic . " My voice was rough but everyone caught it . [ ] She blinked , then her face went all wounded . Tears started forming right on cue . [ ] Trum Clingy Orphan ' to Unbothered Queen . The Black Button Is Me llest Vavron Chapter 12 " Avery , what's that supposed to mean ? I'm just trying to help and you're being … " ] She bit her lip like some innocent little angel . ] " Cut the crap . " I interrupted , voice flat and cold . " Madison , try having some basic human decency . " [] Everyone freaked out . The leech was actually hitting back ?! ] " Avery ! " Dylan's voice cut through the classroom . [ ] He'd just walked in and caught my last words . He stormed over looking pissed as hell . [ ] " What the hell is wrong with you ? Madison's trying to be nice and this is how you act ? " I stared at him and almost started laughing . Of course . In his mind , Madison could do no wrong . [ ] And me ? I was always the problem . [ ] " Yeah , she's so nice , " I said sarcastically . " Nice enough to give me a cute nickname . Nice enough to make sure the whole school knows I'm a parasite . " ] " That's not … " Dylan tried to explain but couldn't finish . Because he knew it was true . ] ] " Dylan , how long are you gonna keep pretending ? " I stood up and looked him dead in the eye . ] ] " YOU told Madison I'm a leech who won't leave you alone , didn't you ?! " ] His face went pale . " I didn't … " [ ] " Yes , you did . " I cut him off . " I heard you say it myself . " ] The whole classroom was dead silent . Everyone holding their breath , watching this trainwreck . [ ] Dylan said nothing . Didn't deny it . Because he actually had said those things . " So that's what you really think of me . " I laughed , but it sounded broken . [ ] " Eighteen years , Dylan . " ] " From six years old till now . E Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!