Reborn, She's Back for Revenge novel Chapter 34

Chapter 34

Edith’s grip crumpled the study plan’s edge. ‘So much for my lecture this morning.’ Snatching the materials, she marched toward the school’s notorious back alleys–where the vape clouds hung permanent and the wifi passwords changed hourly.

Catcalls hit her before she turned the corner.

“Damn, who’s the cougar?”

“Wow, she’s got great legs and a nice rack.”

“Didn’t know y’all were into older women.”

“Yo, see those legs? You can’t imagine the thrill of dating someone like her…”

Edith turned, gaze arctic. The boys–freshmen with peach fuzz mustaches–only got louder. A can of off–brand energy drink rolled past

her foot.

CRACK. Edith’s sneaker launched a soda can like a missile. It embedded itself in the brickwork with a metallic thunk, silencing the wannabe gangsters mid–holler.

Edith rounded the corner, and the alley opened into a dead end. A crowd of guys had boxed someone against the brick wall; at the center, one girl stood out like a red exclamation mark.

Melanie Greenfield–red dress, white lace socks, patent–leather Mary Janes–looked every inch the picture–book debutante. She planted a fist on her hip.

“I always get what I want, Zachary,” she snapped. “Last chance–be my boyfriend or else.”

Edith stopped in her tracks. ‘Wait–my little brother’s getting bullied into a relationship?‘

Melanie’s face flushed scarlet. “It’s an honor that I even like you, and you have the nerve to say no?” She clenched her tiny fist. “If you won’t say yes, I’ll just have to beat it into you.”

Zachary, cornered by seven guys, just smirked, hands still in his pockets. “Go ahead–knock me out. I’d still crawl away before dating you.”

Melanie’s face went from pink to crimson. First crush, first confession–rejected. Second and third tries–rejected again, plus a bucket of ice water dumped on her pride.

If she couldn’t have him, she’d break him.

“Fine. You asked for it.” She flicked her fingers. “Teach him a lesson–but no face shots.”

“Back off.” A cold voice sliced through the alley. Melanie spun

N

around.

Edith strolled forward, hands loose at her sides, her steps unhurried.

Melanie straightened, trying to look taller–but at fourteen, she barely reached Edith’s shoulder. She puffed out her chest, realized there wasn’t much there, and huffed in frustration.

led back to 2

She jabbed a finger at Edith, then “Oh, so you’re into older girls, huh?”

Zachary’s eyes widened. ‘Why the

hell is she here? Shouldn’t she be in study hall? Why did she have to walk in now?‘

hell is

“O–oh… your sister?” Melanie stammered, smoothing her skirt. “Ms. Lovett! Hi, I’m Melanie Greenfield.”

Zachary’s ears burned. “They’ve got numbers.”

“Ms. Lovett, it’s not what it looks like!” Melanie b

looping her arm through Zachary’s with a nervous giggle. “We were just joking

around. Hanging out, you know?”

Edith arched a brow. “Zachary skipped his shower last night. Hope you like the feel of day–old sweat on that sleeve.”

Edith fought a smirk. The girl’s outfit screamed hand sanitizer in bulk. Germaphobe. Easy target.’

She added casually, “Oh, and he didn’t brush his teeth this morning. You sure you want to stand downwind?”

Melanie instinctively pinched her nose shut–even though she hadn’t smelled a thing. The thought alone was enough.

She went on, just as gently. “You deserve better. He never washes his hands after using the bathroom, either. And those socks?” A theatrical sigh. “Third day in a row.”

“Shut the hell up!” Zachary’s face burned. The power outage last night wasn’t his fault, and Edith had yanked him out of bed at dawn–of

he hadn’t showered. He was borderline obsessive about cleanliness, and now she was painting him as some slob.

course,

Edith raised her hands in mock surrender. “Fine, fine. Melanie’s too classy to gossip about your little… habits. Right, Melanie?”

Melanie looked like she’d swallowed a lemon. She’d crushed on Zachary for his sharp jawline and rebel smirk, not the concept of him being a walking biohazard. The fantasy dissolved like sugar in rain.

She backpedaled, hands up. “Zachary, don’t worry I didn’t hear a thing. Actually, we never even met. So, uh… bye. Forever.”

A snap of her fingers, and her entourage scrambled after her like startled pigeons. The alley emptied, leaving only the siblings and the hum of distant traffic.

Zachary whirled on Edith, fists clenched. “Wha

the actual f-”

“So you do want to date her?” Edith interrupted, one eyebrow arched.

He shook his head violently. Melanie played sweet in public, but she’d sic her goons on him every time he refused to hold her hand- hard pass.

“Good,” Edith said. “Now she’ll avoid you like expired milk. Choice time: walk home like a big boy, or do I knock you out and drag you?” Study hall was already half–over; no point returning now.”

Zachary glowered, rubbing his throat reflexively at the memory of yesterday’s chokehold.

“I’ll walk,” he grumbled, stomping toward the street. Edith snagged his discarded hoodie, lobbed it at him like a fastball, and smirked when it smacked his chest with a thump.

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