Chapter 212: Girl Code

I didn't feel much better, but I convinced Whitney to take me back to school, mostly so I had a plausible explanation to give to Aunt Beth. If the school called her and she asked me why I'd skipped classes, I would tell her I was sick in the bathroom. Throwing up. Or violent period cramps. I'd come up with something, but then I could tell her I'd been in my afternoon classes.

"Wow, you don't look good," Nick said when I sat down at our table in the cafeteria.

Ellie elbowed him. "Be nice." She turned to face me. "Are you okay?"

I glanced around the table at the curious, concerned faces of my friends. It would be easy to lie to them, but I didn't want to. I was tired of lying to everyone.

"Trent broke up with me," I mumbled.

"What?" Gina shouted. "When? Why?"

"Oh, Chloe. I'm so sorry." Ellie gave me a side hug. "What happened?"

I gave her a you-know-what-happened look. Her eyes widened with understanding.