Prom Queen, The (Life at Kingston High Book #3) by Melody Carlson Page B

phone, punching the nine with a shaky finger.
    “Don’t touch her!” Zoë yelled.
    Just then Megan’s phone was whacked from her hand. She looked up in time to see Trevor about to smack her, but in that same instant Zoë swung her backpack like a club, landing it solidly across the side of his head. He reeled off to one side, and Megan dove to get her phone, which had snapped in two.
    “This time I mean it,” she yelled as she held her broken phone as if it was still working. “I’m calling 911 right now!”
    Trevor glared at her, then swore at Zoë, but to Megan’s relief he took off running.
    “Are you okay?” she asked Zoë.
    “Are you really calling 911?” Zoë came over to see.
    Megan held up her ruined phone.
    “Sorry about that,” Zoë said.
    “What was that all about?” Megan studied the bright red mark on Zoë’s cheek. “Why was he hitting you?”
    “Trevor’s a jerk.”
    “A nasty, mean, bully sort of a jerk.” Megan dropped the remains of her phone into her bag. “But seriously, why was he hitting you?”
    “It’s a long story.”
    “Are you guys a couple?”
    “Not anymore.” Zoë let out a weary sigh. “That’s why he was so mad. I just broke up with him.”
    “Good for you.”
    Zoë shrugged.
    “Seriously, Zoë.” Megan peered into her eyes. “You could do a lot better than someone like that.”
    “Trevor wasn’t always that way. He was nice when we first got together.”
    “I don’t recall seeing him before. Does he actually go to school here?”
    Zoë shook her head.
    “Then he shouldn’t even be on campus.”
    “It’s no big deal.”
    Megan put her hand on Zoë’s shoulder. “It is a big deal. That guy is a brute. He hit you, and it looked like he wasn’t finished either.” Megan frowned. “Are you even safe now?”
    Zoë looked like she was about to cry.
    “Look, I’ve got to meet somebody, but you could come with me. Then I can give you a ride home afterwards. Okay?”
    Zoë seemed uncertain.
    “Come on,” Megan urged her. “I’m already running late.” Then to Megan’s relief, Zoë walked with her. As they headedfor the music building, Megan explained who she was meeting and why. Zoë didn’t say anything, but at least she came along.
    Zoë sat in the back of the room while Jack and Megan practiced some lines and then sang “Sunrise, Sunset” a couple of times. Megan was having such a good time that she almost forgot about Zoë and the earlier altercation, but when they finally finished up, Zoë was still waiting, reading a paperback book. She didn’t even seem very perturbed that it had taken nearly two hours.
    “That was awesome,” Jack told her. “You’ll make a great Golde.”
    “Your voice is perfect for Tevye,” she said.
    “You guys sounded pretty good together.” Zoë shoved the book in her pack. Megan had briefly explained to Jack about the episode with Trevor. Thankfully, he wasn’t asking too many questions.
    “Same time, same place tomorrow?” Jack asked.
    “Sure.” Megan nodded as she picked up her bag.
    As Megan and Zoë walked to the parking lot, Megan kept glancing around, trying to make sure that Trevor wasn’t lurking somewhere, ready to jump them. Finally they were safe in her car and she started to relax. “How are you doing?” she asked Zoë as she pulled out onto the street.
    “I’m fine.”
    “Do you think Trevor will leave you alone now?”
    Zoë just shrugged.
    “Do you still live in Tuscan Heights?”
    She nodded. “Why are you being nice to me, Megan?”
    Megan wasn’t sure how to answer. “We used to be friends, remember?”
    “Yeah, but then you ditched me in middle school.”
    Megan glanced at her. “I ditched you?”
    Zoë nodded, slumping down into the seat in a dejected way.
    “I didn’t ditch you, Zoë. You started getting wild and running around with kids who were trouble—kids like Trevor.”
    “That’s because you ditched me.”
    Megan felt confused. “No,” she insisted.