The Messenger( Iva) novel Chapter 10

Under the Old Tree–2

It didn’t.

Her locker was vandalized.

The words jumped out at her immediately, written in thick, dark marker:

RUNT

WEAK

USELESS

Her chest tightened painfully.

She stared at them, numb.

She shouldn’t have been surprised.

And yet… it hurt.

It hurt so much she thought she might collapse right there in the hallway. Her hands trembled as she opened the locker, ignoring the snickers behind her, ignoring the way her vision blurred.

She shut it again quickly and walked away.

Class felt endless.

The walls too close.

The air too thick.

When Lori slid into the seat beside her, relief and dread collided violently in Iva’s chest.

“Don’t,” Iva whispered without looking at her.

Lori blinked. “Don’t… what?”

Iva swallowed hard. “Don’t sit next to me. Don’t talk to me. I’m… I’m a pariah now. Don’t do this to yourself.”

Lori stared at her for a second, disbelief flashing across her face.

Then she smacked Iva lightly on the back of the head.

“Ow!” Iva hissed, startled.

“Stop with the stupidity,” Lori snapped quietly. “You silly girl.”

Iva finally looked at her.

Lori’s eyes were fierce, unwavering. “You are my best friend,” she said firmly. “My BFF. And I don’t care what anyone says.”

Iva’s throat tightened painfully.

“–”

She grabbed Iva’s wrist and dragged her past the crowded school canteen, ignoring the curious looks and whispered comments that followed them like shadows. Iva didn’t resist. She didn’t have the energy to argue, or even to ask where they were going.

They stopped beneath one of the massive old trees that surrounded the school grounds, its branches wide and protective, leaves whispering softly in the breeze. It was a place most students ignored, too far from the noise, too quiet.

Lori dropped her bag onto the grass and sat down without ceremony, motioning sharply for Iva to do the same. She rummaged through her lunchbox, unwrapped something, and shoved it straight into Iva’s hands.

“Eat,” Lori repeated, her tone leaving no room for negotiation.

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