CHAPTER 38

MAGGIE LAY CURLED UP IN HER BED with her back against the wall. Actually it seemed her back had been up against the wall since Jo had defected to the dark side.

She didn’t close her eyes, but stared at the clock on her desk. Eleven o’clock —and she was no closer to sleeping than when she said good night to her mom. Her blinds were open, and her eyes had long adjusted to the dim light. The bookshelves made her want to cry. Filled with stories of love. Adventure. Escape. Some were fairy tales, but she still liked having them around. Fictional friends that were real to her —and better than any friend she’d known. She’d always found comfort in the stories . . . but not tonight.

There was no way she was going to school tomorrow. She couldn’t face them. Kat. Alexa. Jo.

Especially Jo.

And all the boys. The thought of sexting was repulsive. Something she’d never consider in a million years. She’d be tossing away her honor. Self-respect. Her future. No thanks.

Right now the idea of a future seemed like a fairy tale. Impossibly hopeless. She pulled the covers tighter over her shoulders. She was ruined. Maggie didn’t believe in reincarnation, but after the things they wrote, maybe they were right about one thing. Maybe she’d be better off dead. How many more “likes” had piled on since she’d read the posts before dinner? She didn’t want to know. She kept telling herself that, anyway.

But she did want to know if Robin Hood was just a one-shot wonder, or would he be back?

Kat. Alexa. Jo. They never ceased to surprise her. Just when Maggie thought it couldn’t get worse, those three found a new low.

Her phone was plugged in. Charging. But even in the silence, it called to her from the nightstand. The soft ding, ding, ding had been going on every few minutes now. Obviously Maggie wasn’t the only one awake. Others texting back and forth. Including her in on the conversation. Talking about her. Sending her messages to check the site —like they always did.

She should turn the phone off. That was her mom’s solution. But what good did it do? The texts would just pile up. Ignoring them was impossible —and social suicide.

But something had to change. She couldn’t let them keep doing this to her. They’d gone too far this time. She had to fight back. She’d have to tell someone.

Mr. Cutter. Maybe he could help. But how would she even bring it up to him? She hadn’t done so well today when she’d wanted to talk to him about Hudson.

Hudson. She’d forgotten about him —and what she had to do tomorrow. Which left her no choice. There was no way she was staying home.

She threw off the covers and swung her feet off the bed. She took a deep breath, let it out —and grabbed her phone. It was insane that OneInAMillionMaggie.com would show up on her favorites list, but it was quicker to access it that way. Be there, Robin Hood. Be there.

She stopped at Kat’s and Alexa’s comments —and looked at the number of likes. Stared at it. How was this possible? There were less likes than two hours ago.

A lot less.

Instantly she knew the answer. Because something —or someone —had caused bunches of them to change their mind. To “unlike” the comment. Robin Hood?

She scrolled ahead —and there he was. Maggie scooched back with her back against the headboard and hiked up her legs.

Robin Hood: Kat, Alexa, and Giovanna . . . We all know the real Maggie isn’t making these posts. One of you is. So if Maggie is such a loser, why are you so obsessed with her? Is she just an easy target —and nailing her makes you feel like you’re great somehow? The fact that you persecute someone proves just how great you aren’t. Are you jealous of her? Yeah, I think that’s in the mix too. Deep down you know she’s got something you three yo-yos don’t. Maggie is the prettiest girl in the entire school.

Maggie froze. Read the line again. And again.

And I’m not just talking about surface stuff. She’s beautiful inside —and it just kind of comes out. Which is why guys can’t help but want to be near her.

What? For a moment a shard of fear pricked at her. Was Robin Hood just making fun of her?

I wish you three could see what guys do when you pass them. You probably imagine them watching you. Usually they’re laughing at you. You’re jokes to them. Especially you, Giovanna. Maggie was your best friend —and she’s the real deal. You traded her for smoke and mirrors. That makes you about the biggest loser I know.

Maggie was trembling now.

By the way . . . the red shoe thing? You three are pompous prima donnas. The shoes are cute.

FAIR WARNING: Kat, Alexa, and Giovanna. Wolfe, Skirt, and Zattora. Stop trying to embarrass Maggie. Stop. If not . . . I’ll embarrass you. Your parents will know you’re bullies. But I won’t tell them. Your neighbors will. Trust me on that.

NOTE TO THE STUDENT BODY AT SOUTHFIELD: If you “liked” Kat or Alexa’s comments, do the right thing. “Unlike” them.Now. And start supporting nice girls like Maggie. How? Buy a pair of red shoes —or spray-paint an old pair. Wear them to school and help change the bullying culture at Southfield Middle School.

NOTE TO THE REAL MAGGIE . . . IF YOU ARE READING THIS: Don’t listen to the baloney they’re writing here. Be you. Don’t do something stupid just because you’re surrounded by stupid people like Kat and Alexa and Giovanna. Report this website for the trash that it is, and it will get boarded up. I mean it. Get this site shut down. Now.

Robin Hood’s post picked up 53 likes. Unreal. She held her phone in both hands and hugged it to her chest. 53 likes.

And definitely one love.