And so she took a hit of jealousy before bed and at every meal and between classes and got through the day.

Outside it began to rain. The button on Lauren’s jeans was pushing uncomfortably into her lower stomach, but she was determined not to re-situate herself. She couldn’t decide if it was because she deserved the pain or because she wanted it, but it didn’t matter. It was too hot under the covers and it felt like anger and bitterness had crawled into bed with her.

That night she had snuck out of the bathroom window—loudly, maybe her parents would call the police—but there was no getaway car. Instead she walked along the highway, without purpose, until she reached the high school. There was a single lamp on in the parking lot, leaving the rest of campus drenched in darkness.

She walked the wooden pathways, running her fingers along low bushes and against the sides of buildings when she could reach. Her fingertips started to sting.

The school was nestled against the forest, like everything in Forks. She stumbled off the walkway when she hit the gym, which was in the back and the most secluded building. The shadows seemed to stretch from all sides, even though that wasn’t possible. Trekking behind the gym seemed to take too long, and when she was finally on the back wall, right in the middle, she sat down in the tall grass and closed her eyes.

She was hoping it would rain. It would be a better effect, if they were ever to make her life into a movie. Her life would make a good movie, if it were translated to a big town school, if the character of Bella were a little crueler, and if Lauren were depicted as fighting for her territory instead of meekly giving in to this new girl. And, of course, it would only be any good if it ended well—in her own personal triumph. Maybe Bella could get hit by a bus.

Which, of course, reminded her of the time Tyler Crowley almost killed Bella Swan with a van, and that of course reminded her of Edward Cullen.

Edward Cullen was as much responsible for Lauren’s downfall as Bella Swan was. He had meant nothing to nobody, except his family, for two long years before Bella moved to town. He was simply pretty wallpaper. And then here is this girl, this insufferably plain, uninteresting girl, and Edward Cullen peeled himself away from the brickwork and walked into the sunset with her.