Maike Smid

Disreputable

Novel extract

1.

The flames are fierce, eating away at the life-sized fuzzy bee suit and charring the grass of the football field. My jaw drops in horror.

He told me to meet him here, that he would be wearing the suit. He must’ve been playing around with that stupid lighter again! My legs move as fast as they can carry me, past the bleachers, toward the fire.

A wave of heat hits me in the face and beads of sweat form on my forehead. I try to call out for him, but as I inhale, my lungs fill with smoke, triggering a violent coughing fit. Panic takes over and my ears start ringing. He’s unconscious in there, I need to help him. The smoke makes my eyes water, blurring my vision.

How could he be so reckless when he knows that the suit is impossible to get out of by himself? The chemical smell of burned synthetics fills my nose. I kick the head of the mascot suit where it meets the neck, separating the two. The fire burns my leg and makes me wince in pain.

I hear the fire alarm starting to blare in the distance. Help must be on the way. I stumble backward, grabbing hold of my throbbing shin. If he survives this, I am going to kill hi—

I stop in my tracks and shoot up. The happy-looking bee head rolls away, revealing that the suit is… empty?

My brows knit together, my thoughts racing. Why is he not in the suit? And how did the fire alarm even pick up on a fire that’s outside? I spot a silver Zippo lying on the ground, and I shake my head in disbelief as I pick it up. Soft murmuring behind me replaces the ringing in my ears, and the reality begins to dawn on me. I slowly turn around to be met with dozens of shocked faces staring back at me.

Students have flooded onto the football field; I remember the scheduled fire drill that was announced this morning. My hands start to shake. No. Not again.

I could still drop the lighter. But what’s the point? Everyone’s already seen me, standing over the burning remains of our beloved mascot, lighter in hand. No one is going to believe that I didn’t do this. The students will never forgive me, and the school board will waste no time expelling me.

The fire is still roaring behind me, sending my hair flying because of its strong draft. My day of reckoning has come sooner than I expected. The costume may be in flames, but I’m the one being burned at the stake. My fellow students point their phones at me like torches, ready to broadcast the burning of this witch who finally got what she deserved.

A sudden hand on my shoulder makes me flinch. It’s Maritza.

“Are you okay, what happened?” Her face is etched with concern.

“It was on fire when I got here, I didn’t do this.” I stumble over my words, desperate to convince her of my innocence.

She has to believe me. If anyone can save me from the dreadful fate that’s closing in on me like a mob eager to lynch me, it’s her.

☽◯☾

Three months earlier…

In the early modern period, someone could be put on trial for witchcraft simply for starting an argument with the wrong person. There was no need for substantial proof to condemn a witch; the authorities made their own rules regarding convictions. All the judges in these trials had personal motives to accuse as many witches as possible. People were so scared for their own lives that they found a twisted sense of relief in watching others being burned. Every witch they witnessed being executed was a strangely comforting reminder that it wasn’t them up on that stake.

The school bell rings, pulling my attention from the worn notebook in my lap. I think high school and the early modern period share a lot of similarities. I trace a finger over the page, wishing the familiar handwriting could still connect me to its writer the way it once did.

Voices rise in the distance and I snap the notebook shut, sliding it into my bag. When the first students start passing I stand up to make my way to my first class.

The school building is made out of earthy red bricks. The many windows framed by beige wood that was probably white at some point. With every step I take towards the entrance my heart rate picks up.

Losing my queen status at Edencrest Academy due to my own carelessness was a pain in the ass. Being expelled right after was just plain bullshit. If only I hadn’t let my guard down, a mistake I’ll never be making again. If being cast away from my throne wasn’t bad enough, I’m now thrown in with the peasants like a piece of muck. In the form of enrolling in a public high school because no other schools would accept my application after the Edencrest fiasco.

Before my tragic demise, I did manage to climb the social ladder in the highest, most difficult to navigate class; an all-girls private school. Doing the same at a school with the worst reputation in town should be a piece of cake.

When I step foot in the grimy hallway my pulsing heart still hasn’t steadied, but it isn’t fear. Starting over doesn’t scare me. In fact, it motivates me. There’s nothing I love more than a challenge.

Seemingly out of nowhere, the hallway fills with students. My eyes dart around, studying the passing faces carefully. Any of them could be the reason I end up on the stake again.

A few hours later students swarm the cafeteria. I shuffle along with the crowd. I can’t see far enough ahead to know what today’s menu is, but the scent of processed food that is wafting through the crowd tells me that it is pizza day.

The hours leading up to lunch dragged on much like they did at my old school. But, god, this place stinks. As if the depressing architecture and poor quality of education weren’t bad enough. I assumed it was just that boys smell worse than girls. However, the stench must have seeped into the walls here, because even when there’s not a soul in sight, the dreary hallways still reek of sweat. Combined with the overpowering scent of cheap deodorant, which must be selling out thanks to the students at this school alone, it’s enough to make me gag at every corner I turn in this hellhole of a school.

I don’t miss much about my old school. Especially not the covens of girls constantly praying on my downfall, waiting for me to slip up so they could seize my spot at the top. Or the uniforms, so itchy they made me want to claw my skin off at times. But I sure miss how luxurious everything about it was. The gleaming marble floors, the mahogany doorframes and ceilings, and the chandeliers that lit the hallways without being too harsh on the eyes. What I didn’t expect to miss the most, though, was the scent of pinewood that greeted me every time I walked into the building.

While slowly following the crowd into the cafeteria I scan over the people already seated. Right away I’m drawn to a gorgeous curly haired brunette in the center of the room. My eyes are glued to her maroon-painted lips as she speaks to the three girls surrounding her, her coven. They are pretty, but not quite as stunning as her. The way they listen attentively to her every word reveals the kind of status and leadership only someone with significant authority could possess, she must be the High Priestess of this school.

Even though her table is in the middle of the cafeteria, every student that crosses the room seems to instinctively avoid it. Anyone who dares to come close quickly lowers their head, trying to make themselves invisible. They’re afraid of her.

The girl is now laughing at something one of the other girls said and time seems to slow down when she flips her curly hair over her shoulder. I study the table more closely; each of them have a lunch tray in front of them. At Edencrest, the girls wouldn’t be caught dead ordering food from the cafeteria. It had become a competition, seeing who could bring the most elaborate homemade lunch. After all, how else could you prove your status if you weren’t flaunting your boeuf bourguignon that had simmered at home for three days to your fellow students? I decide I’ll toss out my roasted bell pepper and tomato soup after school and head for the cafeteria line instead.

Lunch tray in hand, I pick a table in the eyeline of the girls. So they’ll notice me, but I won’t be too close. Can’t risk raising any suspicion.

I take a seat, making it a point not to look at the coven, but not lowering my head either. Fixing my hair, I look at the greasy slice of pizza and can’t help but make a face.

“Hi, are you new here?” My stomach drops when a girl with frizzy hair and an outfit clearly picked out by her mom stops by my table. This can’t be happening.

She smiles brightly, braces shimmering in the fluorescent overhead light.

I glance up and nod.

“Nice to meet you. My name is Katie. What’s your name?” she continues. I watch with furrowed brows as she pulls out a chair and sits across from me.

“Teal.”

“Teal? That’s a cool name. Is that why you dyed your hair that color?” Katie points at my long red locks, that have one streak of my favorite color blue in it.

“Yup.”

“I’ve always wanted to dye my hair, but my mom won’t let me. And I wouldn’t know what color, any ideas?” Katie asks, her eyes set on me like a spotlight. Lighting up my every move with admiration.

I look around, longing for a way out of this conversation. Instead, my eyes are met with those of the High Priestess, who’s fallen silent. She’s eavesdropping shamelessly, looking right at me. Her narrowed eyes gleam with intrigue. The other girls have followed her lead by watching me quietly. The corners of my mouth curl up.

“Maybe you should start by brushing it out every once in a while,” I say to the girl across from me.

Katie’s face drops instantly. I hear snickering behind me, and she shoots a horrified glance over my shoulder. Before I know it she grabs her bag and hurries away from the table. I watch her sprint to the cafeteria exit and let out a disappointed sigh.

It wasn’t the meanest thing I’ve ever said to someone—far from it. I had expected her to at least respond, giving me a proper chance to impress the High Priestess by taking another jab at Katie’s braces. No challenge there.

“Hey, redhead.”

I turn around and look the brunette in her chocolate brown eyes.

“That was cold,” she says with a straight face. I shrug.

She gestures to an empty seat across from her. “Want to sit here?”

“Sure.” I pick up my tray and join the table.

“I love new meat.” The High Priestess says to her friends, as if I’m not sitting right there. The girls next to her nod in agreement. I look down at my hand, casually checking my manicure.

I feel her brown eyes on me again. I wait a beat before meeting her gaze.

“Anyway, I’m Maritza.”

Ma-rit-za. I slowly repeat the name in my head. Pausing after every syllable, wanting to engrave the specific order of letters into my brain forever.

Maritza points at the girl next to her, a golden blonde with curtain bangs and a heart shaped face, “this is Jenny.”

Jenny smiles, showing off her asymmetrical dimples. Maritza doesn’t bother saying anything about the other two girls so they introduce themselves. I don’t care to remember their names. The fact that Maritza didn’t introduce them speaks volumes. They’re irrelevant, replaceable.

“I’m Teal, nice to meet you,” I say with a gently smile. I don’t want her to see me as a threat just yet.

Jenny tilts her head slightly, her ocean blue eyes burning holes in my face. “Did you just move here?”

I shake my head. “No, I grew up here, I transferred from a different school.”

“Which school?” Maritza asks.

“Edencrest Academy.” I scan their faces for a reaction. Yet, I don’t see the disgust I’d been expecting. I see confusion.

Jenny closes her mouth, that had slightly opened in disbelief. “The girls school with the fancy uniforms?”

I nod.

“Interesting.” Maritza looks me up and down. “Why did you transfer?”

“Bad grades,” I say, assembling a bite of salad on my fork without eating it.

“You must’ve had some reallybad grades if they sent you here.” Jenny gestures at the shabby looking cafeteria. The other girls giggle.

I fake a chuckle. I can’t help but imagine the looks of shock on their faces if they ever saw the dining hall at Edencrest.

Jenny is not letting me off that easily. “But seriously, you don’t get kicked out of a school like that as long as you can afford it. What happened?”

“I kind of got into a fight with a teacher, pissed off the wrong person,” I say.

“How do you like it here so far?” Maritza asks. There’s a grin on her face I can’t quite pinpoint.

“It’s an… adjustment. For sure. It looks very different from Edencrest,” I say.

“Show me your schedule, maybe I can help.” Maritza puts her hands down on the table, unintentionally showing off her sparkly champagne-colored nails.

That wasn’t what I meant, but I pull my phone from the waist band of my leggings anyway. Maritza takes it and studies the picture of my schedule, the other girls scoot closer to look at it too. They give a few tips about locations of classrooms, which teachers are bearable, and which tests you actually have to study for. But they immediately go quiet when Maritza parts her lips, signaling she’s about to speak.

“We have history together next period. I’ll show you where the room is.”

I nod and thank her.

Suddenly, Maritza drops my phone to wave at someone behind me. My head snaps toward a broad-shouldered, blond boy in a varsity jacket on the other side of the cafeteria. He waves back and reveals a set of perfect teeth when he smiles at her.

“That’s my boyfriend, Caleb. He’s a senior,” Maritza gloats in response to my puzzled look, “I’ll introduce you to him sometime.”

The gorgeous popular girl is dating a muscled jock that is a grade above her. The cherry on top of the already perfectly cliché pie.

“Do you have a boyfriend?” Jenny asks.

A sharp pain shoots through my heart, as if the rubber band I’d been trying to hold onto suddenly snapped. Memories I’d spent all summer trying to forget about flood my mind. If I concentrate hard enough, I can almost feel Charlie’s arms around me, offering the safe haven I so desperately needed at Edencrest. A place where you were never truly safe from the harsh judgments of the covens.

I dig my nails into my palm under the table and look at Jenny. “I don’t. They’re hard to come by at an all-girls school.”

The girls laugh at my witty remark and I let my nails ease from my skin.

The school bell rings, pulling our attention away. We exchange quick goodbyes, and I follow Maritza out of the cafeteria. Every student we pass moves out of the way at the sight of her. Today, at least, I won’t end up on the stake. Now, I just have to make sure it stays that way.