Bitter Bites

Hazel

I chomp down on my ham and cheese sandwich like it's the cause of my problem. Each bite is sharp, aggressive, my jaw working overtime.

"Calm down, Hazel," Ronan mutters, glancing at his watch. "There’s still plenty of time before lunch break ends."

I nod without looking up, but deep down the annoyance simmers. I tell myself not to be upset—but I am. That felt disrespectful, so disrespectful,