4
On the way home, I accessed the bug I’d
planted on him through Bluetooth.
Soon, as expected, there were two familiar
voices talking.
15.9s
One voice belonged to Brad, the guy I’d just
left, and the other was a whiny, flirty tone I
recognized as Tiffany.
Their conversation filtered through my
headphones.
L
Brad: “I did what you asked, now you better
not screw me over.”
Tiffany: “Oh, come on, Brad, don’t be such a
downer, you’re killing the vibe.”
I almost ripped my headphones off but held
back, I couldn’t miss this.
Brad: “I did my part, we had a deal. It’s
strictly business.”
Tiffany: “You actually have the hots for that
skank Lily?”
Tiffany: “I told you, that goody–two–shoes
routine she pulls is fake! When she held my
head in the sink today, she was crazy. I
actually thought she was going to kill me!”
<
There was a pause.
Then Brad chuckled.
Brad: “She’s just someone to mess around
with.”
I had my answers. I didn’t need to hear any
more of their trash talk.
My sister, the one man she pined over, did
this to her. He was nice to her to play Tiffany’s games.
My fists clenched, my body shaking.
Brad, you’re a piece of work.
I’m going to make you all pay.
<
I ripped off my headphones and saved the
recording.
The next day, I went to the spot where they
had planned the meet–up, a little alley near
school.
I made them wait half an hour. They were
standing around in the sun, sweating.
The girls, the ones from the bathroom
yesterday, came to get me. They led me into
the alley without a word.
I had my phone recording and ready.
It was an old, abandoned building, no one
lived there.
Across from me was Tiffany and a bunch of
L
people holding baseball bats and looking like
they were about to start a brawl.
In the shadows, Tiffany’s voice came out.
“Look who showed up, Lily. Guess you really
are head over heels for Brad, huh?”
Tiffany took a few steps forward but stopped.
She was hiding in the shadows, like a rat.
“Stop talking and let’s get this over with. I
heard she’s a tough girl, huh? Look at her, a
little weakling, and we had to call in so many
people. Let the guys have some fun,” said a
guy in the corner.
He was big and bulky. I finished my popsicle
and wiped my hands with a napkin.
<
The guy didn’t look happy, his eyes were full
of malice.
Tiffany stepped back. “Okay, Lily, you did this
to yourself.”
“Okay, Bear, she’s all yours, just don’t kill
her.”
As she spoke, a phone flash suddenly lit the
alley.
I narrowed my eyes.
The man, “Bear,” smirked and started
towards me. Behind him, two other guys were
flexing their muscles.
I couldn’t believe I had to resort to this.
<
Bear came at me, reaching out. I saw the
confidence in his face, and I just smiled.
I spun around, sweeping his feet out from
under him. As he went down, I picked up a
metal rod and swung it down on his head.
It connected with a sickening thud.
Yeah, that’ll do it.
Bear hit the floor, dazed. The other two stood
still for a second.
Tiffany yelled, “Don’t just stand there, do
something!”
They came at me fast.
LO
<
I wasn’t scared.
My target wasn’t them; it was Tiffany.
As they charged, I dodged, then faked them out, and then darted through the shadows.
No one saw it coming when I put a blade to
Tiffany’s throat.
Holding her tight, I whispered in her ear,
“Tiffany, think this blade can cut through your
delicate neck?”
She started shaking.
Trying to act tough, she said, “You wouldn’t.”
“Think about your parents,” she said. “If you
don’t want something to happen to them. let
<
I just chuckled and pressed the blade a little
closer.
She gasped as a bead of blood appeared.
She went quiet.
“I’m sorry! I didn’t mean it!”
I smiled a little. I raised my voice. “You didn’t
mean it? What about all the stuff you did to
me? That was just an impulse too?”
The guys looked confused.
Tiffany reached out to them, asking for help.
I clamped my hand over her mouth.
The blade sparkled in the light, deadly. No
one dared to move.
<
I tightened my hold.
Tiffany choked, staring at me, trying to get
me to listen to her.
I let up slightly. She took a shaky breath.
I pressed the blade to her throat.
She screamed, begging for me to stop,
promising to leave me alone.
I smiled, taking off the metal piece at the tip
of the blade.
It was just a cover, not dangerous.
Tiffany realized she’d been tricked, her anger
was palpable.
<
She tackled me, clawing at my face.
Suddenly, I could hear sirens in the distance.
While everyone was frozen, I scratched a cut
across my wrist.
Hot blood soaked into my clothes.
The cops stormed the alley.
I was a mess, bloody and bruised.
