“Do it again anytime. God knows I never get affection from home. Woop fudge fuckers!” she yells out suddenly and punches a random guy on the arm as he passes us, the bright colors of his jersey giving me a hint that he’s on the football team.
She’s not even sorry and that makes me like her more. She’s going to be my bestie right next to Evan. She keeps walking and ignores the guy rubbing his arm as he glares after us. She leads me down another hallway and lets go of my arm as she pulls open a pair of double doors that open up into the library.
“Since I have a free period and you have study hall, let's hang out here. Don’t bother to ask, I was curious and checked your schedule. I’m the office assistant,” she casually says with a wave of her hand and wanders into the back of the library until she finds a table near the floor to ceiling windows as I follow after her.
“You're pretty bossy. I swear you remind me of someone.” I hint at her, my hunch driving me crazy, but she just sits there smiling. There's no way they can be related because he doesn’t smile.
“Just ask. Everyone always does. Bitch!” she blurts out as she clicks her tongue, loud enough to echo and hear a distant hushing in return.
I do something I never do. I start laughing so hard that my stomach hurts, tears rolling down my cheeks as I grip the table edge so I don’t fall to the carpeted floor.
“Nicky is my brother, in case you were wondering,” she says, confirming my suspicion.
Green eyes and high cheekbones run in their family with that cool, void facial expression. This makes it easier to be her friend because she may appear innocent but if you look past her almond shaped eyes, you can see shadows in the depth of her gaze. She’s seen some shit that most never do. Also, it gives me an opportunity to get information on that douchebag brother of hers.
“Don’t even think about it. Motherfucker! Fucker!” she randomly yells and continues unfrazzled, I admire her for that. “But he’s my big brother. Blood.” She chuckles at my expression which drops as she says that.
“Fine, but just so you know I have plans for your brother. He is on my list.” I honestly tell her, not wanting it to be a surprise when she sees her brother fall to his knees in front of me.
“He probably deserves it. Just don’t kill him. He’s all I have.” She rolls her eyes with a smirk, but I can hear the affection for that asshole in her voice.
“I’ll try my best. No promises though. Can I ask you a question?” I bite my lip, leaning my upper body over the table wondering if I should sink to the floor instead because it’s none of my business and God knows I’d never overshare anything about myself.
“I can see what you're about to ask and the answer is no. Gary and his asshole followers have never crossed that line until today. It’s always threatening, shoving, but nothing beyond that. Most are too scared of my brother, but sometimes people have something to- eek- to prove. They think they hold the power when they clearly don’t. I think with you being the center of attention to the four most dangerous guys in school… it gave them the green light to go after me.” She shrugs her shoulders like it’s no big deal and only a person who is used to stuff like that acts like it’s just another ordinary day.
“Okay, new plan. Kill the jocks first, then I’ll get my revenge on the big four.” I reach across the table to fist bump her and it’s sealed in a promise as she smacks her fist against mine.
We practically have our heads together as we whisper back and forth about the mission to kill the jocks. She might think I’m joking but I’m dead serious. It’s one thing for myself to get hurt, to be punished for being born. It’s not okay if someone messes with my second real friend. Ride or die, baby, and this chick is going for a ride until I’m breaking bones and stomping on dicks so they won’t ever be able to spawn a child.
Jesus H. Christ. I’ve been starving for so long that I’m hungry, my need for bloodshed making my stomach cling to my spine and I don’t think I’ll ever be full.
“What are you two, uh, doing?” Evan pokes his head between us, startling me that I yelp as Nicola lets out a shriek and punches him in the gut so fast I almost missed it.
“I’m sorry! Forget I asked!” Evan groans in pain, clenching his stomach, and places a tray of sandwiches on the middle of the table.
I knew there was a reason I liked this kid. He speaks my language. Food.
“Sex! Dirty Sex! Gimmie,” Nicola says loud enough that probably the whole library hears. She reaches for a sandwich, all cool and collected, but what has me choking back a laugh is how Evan’s cheeks turn red as he avoids staring at Nicola.
“This right here is why I’m keeping you. Sit down and join our evil plotting.” I wave to the empty seat next to Nicola, munching on the turkey club with a grin and completely ignoring the throb on my cut lip.
I’ve had worse,I think with a small shrug.
“I don’t know, Tillie… he doesn’t look like he would accept our evil ways. He probably wouldn’t join us to get reven-” Nicola doesn’t even finish that sentence before Evan slaps his hand down hard on the table.
“I’m in. What’s the plan? Who, and how are we getting rid of the bodies?” His voice comes out determined as he adjusts his glasses up the bridge of his nose.
Well, okay then. I didn’t see that coming from my shy, nerdy friend. I glance at Evan, looking him up and down in thought. Looks are deceiving, I should know. I never thought after all the time I spent with Cruz, he would turn out the way he did. People put on a mask and won’t reveal themselves until they finally have you in their grasps with no escaping.
Seeing Evan and Nicola chatting back and forth in excitement, it’s like I’m starting my own little gang. It almost feels normal, sitting here with two people who I hope I can count as friends. Makes me forget the last few hours, that we just meet every day in this spot doing absolutely nothing but talk shit. I’ve always been lonely, never asked anyone to take a step into my world, but here we are.
“The three jocks with a death wish, and the school's most dangerous guys. Nothing yet planned. So far setting houses on fire is off the list. Too messy to hide the evidence to make it look like an accident. Thought about taking a boat ride, but bodies can float to the top of the ocean. So it’s still in the works.” I tap my chin, lost in thought and feeling a little bit twitchy.
It’s been days since I got my adrenaline rush, the dangerous game of racing and needing the freedom of the wind pushing at my body to keep going. Just being on Dalton’s bike this morning made me miss it all the more. My poor bike.
“Honestly, I don’t think you’ll get the chance with the jocks. Logan knows about it, he had blood on his hands when he threw your clothes at me, and it’s only a matter of time before my brother and Tey find out. My guess, Dalton is going to help stall for as long as he can. Family means a lot to Nicky. No one messes with his family. No one,” Nicola sighs, blowing a raspberry as she leans back in her chair looking at the high ceilings.
Damn it! It’s my turn to fight back, to gain something I’ve never had. They won’t take that away from me. I’ll just have to beat them to it. Step one, take care of the guys first. Kill the jocks for touching me and Nicola, then I’m out of here. The thought saddens me as I stare at Evan and Nicola helping me plot death. That’s true friendship even if they don’t mean it, thinking it’s just a game.
