Chapter 19 Rumor Mill
-Annie-
I look at his throwing hand, and it’s swollen; the skin on his knuckles has scrapes and scabs forming.
“Miles, what did you do?” I say as I return my gaze to his swollen eye.
“I made sure in a straightforward way that he knows that messing with you was the wrong move.” I know Miles thought he was doing the right thing, but now I’ll be dealing with a fight on top of the fact that Daniel publicly kissed Sam.
I cover my face with my hands, taking a deep breath.
It is going to be ok, I chant in my head as I move my hands away from my face.
“Follow me, tough guy,” I say to my brother.
I head in the direction of the kitchen to get him some ice.
State is only two weeks away, and he can’t have that hand out of commission for that game.
I refuse to be the reason the team doesn’t have my brother on that field.
***
The next day, after a few more hours of sleep, I think I’m ready to talk about it.
Meg gives me the room to process and work through my feelings.
I’ve gone from blaming myself and the fact that I hadn’t pushed him to take me out, to blaming myself that I hadn’t gone further with him behind closed doors, to finally blaming him for stringing me along and very publicly embarrassing me.
It can’t be called cheating, but it feels like it to me.
When I’ve finished my rant, Meg takes the silence to mean it is her turn.
She tells me, in no uncertain terms, that my blame game is bullshit and that his cheating on me is an asshole move.
She gets a look on her face of pure scheming and it’s a little scary to see.
She lets me know we aren’t “rebranding” anymore; we are going for “revenge.”
She goes to my closet, moving clothes around.
She pulls back to study her handiwork. I see a week's worth of my tightest jeans, shirts, and my shortest dresses. “You are going to show him what he is missing out on” Meg says with her hand on her heart. I hug her then I let her lead me through her plan for “revenge.” I’d much rather get lost in this than wallow in the sadness I am feeling.
***
By Monday morning, Meg has set all the players in motion.
I make a mental note to never get on my best friend's bad side. She made this all look too easy to put together. She texted me yesterday, letting me know that I’m going to still get a ride from Daniel and Drew this morning.
I think she is crazy, but I’m going to follow her orders to a T.
Then, starting on Tuesday, she is going to start picking us up.
I guess Drew wants to distance himself from his brother, too.
So, here I am, looking at my reflection in the mirror: promising myself out loud that I can do this, I will not let him see that he hurt me.
I check my reflection one more time. This red dress hugs all my curves, and it is just long enough that I won’t get sent home.
Meg informed me that for my walk to the car today, it would be completely ok if I wanted to pull it up a few inches to expose a little more of my legs.
I adjust it in the mirror and agree with her assessment that this dress makes me look like my legs are miles long.
I still want to pull it down immediately after I do it, but I’m on my "revenge mission". I grab my bag, skipping the coat—because I didn’t wear the dress to cover it up—and head down the stairs.
I avoid my parents and brother this morning, instead shouting my goodbye down the hall before I head out the front door.
Drew is waiting on the porch eating what looks to be a folded waffle.
When he sees me, he takes a quick swallow, followed by a choking sound.
I rush over to him and give him a few pats on the back before he rights himself.
“Meg said you were on some "revenge plan", but damn, Annie, are you going to kill my brother.” I smile; it’s so like Drew to take my mind off my nerves and get me to smile. “I’ll take that as a compliment,” I say.
“As you should,” Drew replies before adding, “Daniel should be out any minute. I’m warning you, your brother did a number on his face.
” That should bother me, but it doesn’t.
True to Drew’s words, Daniel comes out of the front door a few minutes later.
His face is swollen and bruised. When he spots me, he looks pissed.
His eyes take a scan from my head to my toes.
“I told Annie we would take her today,” Drew says, playing the role that Meg assigned him perfectly.
We both head towards the Davises’ car. Drew and I take seats in the back.
I don’t look once in Daniel’s direction.
At school, I get out and start to head off with Drew.
Daniel grabs my arm, stopping me before I can get out of his reach.
His voice is low but not low enough that Drew can’t hear. “What the fuck are you wearing?”
“It’s called a dress, Daniel,” I respond, proud of myself.
I didn’t sound anything but confident. His hand tightens around my arm, starting to hurt.
“Take your hand off me, Daniel, you’re causing a scene,” I say.
I look around: he is causing a scene, I wasn’t lying.
People have stopped or are walking slower, watching this play out.
Daniel takes a step into my space like he used to right before kissing me.
How dare he think he can still do that? I don’t think—I react by kneeing him straight in the balls.
He releases my arm immediately with a grunt.
I step back and find Drew next to me, and he gives me a little nudge before saying loudly for the onlookers’ benefit, “Annie Campbell, you just made my whole year.” Then we head into the school building, not giving Daniel another glance.
***
When I reach my locker, Meg is waiting, and she has the biggest smile.
Before she says anything, she hands me her phone.
There on the screen is an action shot of the moment my knee connected with Daniel’s balls.
It’s very clear from the angle that Daniel is in some pain.
“Annie Campbell, I’m not sure what happened to the plan, but I 100% approve of the new direction.
” A few girls pass us saying, “Good for you, Annie,” then continue down the hall.
Craig shows up and gives me a look while handing me his jacket before saying, “I knew our little Annie had some fight in her.” “Annie, please promise me my balls are safe, that looked painful,” laughs Luke.
Luke wraps his arm over my shoulder and walks me to class.
By the end of the day, I haven’t heard a thing about me being ‘pathetic’ for what happened at the game.
All I’ve heard today in the hall is that you shouldn’t mess with either one of the Campbells, and I’m perfectly ok with that rumor.