Chapter 2 #2
It’s three, and he isn’t here, or if he is, I don’t see him. He didn’t say where specifically to meet, so I walk around the whole stadium, but he’s not there.
At ten after three, I text him. Are you coming or not?
“Over here,” a voice says.
I turn and see Briggs in his rugby uniform, standing behind the bleachers.
“You’re late,” I say, stalking toward him, my phone in my hand so it’s ready if I need to call for help. I should’ve told Charlotte about this so she’d know where to look for my dead body.
“I had to change,” he says.
“Why isn’t the team here? Isn’t this where you practice?”
“The lawn company treated the field. We can’t be on it. We’re going off site for practice.”
It’s been a few seconds, and he hasn’t insulted me. This is a first. Is he trying to gain my trust before turning on me?
“So what’s this about?” I ask.
“I need to be valedictorian.”
I laugh. “You need to be? Sorry, but I’ve already earned it, and I’m not giving it up.”
He steps closer to me. “I don’t think you understand. I am going to be valedictorian.”
“Uh, no, you’re not. You may get good grades, but mine are better. I have the highest grade point in school. I confirmed it with the office.”
“There’s still a semester left.”
“Yeah, and I’m going to make sure nothing changes. If anyone needs to be valedictorian, it’s me. I don’t have rich parents to buy my way into college and grades alone aren’t enough, especially at Harvard.”
“Harvard?” He folds his arms over his chest. “That’s where you’re going?”
“Maybe,” I say, knowing my chances of being accepted there are a million to one.
“Long ways from home.”
I shrug. “Nothing keeping me here.”
“Being valedictorian doesn’t help you get into college. Admission letters will be out in March, maybe earlier.”
I know that, but I didn’t know what else to say. I don’t understand what’s going on here. This is why we’re meeting? For him to tell me he wants to be valedictorian?
“It could help me get a scholarship,” I say.
“You’re poor. They’ll give you scholarships just for that.”
“I’m not poor. I’m just not filthy rich. My dad has his own business. He makes good money for what he does.”
“Then why do you live in such a shitty house?”
“It’s the house my dad grew up in. And it’s not shitty.”
“He could sell it and make a million just for the land.”
“Maybe, but he’s not selling. Could we hurry this up? I need to get home.”
“I already told you what I want.” He takes another step toward me, then leans down, getting so close I feel his breath on my face as he stares at me with those royal blue eyes. “I need to be valedictorian.”
“And I told you it’s not going to happen,” I say, staring back at him. “What exactly are you asking for here?”
“I’m asking you to back the fuck off.”
“Meaning what? Fail a class so you can rise to the top?”
“If that’s what it takes.”
“You’ve gotta be kidding me. Why the hell would I do that?”
“Because I’m telling you to.”
“Like I’m going to listen to you?” I huff. “Despite all the shit you say about me, you really don’t know me. If you did, you’d know I don’t follow orders, especially from rich pricks who think they can have whatever they want.” I cock my head, eyeing him. “Why do you want this so bad, anyway?”
He looks away. “Because it’s expected.”
“By who? Your parents?”
“It doesn’t fucking matter.” His eyes snap back to mine. “You’re doing this or else.”
“Or else what ?”
His face is getting red, his eyes narrowed, his mouth pursed. He looks like he’s about to explode. This might be the first time someone’s said no to him.
“If that’s it, I’m going to head out,” I say, going around him.
He grabs me and shoves me against the hard metal posts lining the back of the bleachers, then grabs my wrists, pinning them on each side of my head. “You do what I say or you’re—” His jaw tightens as he breathes from his nose, like an angry dragon about to set me on fire.
“I’m what ?” I ask, my heart pounding. I’m scared shitless right now, but I can’t let him see it.
Never show fear. I saw that on a show about serial killers.
They like seeing their victims afraid. It makes them feel powerful, so you should never show fear.
Not that Briggs is a serial killer, but the same principles apply.
“I’ll make your life here a fucking nightmare.”
“It already is,” I casually say.
He leans down to my face. “I’ll make it worse. Worse than you can even imagine.”
I swallow, hearing my shaky breaths as I force myself to stare back at him and not look away.
“You understand?” Briggs tightens his grip on my wrists. “Or do I need to prove to you right now I’m not fucking around?”
A man’s voice echoes in the distance. It sounds like the principal yelling at some students.
“Let me go or I’ll scream.”
Briggs smirks. “Go ahead. They’re not going to help you. You’re trash. Nobody gives a shit about trash. If they could, they’d throw your ass out of this school.”
He’s right. Even if the principal heard me, he probably wouldn’t help. He’d accuse me of making up stories to get Briggs in trouble. He worships Briggs, just like everyone else here.
“ Help !” I scream, figuring I might as well try it. Even if the principal doesn’t believe me, he’ll at least hear me and come over here. “Help! Someone help!”
“Who said that?” I hear the principal yell, sounding panicked. “Tell me where you are!”
Briggs slowly backs away. “Bitch.”
I give him a smug smile as I go around him. “Great meeting with you. Have fun at practice.”
When I’m at the end of the bleachers, I look up and see Principal Perkins standing at the back of the school, looking down at the field.
“Five thousand.”
I turn back to Briggs. “What?”
“I’ll give you five thousand to fail a couple tests.”
“You’re kidding, right? You seriously think I’d take money in exchange for being valedictorian?”
He looks at me, not answering. I turn and walk off.
“Ten!” he yells.
I keep walking.
“Fifteen!”
I keep going.
“Fuck,” I hear him mutter. “Twenty thousand!”
I turn back. “Seriously?”
“Is that a yes?”
I walk back to him. “You’re that desperate to be valedictorian that you’d seriously give me twenty thousand dollars?”
“Will you do it or not?”
The answer is no. It’s a lot of money, but I don’t want money. I want to be valedictorian, and I’m not giving it up. But before I tell him that, I want more info.
I fold my arms over my chest. “Why is this so important to you?”
He looks to the side. “It just is, okay? Just fucking do it. It’s twenty thousand dollars.”
“Tell me why and I’ll consider it.”
His jaw tightens, and he blows out a breath. “I have a deal with my father.”
“What’s the deal?”
His eyes snap back to mine. “What the fuck difference does it make? It’s twenty thousand dollars and all you have to do is fail a few tests.”
“You don’t seem to get what I was saying earlier so let me explain it again. Unlike all your little minions that follow your rules and do whatever you say, I don’t take orders from you. Or bribes. I worked my ass off to get where I am and there’s no way in hell I’m giving it up.”
I turn and storm off.
“You’re gonna pay for this!” he calls after me. “I was going easy on you, Ella, but you just started a fucking war!”
I sprint across the field, up the hill to the parking lot, my heart pounding against my chest. What did he mean? What is he going to do?
I got here this morning thinking I’d coast through my last semester. I was determined not to let those assholes get to me. But now I’ve got a target on my back, and the guy I hate the most is holding the arrow.