Chapter 9 #2
“It’s fine,” I mutter, feeling uncomfortable that she did that.
I’m also kind of angry. I’ve learned to feel nothing but hate for this girl, and it’s all I ever want to feel.
She didn’t do anything to deserve that hate, but it doesn’t matter because it’s how I feel, and I refuse to feel differently.
“I’ll finish the lab.” She goes to get a new flask, then starts the experiment again, doing it correctly this time.
I move back, giving her space to work, but also wanting to get away from her so I can go back to hating her and get rid of the guilt I’m feeling for what I’ve done to her and am about to do.
When class ends, I get up and leave, not saying anything to her.
At the end of the day, I’m still feeling off and just want to go home and sleep. Maybe when I wake up, I’ll be back to feeling like myself again.
“Why didn’t you show up today?” Parker asks, catching up to me as I go to my car.
“What are you talking about?”
“You said to meet you outside the cafeteria. You weren’t fucking there.”
“Shit, I forgot. I went to the gym and worked out.”
“So what did you want?”
“Nothing. Just forget it.”
Finn’s Range Rover pulls up beside us, and he sticks his head out the window. “One of you fuckers want to go get shitfaced at my brother’s house? He’s having a party tonight.”
Finn’s brother is just like him, but a few years older.
He used his trust fund to buy a house where he parties all night and sleeps all day.
He has no desire to get a job or do anything with his life.
Finn’s the same way. He’s planning to move in with his brother this summer and do nothing but drink, sleep, and have sex.
I wish I could be that carefree, not giving a shit what I do with my life, but unfortunately, I inherited my father’s drive to succeed.
I just refuse to succeed the way he tells me to. I want to do it my own way.
“I’ll pass,” I tell him. “I need to go home. I’m not feeling well.” I open the car door, my fingers stinging when they press against the handle. “Fuck!” I shake out my hand.
“What happened?” Parker asks.
“I burned my fingers in Chem lab.” I use my other hand and open the door.
“What about you?” Finn asks Parker. “You coming over?”
“Can’t. I told Scarlett we’d go out tonight.”
“You fuckers never want to do anything.” Finn looks back at the car honking behind him. “Go around!”
The car backs up, and I see it’s Brielle, a girl I dated sophomore year. She kind of looked like Ella back then, but now she looks totally different. She shot up in height and dyed her hair blonde.
“What the hell she’s doing?” Finn asks.
“Going the other way because she can’t get around you,” Parker says.
“She’s got plenty of room,” Finn says to us, then he yells back at Brielle, “Fucking learn how to drive!” He looks back at us. “So what are we doing Friday night? Should we take her in a room? Make her think we’re going to do something?”
He’s talking about Charlotte. I told him we’d do something to her at the party, but I didn’t say what.
“Forget it,” I say. “It’s not worth it.”
“What the fuck?” Finn glances at Parker. “I thought we were going after Charlotte to mess with Ella.”
Parker told Finn about my plan to take down Ella, even though I told Parker not to tell him. It’s just like I said, the guy can’t keep a secret.
“ I’m doing it,” I say, folding my arms over my chest. “ You’re not. Stay the fuck out of it. I’ve got it under control.”
“Maybe I’ll go after her myself,” Finn says. “I’m sick of those bitches acting like they’re better than us.”
“They don’t act like they’re better than us,” I say. “What the hell you talking about?”
“Is she really showing up Friday?” Parker asks.
“Charlotte? Yeah, but leave her alone. I’m going after Ella, not Charlotte.”
“But that’s how you get to Ella,” Parker says. “She doesn’t want us messing with her friend. That’s the whole reason you invited her.”
“Just let it go. Why are you pushing this? It was my idea and I changed my mind.”
Finn and Parker look at each other, grinning slightly.
They’re going to do something to Charlotte.
Fuck. Why did I start this? I should’ve left her alone.
Ella can take care of herself. No matter what I do, she’ll try to fight back.
But Charlotte is timid and shy and wouldn’t have a clue how to fight back.
I could tell her not to show up. Or maybe I should wait and see if Ella will go with her. There’s no way she’ll let Charlotte go there by herself.
“Later, fuckers.” Finn revs the engine and takes off.
Parker turns to me. “You okay? You seem off.”
“I don’t feel good. I think I’m just tired.” I get in the car.
Parker laughs. “Looks like the sociopath got the Ferrari started.”
I look over and see Calvin Seamore standing next to his car. Behind it is a tow truck, and it looks like the tow truck driver is sitting in Calvin’s car. The guy leaves the engine running and gets out, then walks back to his truck.
“The thing’s brand new and it wouldn’t start?” I say.
Parker smiles. “Finn and I might’ve had something to do with that.”
“Why would you mess with his car?”
“Because the asshole made some comment about Finn being stupid in class the other day. You know we don’t put up with that shit.”
I start my car and pull out of the space, not wanting to hear the story. I just want to get out of here and end this fucking day. Another day closer to freedom.
* * *
By Thursday, I decide to leave Ella alone. I told her I’d give her a week to think about it, and maybe if I follow through on that, she’ll agree to what I want. I doubt it, but it’s worth a try. We don’t have lab, so I’m not forced to talk to her, and when I see her in the hall, I ignore her.
On Friday, I decide to tell Charlotte not to come to the party, but then change my mind when Ella tells me they’re both going.
I want to see Ella at a party. I want to see how she’ll act, and if she’ll drink, and what’ll happen if she does.
Even though I hate her, she fascinates me.
I don’t know any other girl like her, which makes me curious to know more.
“You sure you can handle tonight?” I ask her during Chem lab. “You’ve never been to a party. If you’re expecting balloons and ice cream, you’re gonna be disappointed.”
She rolls her eyes. “I’ve been to parties, just ones where I’ve actually liked the people who are there.
And as for what I’m expecting, I’m thinking lots of alcohol, a variety of drugs, and you and your friends trying to scare me into agreeing to your deal.
” She looks me in the eye. “Bring it on. I’m more than ready. ”
I smile. “But is your friend?”
Her eyes dart around like she’s searching for a comeback.
She doesn’t have one. She can’t come up with one because she’s too worried about Charlotte and what we might do to her.
She knows Charlotte can’t handle us. I’m guessing Ella will be glued to her side the entire night.
I’m surprised she didn’t talk her out of going, or maybe she tried, but Charlotte insisted on being there.
It’s obvious she has a crush on me. She probably thinks my invite meant I was interested in her.
“Five more minutes,” Ms. Higgins says.
“I’ll just finish it,” Ella snaps, stirring in the last chemical. She’s angry because she’s feeling out of control, unsure how to protect her friend.
I’d planned to leave Charlotte alone tonight, but maybe I won’t.
I’m curious to see what Ella would do to protect her.
Maybe I’ve been approaching this the wrong way this entire time.
Maybe this is my answer for getting Ella to give up being valedictorian.
Go after Charlotte. It might be the only way to get Ella to do what I want.