t h r e e

Chapter 3 

Miss Queen Bitch 

After Art and other subjects too boring to list I’m finally on my way to the cafeteria. I saw Justin in my last class and Sam in the one before, but we sit separately because our stupid teachers thought it would be smart to arrange the classes seats themselves. 

Walking through the cafeteria’s double doors, the smell of burning cheese wafts past me. Don’t get me wrong it’s not bad but it’s like someone threw cheese on a hot plate and just left it there. Joining the line of students, I’m not one for attention so this makes me slightly nervous, almost giving me anxiety. It feels like everyone’s eyes are on me. 

After grabbing some spaghetti in a tub and a bottle of water I make my way to our table. We sit to the side slightly further from the door. As I’m making my merry way to our table a hand juts out in front of me causing me to halt all actions. 

Aahhh the infamous Tiffany Wayne, Alanon Highs very own Queen Bitch. She’s been reigning since Grade 10, How? I have no clue. 

“Carbs? I would probably lay off if I were you.” She sneers, giving me her oh-so-crap smile. 

In her hand is a salad with croutons. Am I the only girl who hates salads... Blahhggg! 

“Aww that’s so cute, you thought I actually gave a shit... Cute man, bye!” I sneer right back making my way hastily to our table. 

I don’t like the attention she was attracting towards us; I could tell she was loving but me uh uh nope! As I sit, Sam and Justin are staring at me weirdly. 

“What?” I ask, kind of getting creeped out. 

I open my spaghetti and start stuffing my mouth, I’m kind of hungry because I didn’t eat breakfast. Now they’re just watching me eat, I have the strangest friends... 

“Y-yo-you just spoke up to Tiffany, when you have attention anxiety... and-and-” I cut off Sam’s babble with a groan. 

As Natalie and Andrew sit down, I’m swallowing the last of my spaghetti. 

“What’s happening and why are they staring at you?” Natalie asks. 

Natalie is extremely beautiful with a short blond bob, she’s one of the people I can confidently say I’m jealous of. 

“Okay let's clear this up okay?” I say directing my words towards Sam and Justin more than Natalie and Andrew who are sitting next to their respective boy/girlfriend. 

“I spoke to Tiffany because she... Well, um pissed me off more than usual today than any other day for some reason...” my words trail off when I start realising, I’m lying... again. 

I got peeved off because I’m up to my neck in gang stuff. Gangs are starting to want face to face meetings because some police started to get info on their shipments and shit. And I can’t allow that to happen otherwise I’ll reveal my identity and that’s a major hazard. And my parents are up my ass asking about delayed ‘salaries’ from the malware shit. With one last suspicious glance they all nod and start a mindless conversation. 

I’m currently sitting in class waiting for the last bell of the day to ring setting me free in the process. But no... I’m still stuck with 5 of the longest minutes of my life. Is it just me or do the last minutes of school always take forever to end? At least it's Friday, meaning tomorrow can be spent in my ‘safe haven’ also known as the room I built on top of our garage. 

It’s not that big, it’s probably the size of a small classroom. But it’s my space, with a punching bag, my computer, lots of poofs (those fluffy chair things) and the best part is... 

It’s all mine! 

My parents don’t go in, partially because there’s only one way up which is a multiple-knotted rope which needs to be climbed, and neither does my sister. Besides there’s a lock on the door and the windows are bolted every time I leave. 

Trinnnngggggg 

Finally let the work slash fun begin... 

So, when I said ‘fun’ I didn’t expect it to start raining, then miss the bus by taking too long to pack my books. Which resulted in me having to walk home, soaking wet may I add- and no not in that way you dirty minded people- then my parents tell me they’re working late so I’m locked out of my house which took me 2 hours to get to on foot. (Annie, my seven-year-old sister, is at a sleepover by the way.) 

Which leaves me, now stranded, in front of our house. I usually leave a spare key to my ‘safe haven’ in the house although I have a spare... 

A spare! 

God I’m a genius! I left a spare key to my shed thing in my bag. 

After finding the key in my bag and an exhausting 3-minute climb up the wet rope. I’m trying to open the door which is jammed from the rain making the wooden door swell slightly. 

Gah! 

The door finally opened and let me tell you the inside of my shed is extremely warm compared to the outside's cold weather. When I say it’s warm, I don’t mean it's heated or anything, just that it's warmer compared to outside. Closing the door and semi-laying on one of the poof seats, I whip open my laptop, which was in a drawer in one of the bookshelves in the shed. 

Finally I can take a swing at the source codes that I need to know for this new job coming up, I haven’t been hired yet and I don’t know the full lay out but I need to understand anyway just in case. I also have an overdue encrypted-chat meeting that needs to take place between me and the Scorpion Gang. Original name, I know right. That’s also the gang that might offer me that job about revenge and shit. So, I feel like it’s important. 

Opening the encrypted chat, I see the leader typing... which is shown as a few underscores ( _ _ _ ). 

SG- we have a job for you, but things are changing 

Sphinx- I’ll do the job but what’s changing? 

SG- this jobs’ special, we need a face to face—no records 

Sphinx- I can’t, these chats are encrypted by me, do you no longer trust me 

SG- we do but this one needs no leads to us especially 

Sphinx- who would I have to meet 

SG- only me and my two most trusted. I understand your need for your identity to remain anonymous. 

Ugh this guy is giving me no choice and I really need the money; my parents are starting to wonder where the money comes from and why I don’t get a small monthly salary for the ‘malware sales’. I waver coming clean or exposing myself to a gang leader and 2 members. 

Aahhh what the hell I think to myself. It’s not like we’re going to know each other anyway. 

Sphinx- fine. When? 

SG- it's slightly urgent. 2 hours 

Sphinx- fine, I don’t plan on showing my face to your whole gang so how will I get in? 

SG- I’ll escort you through the back. I’ll wear a maroon suit so you can identify me. Wear something distinct. 

Sphinx- I’ll wear a black hoodie. 

SG- au revoir 

That’s his signal for ‘shut up now bye’. I’ve never actually met anyone from the gangs I work for. I’ve been to their mafia and gang houses before to set shit up, but I’ve never met anyone. This will be my first. Shit ...shitshitshit! 

Why I’m getting nervous is beyond me. What if they just kill me because they wanted fun or make me kill someone to prove my loyalty or something... 

Shit I should’ve said no.