Chapter 13

Even before school ended everyone already saw the message and were whispering among themselves. Before long I could feel eyes boring into my back. Funny isn’t it? People will believe anything but I bet you can’t blame them when there’s no means of defense. How do I tell everyone that I didn’t send that message?

I know what you are thinking. This as good a chance as I can get to get my revenge on her and while I can’t deny that, let me ask you, would you rather sink low to your enemy’s level or will you rise above their insecurities?

I know nothing but Emerald’s fear and insecurities compelled her to send that message to the group chat. She could have easily sent that message through her phone and framed it this way; “I bet Ginny Dark Storm thinks I’m a bitch” but by sending it through my phone she will get sympathy and the people on her side while pitting them against me.

By the time the final bell rang everyone’s phones was beeping and Mrs. Handers had to leave the class quickly.

I took out my phone and realized that there were already a thousand reactions to the message and everyone was calling me a bitch, a hater and many other juicy names. Can’t say I haven’t been called those by the voices in my head before.

Ironic isn’t it? While Emerald called me names and made me feel uncomfortable on my first and second day of school, everyone turned a blind eye, no one saw, no one said anything but one second after a little message and I am already getting death threats.

I glanced over at Emerald’s seat. Parker was there with her and the both of them were with their friends. They turned to look at me every passing second, probably wondering why I wasn’t telling everyone that she sent the message and that I caught them having hot kinky sex in the hall. I’m sure Parkers socialite parents would have loved to see a picture of their son out while he fucked the integrity of Princeton to the dirt.

Smart, well behaved and full of integrity my fucking ass.

Parker tried to hide his fear by looking intimidating but a little close look at the front of his blazer and I could see the thumping of his heart.

Lizzie caught Emerald staring at me and caught her hand with a frown. I read her lips. “I bet you feel like killing that fucking loser. Let the wolves tear her apart.”

“Yeah you’re right.”

She snatched her hand free from Lizzie’s and snatched Parker’s hand as she pulled him so that she could speak into his ear. Because of the way she positioned her body I couldn’t see the movement of her lips and the noise in the class didn’t make it easy for me to strain well enough to hear them. Everyone was too interested in talking about the bitter Outty trying to smear Emerald’s good name.

“Don’t worry we know you didn’t do it.”

I looked away from Emerald’s little sorrow party, they were beginning to pack their bags. Lindsay was standing behind my chair with 3 Outties with her. I cringed inwardly at the look of adoration in their eyes. They must think I’m so kind of Joan of Arc reincarnation coming to save them from their oppressors.

“Are you sure your friends with you think the same?”

“Even though you did, you’re the first person to actually stand up to Emerald. She’s a terrible person.”

“The word terrible doesn’t cut it. She’s a monster and it’s not the first time she’s picking on the new student. Many people have broken down under her dictator but only few – actually you’re the only person standing up to her.”

I guess that was supposed to make me feel like a hero or something but I felt sorry for these little sheep. What does it actually take to stand up to bullies?

“Whatever,” I responded for lack of a better thing to say. I reached for my bag and packed my books in them. I guess I should say I was a little surprised that one of the Outties didn’t collect my bag to pack my things in, instead they watched me do it. I guess the fear of Emerald is the beginning of… wisdom? Compliance?

They may praise me to the highest skies for standing up to Emerald but they sure cannot get on her bad side. No that they were on the good one in the first place.

I stood up and smiled at them. “Ah well, I guess I’m some sort of role model now. Anyways, let the hero be on her way home.”

I waved them goodbye and looked around the class for Leo but he was nowhere to be found. I didn’t want to waste anymore time waiting around for Emerald to come back for me so I made my way to the parking lot. That was when I realized I hadn’t seen Colin throughout school today.

I looked around the park, running my eyes over the identical black cars with tinted windows and windshields and couldn’t find the one that looked like Colin’s. Emerald was at the other end of the park walking briskly toward her car with Parker right behind her and they looked like they were arguing. Parker was trying to say something to her but she wasn’t listening, instead she whirled on him, pushed past and walked back into the school building. Parker was right behind her. I wanted to look away but I couldn’t and he caught me looking.

Maybe I should go back and listen to what they were arguing about? They are probably plotting my downfall.

But I found Noah standing beside the car and I felt a moment of relief. At least I get to go back home and hide away from all of this.

I had completely forgotten about my almost bald head until Noah narrowed his eyes then widened it in surprise. That was when I remembered and I instantly felt ugly. I wanted to run back into the school to hide and before I could think better of it I found myself giving into that urge as I turned on my heels and ran back into the school building but I started down the hall I realized there was no hiding place for me. No one wants me in school.

Taking a deep breath, I turned back around and went to the packing lot where Noah was waiting. I expected him to laugh but he wasn’t laughing as he pressed the remote to open the door.

“That took a while. Are you ready to go home now?”

Ha ha I was only in there a few seconds. “Yeah…sure,” I said feeling foolish all of a sudden. “I um…I thought I left my bag behind.”

His eyes flew to the backpack safely secured around my left shoulder. His eyes tingled but he nodded. “Sure. Glad you have it back. Let’s go home.”

I walked to the car surprised to find that Leo was already in the car sitting at the front and he wasn’t looking at me.

“I was searching for you.”

There was no response. I frowned wondering why he was giving me the cold shoulder but I shrugged it off and got into the car.

Half an hour later, we were pulling into the driveway of the mansion and I was conscious of Noah staring at my cropped hair throughout the journey.

I hid my face by sliding down the seat. What a ugly loser I am.

As soon as he packed the car I eagerly got out and ran into the mansion, avoiding everyone as best as I could but I had barely gotten into my room when Leo, who I hadn’t noticed was right behind me barged into my room.

“How could you?”

I turned to see him standing there looking red with fury.

“How could I what?”

“I thought you were better than this but calling Emerald a bitch? On the group chat? That is not okay!”

I stared at him momentarily stunned. “I’m sorry?"

“Ginny, I thought I knew you but I never knew you were this petty, this…classless.”

“Hold it right there, Leo,” I yelled back at him in rage. “Where was this rage when your fucking mistress embarrassed me in front of the whole school? Where was this rage when she told me I didn’t belong and threatened to make my life hell?”

“Those were mere talks! Harmless jokes!”

“Harmless jokes?” I asked incredulously. “Leo have you fucking lost your God given senses? Why the fuck are you defending her? Do you see what she did to me? What happened to me since I got into fucking Princeton?” I pointed at my head.

“Maybe if you complied this would never have happened.”

“Of course, comply like a fucking sheep like the rest of you.”

“I know you don’t think much of anything, of my new friends and Princeton but I want you to know that you have been ungrateful. Maggie has given us a once in a lifetime opportunity and the best you can do is make good use of it. You can start by apologizing to Emerald tomorrow.”

I was too stunned to speak at first and when I did I screamed. “Over my dead body! Leo get the fuck out of my room!” tears stung my eyes and I fought to keep them in like I fight to hide everything else. But it hurt so bad that he was taking her side and not mine. Was he so blind? Couldn’t he see?

He nodded. “Fine, I’ll get out. But know this, try to fit in.”

He slammed my door shut and the dam broke. I cried my eyes out and the tears wouldn’t stop flowing, not even when I fell on the floor and tried to stall them. Someone knocked on my door, it must have been Maggie but I yelled at her to go to hell. I regretted that decision but I wanted privacy so I accepted the loneliness that came with being alone.

The only thing that pulled me out of my mourning however was the insistent beeping on my phone. I got it out angrily thinking it was more messages of people calling me names. I would have turned off my phone of I hadn’t seen the messages glaring at me from my screen.

“Oh my God how did it happen?”

“Was she alone?”

“Was it an accident?”

And with this messages came an image and that image made me gasp.

It was an image of Emerald sprawled on the floor of the assembly hall, her neck was positioned in an unnatural manner and all around her was a pool of dark red blood.