(Previously titled: I Think I Love You)
When Alex Thompson, fiery, gritty, full of piss and vinegar trolls into the small quiet beach town that is Hullbeck, California, it's not what she expects.
She never expected to be part of a vengeful scheme to...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Rule #1: No sex. (Kissing and touching are allowed)
Rule #2: Do NOT fall for his traps.
Rule #3: Don't be a bitch.
Rule #4:—
"What the fuck is this? Why is this written on a napkin from the diner?"
Beth shrugged. "I lost the printed version."
"You have the document saved, right? You could have just printed another copy."
Beth pursed her lips, a look of embarrassment flashed across her face. I rolled my eyes, crumpling the grease spotted napkin in my hand and shoving it in my back pocket.
It was 7am the next day. After Dani sealed our deal with a handshake, she informed me briefing for the plan would begin the next morning. I was reluctant, seeing as I had to wake up half an hour earlier to met up with them. But, after Dani so kindly reminded me of my potential winnings, I had no choice.
It was now 7:15. 15 minutes wasted in the empty parking lot of a hardware store that wouldn't open till 8am, so I couldn't even buy a hammer to knock my brains out.
"Screw this. Where are Dani and Beth? Why am I only meeting up with you?"
Beth gave herself a once over in the compact mirror in her hand. "That's not important. What important is how we're gonna approach this plan."
"Uh, I think it is important when 2/3's of your trio is missing and the remaining one happens to be the idiot with terrible handwriting."
"I see someone is already breaking rule #3," she quipped back.
"Jesus Christ," I rubbed my hand over my face harshly. "You made me do this," I murmured, digging my cold hand into the pocket of my leather jacket. With a relieved sigh, I fished out a worn out pack of Marlboro's.
"What the hell are you doing?" Beth peaked over my shoulder.
"Lighting a bomb. What does it look like I'm doing?" I mumbled, cigarette between my lips as I attempted to light it. The light from my metal lighter flickered twice before it came to life on the third try. The soft crackled of burning tobacco nearly gave me goosebumps like it always did.
"Dani and Mai are going to be pissed when they find out you smoke."
I scoffed, the curls of cigarette smoke escaping my mouth and leaving me warm inside.
"Good thing they're not here, then."
Again, nothing ever went my way, did it?
The sight of Mia's black Porshe had me sighing in relief and agony. Relief that the other two would complete a full brain, instead of having to stand around conversing with Beth who only made up 1/3. Agony that they would probably add no smoking to the rules.
"The calvary has arrived," Dani joked, sliding out of the drivers seat and standing beside Beth, wrinkling her nose at the sight and smell of cigarettes.
Mia followed suit, but rather than look at me with disdain for my bad habit, she quirked her lips to the side. If I didn't know any better, I'd say she looked a little impressed.
"What are you smiling about?"
Mia stood beside the empty spot on Beth's left side. "Nothing. Just kinda figured you smoked. Perhaps you and Wayne do have something in common."
"For someone who says they never dated him, you sure seem to know a lot about him," I remarked, taking another drag from the cigarette.
Mia glared, but I only shrugged mockingly in response.
The funny thing about this act of vengeance? The girls claim none of them dated Wayne, just supposedly got tired of his man-whore attitude parading the halls. I knew this was bullshit. No way they decided to form this plan out of witnessing his behavior. But still, they wouldn't budge.
Oh, well, I thought. I'd figure out who done it sooner or later.
"Did you give her the list?" Dani asked Beth, jutted her head towards me.
"I sorta, kinda, maybe lost it," Beth replied sheepishly, tucking a strand of brown hair behind her ear.
Dani rolled her eyes. "Yeah, kinda figured. Here." She pulled a folded piece of white paper out of her back pocket, motioning for me to take it. When I didn't grab it, she motioned again. "Gonna leave me here till my arm breaks off?"
Pausing from taking another drag, I dropped the cigarette hanging from my pointer and index finger onto the cracked pavement, grinding it with the heel of my shoe.
Plucking the folded paper out of Dani's hand, I unfolded it, pretending to give it a once over. I was very thankful when my lighter didn't flicker out this time, lighting the piece of paper in flames and dropping it to the group before it could burn my fingertips. It fell gently to the ground beside my crumbled cigarette.
When I looked up, Dani and Beth were looking at me, mouths agape. Mia had her arms crossed over her chest, a look of disapproval overtook her face.
"What the hell! Did you even read the rules?" Dani asked, incredulous.
"Some rules they were," I huffed, gaze falling down. The paper was now ash and blowing away with the soft wind, no evidence there was anything there to begin with.
"Why does there have to be rules, anyway? All I gotta do is charm the pants off him."
For the first time since I met her, Mia actually looked pissed. Her brown skin was a light pink around her checks, hands balled into white knuckled fists. She definitely looked like she wanted to take a swing at me.
"You're not taking this seriously."
I couldn't help the laugh that burst out of me. "You except me to take this seriously?"
"You should expect your admission to Stanford and 5k gone if you don't follow through."
I narrowed my eyes. "Never said I wasn't going to follow through. But, if I'm gonna to do this, it's gonna my rules, my way."
"Wrong. Our rules," Mia challenged, her left eye nearly twitching.
I took a challenging steep forward but I couldn't make it any farther when Dani decided to slide in between us.
"Okay," she began, attempting to defuse the tension. "You haven't even heard our rules. At least hear us out."
With my eye still trained on Mia's, I responded, "no need. Beth gave me the watered down version. Don't be a bitch? Don't fall for his traps? What the hell is that supposed to mean? Oh, and no kissing? As if I could ever kiss that asshole."
Mia continued to stare me down. But, I wouldn't back down. Two could play this game.
"Okay, okay! That's enough, stop it." Beth exasperated, tugging my arm back. When Mia let out an annoyed huff and teared her eyes away, I smirked to myself.
"The rules are important. Those may not be our exact rules," Dani said through gritted teeth, throwing Beth an annoyed look. "But, let us explain."
