Is This Love?

Chapter 16- A Secret

Jade's P.O.V.

"Jade, sweetie, your friend Cara is down here! She said it's time to do your project!" Mother yelled.

I forgot Cara was coming today. I groaned....I was supposed to investigate today!

"Coming!" Turning to Cara, I said, "Hi, Cara!"

"Hello," She said quietly.

Once we got upstairs to my room, I noticed something different about Cara. I glanced at her. She was searching about chemical reactions in her laptop. She was acting strangely...Very quiet. I mean, she's ALWAYS been quiet, but now it's even worse. Back then she would talk more, but now she didn't even utter a single word than "hello". Cara's my old close friend in elementary, by the way. Aside from that, she always jump at every single sound she hears- like everything startles her.

"Cara?" I said. She looked up from her laptop but didn't say anything.

"Cara, is there...something wrong?" I asked. She shook her head and went back to her laptop.

"Cara, look, I know something's wrong-

She broke into a rant as if she's been waiting to say this to someone.

"Renee forced me! She forced me to write all those things! She threatened me that if I didn't do it, she would make my family p-poorer. I didn't mean to write all of those, I'm sorry! I didn't want to write it, but Renee forced me to write those and you know how...how...MEAN she is! I didn't want to face the consequences! Please...I'm so so so sorry! I wish I didn't do it...I know it was so wrong."

Whoa....I didn't know what I was expecting, but I was sure I wasn't expecting this explanation. Now I get how all this happened. It took me a moment to realize that Cara was sobbing.

"Shh...it's okay, Cara. I'll take care of this. Don't worry," I assured her.

She didn't look reassured. More frightened. "No, don't! If you do, Renee will-

"I can take care of Renee...I'll make sure that she'll get punished. You don't have to do anything."

"What if-

"It won't work out? Oh, it will. I have a plan. As for now, let's do the project."

I wasn't lying. A plan really formulated in my brain already.

Before leaving, Cara thanked me.

"Thanks for helping me, Jade." She seemed relieved.

"Don't thank me yet..The plan might or might not work out. But I'll try my best."

*~*~*~*~*~*

"WHAT?!" Kaylie, Jane, and Danielle chorused.

"Yes, I know it's a shock. But I promised Cara that I have a plan. A plan to make Renee suffer the consequences of her actions." I told them.

"Go on..."

"One of us will record whatever Renee says. We corner Renee and beat around the bush until she'll at least reveal SOME information about forcing Cara into doing it. After that, we go to the principal's office and tell her."

"It's a simple plan. But there are so many things that could go wrong." Danielle said

"Like what?" Kaylie asked.

"Firstly, we need to find a right time to talk to her, or else there'll be interruptions. Secondly, what if Renee refuses to talk to us? What if she'll just ignore us or something?"

Kaylie laughed. "We can do it. Renee has dance lessons tomorrow at our school with her minions. Tomorrow's a Saturday, and her schedule ends at 10:30. We can corner her at that time. Plus, we'll keep insulting her till she will WANT to say more mean things to us. And I can persuade her to reveal information, yeah?"

We all stared at her. "How do I know her schedule? Simple: I'm a stalker."

Our eyebrows rose. "Just kidding! I just overheard her talking with her minions like 'I am so gonna be awesome at dancing after these lessons! Come on girls, let's go join dance classes. 9:30- 10:30 blablabla....' "

"Great," I said. "I'm free tomorrow morning."

"Me too," Jane said.

"Cool, me too."

"Same."

"It's settled then. Let's meet here at 9:15 sharp. So we can prepare." I announced

"Hold on, shouldn't we tell Kriss about this too?" Jane asked.

"No. She'll know about it soon enough, when the principal will punish Renee.

"Wait! Have you noticed something!?" Danielle asked worrily.

"What?" I asked.

"Janine's not here! Usually she's early. Look at the time, the bell is about to ring." She said.

"Well, she was sent home yesterday, because she's sick. Maybe she still hasn't recovered yet."Jane concluded.

"Yeah, I feel bad cuz it was her birthday yesterday." Kaylie said and we nodded.

"I'll text her to get well soon," I offered, "As for now, we need a plan. I promised Cara. I feel terrible for her..."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Renee's P.O.V.

"So Cara. I've got another task for you," I said. She stilll seemed afraid. "Newspaper. Write that Pete and I are on a date. That's it."

I turned and walked away. "No," A feeble voice said weakly. I looked at Cara with a glare.

"What did you say?" I demanded.

"No. I won't do it," She said clearly.

"Oh, is that so?"

"This is enough. I've got enough of this. No, I won't do it."

"Well, you've got some courage," I said dangerously. "But not quite enough. Remember what I can do to your family, Cara."

For a moment she looked terrified, and I thought she was gonna say yes. But she gathered herself and said firmly, "My final answer is no."

"We'll see about that. You have no idea what I can do."

I left her standing, frustrated. How could Cara say no?! I'd threatened her already!

I turned a corner, quickly trying to make a plan. I called Charlie and told him everything. He groaned.

"Seriously, Renee?" He said incredulously. "You failed your own plan?"

"Shut up! It would be better if you'd help me," I snapped.

"Right, yeah...Um, as for now I can't think of anything else. I'll call you back when I've thought of something. We can talk tomorrow. After your dance classes."

"But Charlie! I was planning to go to the mall tomorrow after my dance classes!" I complained.

"Why tomorrow? Didn't you just go yesterday?"

"Duh, Charlie! Dress to impress for Pete!"

"But we HAVE to talk soon. We don't have a next step to our plan."

"Charlie, we don't even HAVE a plan anymore."

"Exactly. That's why it has to be as soon as possible."

"Then why not meet up and talk now?" I challenged.

He hesitated. "I'm with Kriss now. Eating at a restaurant. Look, I gotta go...She must be wondering why I'm in the restroom for so long. Just decide," He said impatiently.

"Fine, fine!....Tomorrow's fine. Ugh. Our plan better be good or else I'd wasted my time-

He cut the call. How rude.

~*~*~*~*~*~*

(Hello! Sorry if this is a bit short. The next ones would be longer. Stay updated=)