something wicked this way comes

10 | liana | class a smokers

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[part one] tw on this;

At the back of the room, we huddle. Smoke swirls. We talk about nothingness, how life's bleak, how much we've grown — height wise and chest wise.

In distance, it rains. Water drips off, in the cracks of the pavement, and once again I'm grateful that I live next to a garden, same area as the school.

I learnt to smoke in middle school. It got bad.

"Whose turn was it to pay?"

"I think Betty's!"

"I say Dixie's!"

Dixie sticks out her tongue. "Liana, it's yours," says her older sister, her black-rimmed eyes zooming in on me. She's bored, ready to take a piss whenever, meaning she'd gut me if she has to.

"That's true. But guys, my mum's not home, double shifts. And dad's not picking up.. I don't have anything on me right now. I'm sorry, you guys."

I stare down. Hoping they'd feel guilty. The sky's canvas cracks and cackles, God's symphony. A tear leaks me.

Klara — mentioned above as older sister, the college kiddo — is the bulldog of the... Group, I think.

We, as a team, believe in sexual liberty and nicotine dependence — Klara is a chain smoker, in fact, she's done some hardass drugs, hence she's the queen.

Not to mention, she lives to terrorize. That's her game.

Off the corners, off my desk, the next moment — my air supply is being challenged, not that there was much freshness to begin with, save for the petrichor — as Klara tries to strangle me, a horrendous glint visible, and her being more than cute mom jeans and mascara and backless top — she hated when this happened. "Lia, why do you smoke with us when you obviously can't afford to?"

"I.. I can offer you my.. lunch money," I say, breathless. "You can have tomorrow's and the day afterwards, please, please let go.. this hurts.. you trust me?"

Dixie follows, as did Betty. They practically tripped. "Hey sister, why don't you release her for a bit?"

"Why?"

But she does. Unlike me, they got strong bonds. A family. Betty twirls, "I was thinking maybe we could teach her a lesson or something," a giggle erupts her, further sealing my fate.

"Something wicked should happen to her, won't you agree?"

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It was supposed to be different. But I'm afraid all that glitters will never be a good substitute for gold — in fact, my screams, my sobs, the fright, the tension, my almost blackout gave a way to something darker, sinister.

"Ouch, ow, please stay away.."

"What's going on here?" A voice spoke.

I don't understand — the school is supposed to be locked out, isn't it?

I didn't care so much. With my limited energy, and damaged ego, and checkered skirt split in halves — I made a dash, towards the voice, the figure catching me while I bit hard on my lips. Her warmth causes me to shudder, to cry louder.

"Klara Seine, explain?"

"We were just having fun."

"Yes," Betty's deceitful tone paints a picture. "She saw it happen in a blue film and wanted us all to enact—"

The arm around my waist gets tighter. "What a load of horse crap, guys." The girl, my rescuer began. "I'll let the principal on this. Til then, stay off Liana Kayes."

"But, but, Vee—"

The person corrects themselves immediately. "Vivienna please, she is smoked an entire pack, what di—"

Thud. I dare not turn back, even though a small part of me just knew. Every cell of my being crashed. My bruised thighs, the splashes on my lower back, everything that she holds, hurts. And yet—

"Here you go, bitches. Now if I ever see you surrounding my Lia, there'll be consequences."

Vivienna, that's what they called her. To me, she was just Vivi. Overprotective, straightlaced, straightforward and so damn good — Vivienna Valois.

Never seen her shout before. Never witnessed her after school hours.

"Why?"

"Always."

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