Nico Vaughan, the junior class "Nice Girl" wants to be free from her abusive and obsessive ex-boyfriend.
Valen Henford, the school's resident "Rich Guy meets Bad Boy" wants to spend his senior year with the girl he's been in love with for years.
W...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"I let her go because I knew she could do better and now she's gone I wonder if I should've just been better"
(Atticus).
|◁ II ▷|
I throw open the men's room door, sick and tired of hearing Mr. Ellis drone on about the government. It's the last block before football practice starts, and I'm itching to be active.
I pee and leave, but as I pass one of the empty classrooms, I hear two familiar voices. I pause right before the door to listen.
"—but don't show any signs of hesitance, okay?"
Margo.
"So, like, be confident?" A voice I now recognize as Hunter's questions. "I think I can do that just fine."
It hits me what the conversation is about, and my blood boils. She's giving him tips on how to talk to the gang. Blackwater. So he can hurt Nico.
"Alyssia said they don't usually mess with weak people with no sway, such as yourself and that girl, but she said the leader said it was personal business. That means you need to get this done and break ties. If you don't, you'll get pulled in."
"Okay."
"They're gonna make you sign a document to make sure you don't take any evidence to the police or anyone involved with them or the Henfords, and you're gonna have to read the whole thing. Make sure they don't get you in a tight spot."
"Okay..." Hunter hesitates. "This is a really bad idea."
"At least you can admit that to yourself," Margo responds flippantly. "Alright, you're also gonna wanna bring some cash. As much as you can get your hands on. Just in case they decide the trouble isn't worth it."
"And I don't have to join the gang if I want them to do my plan?"
"Nope. It's just a simple task for them. They'll probably send a few guys to track her for a couple days and then stage the mugging after that. Just be prepared to play your part."
That's a stupid plan, and it's going to backfire for him.
Blackwater is dangerous for a reason. They started everything. Our wealth, my parents' company and absence, the worry...
They recruited my mother when she was barely fourteen to have a pretty girl runner to keep them out of trouble. She always tells the story with the words, "They took advantage of a young woman with no decency for their own young mothers."
