The Center

Chapter 24 - hands that shed innocent blood

My life had somehow become a series of cascading dominoes.

Click. Bailey ran her mouth off to Kylie before school started.

Click. Two hours later, I overheard the rumor in English class.

Click. I watched Kylie tell Alex on the lawn in front of Master's Elite during lunch.

It was only a matter of time before Daniel confronted Nicole. My nerves were on edge. Although the plan continued perfectly, it was natural to hold your breath until every dotted domino fell.

I spotted Daniel after sixth period.

He stormed through the halls, a science book clutched in his hand. It rubbed against his jeans as he headed for Bailey. By the scowl on his face, he had untangled the rumor. But the idiot wasn't chasing down Nicole. Instead he headed for the source.

For Bailey.

Oh my gosh.

I'd be next. I stepped around the corner out of my cousin or Daniel's view. 

Stupid Bailey. If my involvement leaked all over the school it could ruin my entire senior year. New schools could be unforgiving places. Even the folded note in my pocket for Sam would fail to get me an invite to the Harvest Ball. The message would have to wait.

I needed to find the sister of someone soon. From a sheltered hallway, I took a peek. Daniel was two steps away from his target. I had to hurry. Anger flooded me. I should have said I overheard it in the bathroom and that I couldn't be sure who said it. That would have been better. That might even have prevented Bailey from opening her big mouth. I knew I couldn't trust her. I should have squashed it then. I should have squashed her. It was a miracle the loud-mouth waited until this morning.

Leaning against the wall, I hid. Who did I know with a brother on the basketball team? I pounded the back of my fist into the brick. Why did I have to say it was someone's sister? Another look around the corner, Daniel's finger wagged in Bailey's face. Her side of the conversation hadn't started yet. When it did, my name would come out.

I picked at the polish on my thumbnail.

Think. Think.

Sports.

Baseball.

Soccer.

Track.

Yes! Cross-country track was perfect. Colby Hartley ran track and he had a little sister, Lorry. Neither were popular enough to defend themselves. They sat low enough on the food chain to be consumable. I needed to get to the soccer field where freshmen girls had gym.

I took the back stairs to avoid being seen. Class started soon. Daniel would not miss science to find me. He would wait to catch me after school. I couldn't let that happen. I hustled down the stairs trying not to trip. Music echoed in the hollow stairwell, the five-minute warning. The heels on my shoes clicked on the pavement outside. If Lorry fought back, I would flip these puppies off as fast as Bailey's stupid mouth. I didn't want to fight the girl, but I would.

In less than a heartbeat, I made it to the chain-link that surrounded the fresh-mowed soccer field. The sun blazed in the afternoon sky. Lorry would exit the gym on the north side. I waited by the fence, shaking my hands to increase the circulation. Adrenaline harassed each nerve and I jumped a little when the first few girls ran past me toward the open gate.

Timing was on my side, as well as surprise. Lorry wouldn't expect it.

My thoughts carried me like a crowd of people all moving in one direction. I didn't question the self-preservation that motivated me. Something had to be done and I needed to do it. I'd lost too many contests over love in my life, I couldn't afford to lose this one. Lorry needed to be blamed before Daniel got to me.