The Urban Princesses Jasmine

Chapter 19

Al came back to school on Monday as Alexander, and luckily police didn't swarm the campus so Jafar believed Gerard's lies.

Mr. Winchester's part of the plan was to just go along as Jafar had asked, pretending to be funding his campaign for chief and coming up with marketing plans, when all he was really doing was playing Pac Man and acting like he was working.

Al and I's part of the plan was a bit more complicated.

"Hey," Rachel bounded over to me. "how did the thing with Alexander go?" She wiggled her eyebrows.

I laughed and opened my locker. "Fine. We just... studied." My cheeks burned a little too suggestively.

Her mouth hung open. "From my knowledge of you that obvious doesn't mean you studied."

I smirked at her. "I mean, he's great and all, but I think we should stick to friends."

She rolled her eyes. "You're so incredibly boring."

I shrugged.

"So did you hear about the career speech thing today? Your dad's best friend Doctor Jafar is leading it."

Of course I had heard about it, of course I had a plan for it. "Oh really?" I said, pretending to sound like I didn't know. "Cool."

"It's getting me out of math and that's all I care about, honestly."

I nodded in agreement. In the corner of my eye, I saw Al strolling down the hall. I flicked my gaze away like I hadn't seen him, but of course Rachel saw.

"Just friends, eh?"

I rolled my eyes. "Shut up."

The bell rung and we both headed into the auditorium, where the speech was taking place. Kids filed into the seats, the place almost filled. I searched for Al, but it was impossible among the crowded auditorium.

I pulled out my phone and texted him.

U ready?

"Jasmine," I looked up from my phone at Jafar, who was smiling down at me. I forced a smile back. "can I have a quick chat with you?"

My heart rate sped up but I nodded, following him into the hall. Rachel looked at me with a questioning look.

"Is everything ok?" I asked, feeling a buzz in my pocket.

"Stop playing dumb, I know Al told you everything." He inspected his nails.

Immediately, I tore down my dumb wall and out up a strong front. "I'm going to ruin you, and there is nothing that is going to stop me."

He looked up at me, a smile on his cold lips. "I'm so scared."

I grinded my teeth. "Why are you even doing this? It's wrong and insane and there is no point-"

"You're just like your father. You think you're so strong and have the confidence of a tiger, but on the inside, you're weak and insecure like a mouse."

I was biting my cheek so hard, I started to taste blood. "We're the insecure ones?" I spat. "Last time I checked, you're the one threatening a little girl."

His smile turned into a grimace. "I'm going to tell the police about your little friend, then we will see what those 'threats' turn into."

I scoffed and crossed my arms. "Go right ahead. Go, tell them, and I'll be sure to include the fact that you threatened us." It was just the never ending loop. If we told about Jafar, he would tell about Al, if Jafar told about Al, we would tell about him. It seemed like neither of us would get anything good out of the situation, but along with playing Pac Man, Gerard was also doing a little law homework and cleaning up Alexander's files, so maybe we aren't in as much deep crap as we thought.