Who Corey Was

16

Screeching, and my eyes ripped open. I just dreamt I almost kissed Xander. Gross! I shuddered.

Then I remembered. I'd been up half the night planning, but was I really ready to go through with it? Kelsey hadn't turned off the alarm yet. It was now or never.

I leapt down from the bunk, narrowly avoiding Alice. I darted past Kelsey and smacked the clock off the dresser. It flew outward then was yanked back by the cord. It hit the floor and clattered to pieces. Not exactly the smoothest tactic but it worked.

"What the HELL!" Kelsey shouted.

I cocked an eyebrow at her but didn't respond. Internally I was quaking. This felt so foreign, but also familiar. She had two black eyes, but the majority of the swelling from her nose had gone down. I smirked.

"What's your problem?" Kelsey demanded.

"Nice face," I replied, climbing back onto my bunk. She grabbed my shirt from behind and pulled me back down. Instinct took over.

"Touch me again, bitch, and I'll do a hell of a lot more than break your nose," I warned.

She swung. I ducked. Alice screamed. Kelsey dove for the tackle. I jumped aside and caught her midair, driving my knee into her stomach. She fell to the floor, winded, but kept clawing at my ankles. I rolled my eyes and stepped on her hand. She cried out through clenched teeth. I climbed back onto my bunk. It all came so easy.

"What's going on in here?" a voice demanded. I glanced up and saw that at some point the door had been opened. Rachel stood behind it and a female teacher I didn't know stood there gaping at the scene.

I half sat up and shrugged. "I heard a thump and a scream. I assume she was having a nightmare and fell out of bed, though I didn't see it. You'd have to ask her." I pointed to the bunk below me where Alice sat, a look of blank shock on her face.

"Well?" the teacher demanded after a moment of silence. I looked at Alice meaningfully. She gulped.

"Yeah. That's what happened." Her posture was timid, but there was a conviction to her voice.

"You bitch," Kelsey moaned.

"Hey now. That's enough of that," the teacher scolded. She met our eyes, each individual. "Get ready for class. All of you."

She left. Rachel rushed to Kelsey's side and they followed. I revelled in how comfortable this bitchy attitude was. Where the hell had it come from?

"You know, Alice? You should stand up for yourself every once in a while. It feels pretty good."

She blanched, and I lay back down.

When I woke again, the others were gone. I could only assume they were in class, since I had no means of telling what time it was. I got up and initiated Phase Two.

After locating some scissors in Alice's things, I pulled one of my skirts and a shirt from my wardrobe. Some alterations occurred. I put them on, as well as my shoes. I put a jacket overtop to hide the majority of the evidence.

As I descended the staircase, I mentally prepared myself for what I was about to face. My actions were going to get me in trouble very fast. Was I ready for it?

I was so preoccupied with whether or not I was prepared that I wasn't paying attention and walked right into Xander on the landing. He steadied me, and then studied me.

"Nice outfit," he said with a smirk.

"I—"

"No. Wait. I want to be in class to see how this plays out. Let me go first."