Bad Love (on hold)

Chapter 11

It had been a week. A week in which Stacy had avoided me, choosing only to steal venomous looks my way. A week since I had moved officially into the Francos house. MY uneasy deal with Caleb did not put the end to our enmity. He was still intent on being snarky and rude to me, resulting in me threatening to spill everything to his girlfriend. That shut him up, but not for long.

I was currently in the cafeteria with Kira, grimacing at the food laying on our tray. I poked at the chicken, convinced that it had been eatable once. We were sitting with a group of people that Kira introduced were her friends. I had been so used to her sticking to me during my first week, it never dawned on me that she belonged to a certain group of people.

They introduced themselves to be; Amelia, a skinny blue-eyed girl, her boyfriend Josh made a great show of introducing himself, Courtney, a loud, bubbly girl who didn't hesitate at making the others laugh. Finally, there was Declan, a member of the football team, a handsome figure who told me that he was rejected from the popular table.

'They can't stand a guy who's into sports and studying.' He laughed, looking over to the table, which housed Stacy and Caleb.

'It's a pity. You're a great guy.' I smiled, trying not to sound too forward.

'You just boosted his ego.' Courtney said, earning a few chuckles, and a glare from Declan. We continued talking for a bit, until the table went silent.

I looked behind me, as their eyes were following something coming towards me. Stacy was strolling over, two of her minions behind her. My eyes went back to where Caleb was sitting, but he was gone. It was just me left to deal with her.

'Is it just me, or is Stacy coming our way?' Amelia asked us.

'Nope, it's just you.' Josh joked.

I smiled at them, before my gaze turned back to her. Her heels made an insistent sound on the linoleum floor, before stopping to rest a few feet away from me.

'Lucy, I need to speak to you later.' She said, looking at my friends. 'Nice shirt.' She nodded towards Declan's top, before her cold eyes looked my way again.

'Afterschool, behind the bike sheds.' She said finally, beckoning Tweedledum and Tweedledee to follow her.

'That was just fucking weird.' Kira said, followed by the others agreeing. 'I don't know why she would suggest the bike sheds, most of the students usually use the place to do drugs and whatnot.'

'You don't have to go there.' Amelia chimed, concerned that this was suspicious. I knew what she meant, but I needed this opportunity to clean the slate with her.

-

After two more lessons, which I spent pondering about what would happen afterschool, the final bell rang. Mr Smith, my Science teacher instructed us to finish off the work we had been doing in class. Caleb wasn't present in this lesson, he had been absent since lunch which I found to be strange.

Kira sidled next to me, as I hurriedly put my books in my bag. 'Relax Lucy.' She said, putting a hand on my arm. 'My name is on your speed dial, so holler me if there's any trouble.'

I hugged her and exchanged goodbyes with her, before making my way to the bikesheds. It was behind the school, a dark and desolate place. I wasn't familiar with this area, causing me to feel all the more anxious at what lay ahead. It could be a trap, but I was willing to speak to Stacy, to put our family differences aside. I couldn't be held accountable for the sins my mother committed.

The bikesheds were green, a large, building, which housed many of the school bikes. I opened the door of one of the sheds, a groaning sound accompanying my footsteps. It was dark, too dark. I fumbled in the darkness for a light switch, but my hands groped empty air. I turned back, seeing the light pouring in from the outside, before the door shut with a heavy thud.

I pounded against it, sweat trickling down my forehead, as I realised what Stacy had planned. The door had been open all this time, then mysteriously disappeared. It was obviously her doing. 'Let me out.' I screamed several times, only to be met with silence. My silence.

I scrambled in my bag, hands shaking as I tried to find my phone. The light startled me for a moment, blinding me. I raced down my contact list, until I found Kira's name. I could feel a spark of hope, but it crashed as soon as it came, as I realised there was no connection. I repeatedly tried to call Kira, but I couldn't get through. Tears poured out of my eyes, as I realised there was no escape.

'Please, let me out.' I sobbed, banging on the door with all of my strength. I hoped to hear a sound, anything that would convince me that I wasn't here alone. She couldn't just lock me here all night. If she would, I underestimated the lengths she would go to, just to avenge her family.

Still, I wouldn't give up. I moved unsteadily in the dark, phone in the air, trying to get some sort of connection. My knuckles were now stained with my blood, I wiped it away, my fingers now blotted with the substance. I put on my phone torch, looking around the shed for guidance.

There were still some bikes, I could try to break the door down with one of them. I shrugged the thought out of my head, just as fast. That's when I saw it. Taped on the door was a note. I shone the light on it. I know everything, it read. I assumed she had gained knowledge about me and Caleb living together.

I could feel my phone start to ring with an insistent noise. It was an unknown number, but I quickly answered. Anything counts now. I heard someone cough on the other end. 'Lucy where are you?' I recognized the voice to be Caleb. 'My Mum's doing my nut about where you've gone.'

'H-how did you get my number?' I asked, suddenly wary of what was going on. My voice was tinged with sobs, causing me to stutter.

'My mum gave it to me, if you ever needed me.' He said simply. 'Are you okay?' He asked.

'I-I'm locked in the bikesheds behind the school. Stacy locked me here, she knows everything.' I finished, wiping the rest of my tears.

'Are you kidding me? What the hell, she's gone too far. I'm coming for you.' He said, quickly ending the call. If I knew my saviour would be Caleb of all people, I would have laughed. But now here he was, saving the day.

I waited patiently for him to come, my phone torch still on, as I hated this unfamiliar darkness. My impatience grew, as I started to have doubts about him actually coming. Maybe they both planned it, my conscious sneered at me. My thoughts quickly washed away, as I heard footsteps approaching.

'CALEB?' I screamed, my voice suddenly hoarse.

'It's me, wait a second.' He said. I heard the sound of the lock being tampered with. Then, with a sudden push, the door opened. My eyes blinked, unaccustomed to the sudden lightness being poured me.

I leapt up with great ease, but not before hugging Caleb. 'Thank you so much.' I breathed, bursting into tears once more. He awkwardly hugged me back, before clearing his throat.

'We are officially screwed.' He commented, letting go of me. I quickly stepped out of the shed, taking deep breaths of air.

'I can't believe she did this to you.' He said, shaking his head.

'You know what this calls for.' I looked at him, eyes still squinting due to the sudden lightness.

Revenge.