The Blackmail Dilemma

Dare Me To Deny

The notebook was waiting on my desk when I arrived at school. I walked in late, and it was the first thing I noticed. I never thought sparkles could be menacing. I never thought I'd look down at that stupid notebook and think; what if there was another way? What if I didn't have to do this?

    Once I sat down, they noticed me. Stacie sat to my left, and Nina next to her. Stacie leaned over me, opening the notebook and pointing to her handwriting. Below hers was the neat cursive of Nina. She smiled sweetly, then turned back to her desk. She had a tablet on her desk, and she was planning an article for the school paper.

    I looked back down at the lined paper. I didn't feel anxiety creeping up on me. No. I felt something worse. Anger. At myself. At my so-called friends. At everything. I was tired of living in the shadows, but I had to, so I read the plan.

    The original plan was for me to blackmail some freshman that angered her. Nina added that I should post a picture on her locker, just like I did in my brother's case. The thought made me sick, but I swallowed down my pride.

    Or, was this all for my pride?

    "Hey, Stac?"

    "Yeah?"
    "Why did I have to ruin Nel's reputation? What did he do to you?"

    She glanced up from her tablet with zero sympathy in her eyes. "Oh, I was angry at his friend. I wanted to ruin his life. But, your brother is kind of annoying. Besides, who wants to date a cheater?"

    I clenched my hands into fists. "Nelson isn't annoying."
    She pursed her lips. "I thought you weren't talking with him."

    "He's my brother, and it wasn't right. This isn't right," I hissed.

    "Yeah, and you know what, Kiley?" She leaned in closer, and I could smell the peppermint in her breath. "What you did wasn't right, either. He didn't deserve that."

    I try to block out the flashbacks. "I thought you were my friend."

    She shrugged. "Maybe our friendship ended that day. Maybe I can't forgive you, and you shouldn't forgive yourself."

    "That's enough!"

    Both of our heads snap up. I hadn't realized tears had started pouring down my face. I hastily wipe them away with the back of my hand.

    "This is none of your business!" Stacie snapped.

    Kalila crossed her arms over her chest. "Yes, it is."

    Nina stood and walked up to Kalila, who stood taller than her. I held my breath.

    "Get lost before we make sure to ruin you. Your reputation. Everything," Nina said.

    "Isn't that what you did to Kiley?"

    My breath caught. I couldn't breath.

    "Kiley, do you know this girl?"

    I didn't want to deny her, but I couldn't say I knew her. It wasn't just for me. It was to keep her and August from the wrath of the evilest girls in the school.

    "No," I responded, my voice soft.

    "Is there a problem back there?" The teacher asked.

    "No!" Stacie responded. She lowered her voice, leaning across the desk towards Kalila as the last of my hope shattered. "Never come near us again, and there won't be consequences."

    Kalila looked to me. She shook her head, then returned her attention to Stacie. "You don't scare me."

    As she walked away, I looked after her. She'd never forgive me. She's tried to help me, and I did was turn her away. I let the only real friends I had walk away, because I knew August would be angry, too. Kalila had seen too much into my reality, and I couldn't let her become the next victim.