The Blackmail Dilemma

Dare Me To Scheme

August called me first thing the next morning. He claimed he just wanted to make sure I was awake, but I sensed a reason under that. Nevertheless, it was nice to wake up to the sound of a friendly voice. We had to keep conversation sparse during school lest we break his cover, so it was nice to talk to him for a moment.

      After he hung up, I hurried through my morning routine. I was actually up early, but that was because sleep eluded me for the greater part of the night. When I closed my eyes, I saw Nelson's bloody face, Dad's concern, and someone's cold, dead eyes. In one dream, I saw August slapped by Nina, shunned by the school because of me. In other, I saw the look on Kalila's face all those days back that I had to deny our friendship.

     I stood in the bathroom, fragments of my dreams playing in my head as I stood in front of the mirror. My black hair was oily and limp, my blue eyes dull and ringed with circles underneath. I splashed my face with some cold water, trying to bring myself back to reality. Reality was the girl staring at me in the mirror, getting stronger every day. Right?

      By the time I was ready for school, I hadn't heard a peep from my brother. I crept into his room, frowning at his sleeping form. He clutched the covers to his neck, and I could see all his bruises in the faint light peeking through the blinds. I couldn't make him go to school. He deserved a day of rest and healing.

      It was so difficult to force myself to get into my car and crawl behind the driver's seat. I really, really wanted to stay home. I had to tell Janessa that Stacie was planning on blackmailing her 'boyfriend'. I had to watch August reel in Nina, and I didn't know why that bothered me a bit. Just a little bit. More importantly, I had to put up with Stacie, and gosh was I beginning to hate her and everything she stood for.

      As I drove, I kept flipping through the stations, trying to find a perfect song to fit my food. Finally, one caught my interest. When our mother was still with us, she would play a Christian rock station on the radio whenever she picked us up from school. I recognized the song, and I didn't have the heart to change it. I hadn't really thought of God that much. At least, not as much as when Mom was still there.

     It was nice to know that there was someone in the universe that wouldn't hate me, no matter what.

    Once I arrived at school and parked, I made my way into the building. I was a bit early, but that was the perfect time to seek out Janessa. I walked with a purpose, speeding to the one place she had to be if she was on campus; in that teacher's room.

    I stood outside, hand clasped on the knob, listening. I could hear voices, but just voices. I really, really didn't agree with their relationship. He was her teacher, even if he was young. Nonetheless, I needed as many allies as I could get in my fight. Morals didn't have to matter anymore.

     After lighting knocking, I swung open the door. The teacher sat on the desk, leaning back with his arms on the desktop to support him. Janessa stood dangerously close to him, and I was honestly surprised they hadn't locked the door. They were both staring at me, and the teacher cleared his throat, patting down his dark hair before hopping off the desk and taking charge of the situation before his 'girlfriend' could.

     "Can I help you? I'm in the middle of a private tutoring-"

     "It's okay," Janessa said softly, stepping next to him and placing a hand in his shoulder. She had to reach quite a bit, as they had a drastic difference in height. "She's the one I told you about. Kiley. She's helping us with Stacie."

      "And you trust her?" He said softly.

       I was beginning to feel a bit uncomfortable. I'd clearly interrupted something, and I didn't want to be a bother. "Um, I can just go-"

    "No, it's fine," she smiled. "We need to get rid of the problem that is Stacie. Can you close the door, please?"

    I did as she asked.

     "No wonder she's failing my class. She spends too much time blackmailing," the teacher grumbled.

      "You're not wrong," I said.

     "I thought you deleted that picture?"

     "I did, Janessa. I don't know what else she's going to use against him. Maybe she'll just suggest it to the school board? I really don't know."

     She muttered something under her breath. "We have to find out why she was in that office. It's the only way to even the playing field."

    "Jani, you can't be getting caught. You both can't. If you're found snooping..."

     "I have nothing left to lose."

      They both stared at me in silence.

     Janessa shook her head. "You have something you need to lose; Stacie. But I see that you have your brother. I see your new friend, and your boyfriend."

    My eyes widened, and my cheeks reddened. "Oh, he's not-"

      "But he will be. I can tell."

       I cleared my throat, hopping onto a random desk to sit down. "Do you think, um, sir, that you could look into it?"

     They both shared a look and laughed.

      "Dean is fine," he said. "And I'll try. No promises."

    I nodded. "I'll try, too."

    Janessa nodded as well. "And so will I."

     We were blanketed in silence for a few moments before I hopped off the desk. "We can meet again in a week? With new developments?"

    "Same time," the teach- Dean replied.

     It was settled. I left them to- well, whatever they were doing previously. I didn't really want to know. It was getting closer to the start of first period, and more students were milling about the halls. August had arrived, and he was standing next to Nina at her locker. They were smiling, talking. I'd known August long enough to notice the strain of the fake smile, and the uncomfortable fidgeting of his fingers.

     Further down the hall, Kalila was by herself at her locker. I decided to join her and let her in on the new game plan.

——-
Look who actually updated! It's a little short, but it didn't need to be that long so.

Thoughts?

Please don't forget to comment and vote!

-Sarah