The Bad Boy, Cupid And Me

Chapter 17

¤ Chloe Armel ¤

I slung my backpack over my shoulder and started walking.The heels of my boots clicked loudly against the sidewalk.The hollow sound echoed down the block.

Our street could get creepy sometimes.Overgrown hedges seemed to reach out to me as i walked.Giant trees enveloped the sidewalk.I tried to stay out of the shadows but the moon was hidden behind clouds.

"You're almost home," i whispered to myself.My heartbeat drummed in my ears.

Then i thought i heard a noise behind me.

Footsteps?

I swung around.Silence.The street behind me was deserted.

"Okay,it's okay," i told myself,calming down my nerves.Now i wished Reece was with m but he had to practice and i lied to him that one of the guys would drop me off.

I started walking faster.The noise behind me began again.

The footsteps.

This time louder.And closer.

I glanced back.What if it's Jade and Dana? Why couldn't i see anyone?

My heart pounded as i began to run.Low branches scraped my head but i kept going.

Almost home,i told myself.Almost there.

Then someone clutched my jacket.Pulled me to a dead stop.

Before i could scream in terror i saw the low branch of a tree stuck in my jacket.

Quickly,i shook it off and literally flied like a bat from hell.

The whole time i could feel someone's eyes on my back.

I had the distinct sensation that someone's eyes were piercing my back.

*

Dennis led me through the door of the pizza parlour.The place was crowded,hot and noisy.Kids were pressed against the counter and jammed into booths.

My eyes automatically skimmed over the sea of faces .Some i knew some i didn't.

"Do your hands stll hurt?" Dennis asked as we sat in a booth.

I shook my head."Not anymore." i glanced down at the welts on my hands then tucked them under the table.

"He's late." i muttered.Reece could be a jerk sometimes.I was missing him too much.

Dennis laughed making me smile in return.

"You have him wrapped around your finger." Dennis mused,sliding the salt shaker from one hand to another.

"Not really." i blushed.

Great.

He leaned across the table and tappd my nose.

"Yes,really."

"Okay,okay." i admitted.

He grinned and stood up."What do you want? A slice?"

I nodded."Yeah and a diet coke."

"I'll be right back." he said reaching for his wallet and walking away.

Feeling useless,my gaze swung around the booth,scanning the room again.

I froze.

There they were.By the jukebox.A sudden rage started to fill me up.This had to be stopped right here!

I nodded to myself and stood up,cutting through the crowd.

"W have to talk," i said when i reached the girls at the jukebox.Both of them turned around at the same time,the grin on theie faces vanished.

Dana folded her arms and leaned against the jukebox."Look who has arrived,Jade."

Jade grinned."Saint Chloe."

I gritted my teeth as they laughed."Jade,i know it was you.I know you're the one who's been messing with my locker.The ant thing was pretty obvious too."

Jade wrinkled her nose."What're you shitting about?." she dropped two quarters into the jukebox and flipped through the selections.

"Look," i said," can we call a truce? We don't have to be best friends.Just stop the war."

"Best friends?." Dana laughed."There's not much chance of that happening."

Jade grinned again,staring at the jukebox.

"I'll be honest with you," Jade said,swinging around to face me."I had nothing to do with the ants."

I studied her face and didn't believe her.Not for a minute.

"The bad news," she went on,"atleast for you is that i want your boyfriend.And i never give up untill i get exactly what i want."

I felt my last chance for peace slip.I didn't even bother to respond to her stupid claim.It was just too silly to even consider.

"Look,the pranks have got to stop.Someone's going to get hurt."

Jade just shrugged."It's up to you,Chloe."She said coldly."step off Reece and everything will be fine."

I smiled at her silly demand."Best of luck then."

Dana stepped closer."Just leave,Armel.Do it for your boyfriend." she said with a mocking smile.

Dana turned away,purposely flipped her blond ponytail in my face.

I screamed.A horrifying wail from deep inside."LEAVE ME ALONE!"

I grabbed Dana's ponytail and yanked it.

Yanked it as hard as i could.

Then i heard a sick,tearing sound. . .and gasped in horror.

Dana's shiny blond ponytail was in my hand.

And blood. . .

Blood was pouring out of Dana's head!

*