All Lights On Us

Chapter 24: Bad guy

He's the bad guy. Plain and simple. Even if Michael wasn't as crazy as Ben, he's responsible for a lot of what Ben did. He could have stopped it and he didn't.

My anger hasn't stopped rising since Monday. It's now Wednesday as I throw up some "good luck" decorations around the house in preparation of the party.

I glared at Michael all day in school. I couldn't help it. I tried not to because I didn't want him to catch onto me. Though I think he did anyway.

—
I had just closed my locker when I felt fingers walk across my shoulders. I knew it wasn't Bishop.

"I'm excited to see what you have planned Klara," Michael whispered in my ear.

I wanted to turn around and shove my gun into his stomach, but he probably wouldn't even be deterred. Little did he know, I've killed someone.

Instead, I turn and slap his hand away.

"I don't have anything planned. As I said before, you Michael, are a coward. Ben was the threat and he's long gone. You should ask Bishop how he is," I make my voice as threatening as possible.

Michael just rolled his eyes and continued his travels down the hall. I clicked the recorder off in my purse.

——

Everyone is less careful with alcohol in their system. Which is why I replaced my Mickey of vodka with water and tweaked the punch with enough ever-clear to knock out a horse.

"Jesus, babe. Are you trying to kill the guests?" Bishop wraps his arms around my chest, copping a feel.

"Free booze isn't a bad thing to a bunch of high school seniors Bishop," I laughed. "Though if you could stay away from it and maybe still to something lighter, I would appreciate it."

He looks at me quizzically.

"Bishop, I just want to feel safe. And I don't feel the safest when you're drinking," I try to explain but his face still drops.

"I would never hurt you Klara," he turned me around to stare into my eyes, trying to figure out what's in my head.

"I don't mean from you, Bishop. Never think that. I mean from everyone else. Anything else," I plead for him to understand.

He sighs.

"Is there something you're not telling me?"

I panic and rapidly shake my head.

"Of course not."

He looks somewhat disappointed but seems to let it go. Smiling he takes a joke-party hat from the table and puts it on his head.

The top hat reads "kiss me!" and has a mistletoe decoration hanging from the lip in front of his face. I had searched high and low for leftover decorations from previous Cade parties.

"You'd better not wear that tonight," I state wryly. "I'll have to just get in line."

Bishop laughs and pulls me in for a long kiss.

"You? Wait? Never."
—————————————————-
The party is in full swing. Jocks chug in all corners, nerds run around happily, and women sit aroundinggossiping and flirting. Classic.