𝐁𝐄𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐔𝐋𝐄𝐒 ~ 𝒛𝒅𝒉

Chapter Ten: I'm done playing the victim

"You almost got caught?" Paige's jaw almost drops to the floor as I'm telling her about Zach and I's adventure last night. We're walking around the hallway, on our way to our next class, the one with Jonah and his friends in it. Just like yesterday.

"It was absolutely terrifying, I thought my heart was gonna explode. Luckily we got away in time, I don't even wanna think about what would've happened if they caught us," I tell her.

"And who do you think came outside? Was it Jonah? Or maybe his dad?" Paige wondered.

"I have no idea," I shrug. "I didn't look back or recognise the voice that was calling."

"That's a good thing. That means they didn't see your face," Paige pointed out.

I can't hold back a chuckle from escaping my mouth. "That's exactly what Zach said."

Paige looks at me and raises an eyebrow. "You chuckled. You just chuckled when thinking about Zach."

I immediately pull a straight face again. "I didn't."

"Yes, you did!" Paige yelled, jumping up and down with an enormous smile on her face.

"Paige, calm down. We just had a great time, that's all. For a revenge operation it wasn't that bad." I shrug.

"Whatever you say. But just be careful, Harley. We don't know yet if we can trust him," Paige warned me.

"Of course. It's just revenge, remember? Nothing more," I sooth her, ignoring the contradictory feeling in my heart.

"Anyway, you're lucky you didn't get caught." Paige laughed. "Can you even imagine Jonah catching you and Zach slashing his tires? Man, he would've exploded."

"That would've been interesting."

We stop in front of our classroom, and Paige glances at me for a moment. "Speaking of a confrontation with Jonah, are you ready to continue this?"

"Of course. There's no way back now." I breathe in deeply and then walk in. It's just like yesterday, but now I have control over Jonah, and not the other way around. Now I'm deciding the rules of this game.

I immediately see the three of them sitting at their usual table, but unlike yesterday, they don't have their signature smirks on their faces. They look bloody pissed.

"Looks like they have an idea of who slashed the tires," Paige whispered in my ear, as I hear her smiling.

"Didn't expect anything else." I think about just sitting down at my table and not saying a word, but decide that's no fun. I might as well rub their noses in it.

"Well well, look who we have here. Why those sad faces, boys? Bad night of sleep?" I go stand in front of their table.

"If you must know, Wilson, my car's tires were slashed last night. Do you maybe have any idea of what could've happened?" Jonah raises an eyebrow, looking absolutely pissed, clearly knowing this is my work.

"Slashed tires? That's unfortunate. But no, I have no idea." I shrug, trying to hold back a smirk from appearing on my face.

"Cut the crap." He suddenly bangs his fist on the table, making me jump a little. "I know you did it, Wilson. Admit it." Anger is flickering in his eyes.

"Like I said, I have no idea what you're talking about." I try keeping my cool, like I really know nothing about this.

"Replacing those tires is gonna cost me a fortune, you know that?" he growled.

"I'm really sorry, but I have nothing to do with that," I shrug, crossing my arms.

He jumps up from his chair, Daniel and Corbyn following his lead. "I know you have, and I will prove it. I don't know how, but I will. I'll find out," he groaned.

I lower my voice, staring in his eyes. "Well, then you're gonna be looking for a long, long time. Good luck, I'd say."

"You don't wanna play this game, Wilson." Jonah bends over the table, our faces now only inches apart. "You don't wanna play a game you can't win."

"Oh damn right we're playing this game, and we're playing it by my rules. And trust me, you're not gonna like those." And with his jaw dropped to the floor I leave him behind, flipping my ponytail in his face.

"Damn girl," I hear Paige whispering. "Looks like somebody got her confidence back."

She's right. I'm done playing the victim, and ready to be in charge again.