Chapter 4: The Message

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"Bianca, Bianca. Beauty and Brains. A role model. But no one knows our little illegal secret. Druggie."

Bianca stared at the message for some time. Her breath snagged like thread caught in a snail, and her mind spun in a spiral of chaos. Through this storm, unrevealing memories of fear and chaos clouded her, and only one name surfaced. Jake Bruse.
Without a second thought, she hopped off the bench and got on her feet with a loud thud.

Her white flats shoes purposely hit the green lawn with force - crushing the grass beneath her shoes. Each step she took was deliberate as she headed west, where the paintball was being held. A gust of wind rushed to her face, slightly pushing her light brown hair behind her shoulders. The cool air brushed her face ,doing so little to cool the storm inside her. People quickly shifted aside as she passed. Her presence commanded as she stroded. A few whispers were whispered amongst the public, and a few stared in awe as the gorgeous girl marched with her head high through the campus.

"Jake!" She called out his name out - her voice slicing through the distant pops of the paint balls.

There, barrels and straws were used as barricades. Players darting here and there as the small paintballs hit the barricades with splashes of various colors. None of the paint splashed on the grass and only stained the cardboard that was spread across the grass. Blue and red flags stood at the end of the field as they oscillated in the direction of the breeze.

In mid-game, Bianca marched on the field, her white shoes strampling over the fresh paint that stained cardboard with her white shoes. Ignoring eruption of protests mixed with frustration - she walked to the left side of the blue flag. She ripped the blue flag and planted it next to the red flag on the right.

"Bianca! You are ruining the game!" One of the players groaned in annoyance as he threw his hands up in the air.

"Stay away from me!" Her voice sounded sharp and commanding.

The poor boy fell silent as he had a frown on his face.

"Bianca!" Jake's voice sounded agitated. He stepped out from behind as he marched towards her. His angry brown eyes lingered on her as he locked eyes with her with a very tight grip on his shot gun. That his tendons turned white. He exhaled deeply.

"We need to talk now." She demanded him.

Jake hesitated for a moment as his gaze darted back to a group of players. Watching with curiosity.

The moment they were of eye-watch and earshot. Bianca's stern expression shifted. Her green eyes were slightly widened as her gaze lingered on him. Her pink lips tightly pressed against each other. Jake noticed this change in expression, and he curiously looked back over his shoulder just in case no one is following them.

"B?" He spoke in almost a whisper as his eyebrows curved inwards. Her eyes landed on the ground, focusing their gaze for a moment. She slowly shook her head.

"Bianca?" He softly called out her name with his hands gripping her shoulders.

She shook her head as she was unable to speak. Her shoulders fell as she felt suppressed with faint sobs. Jake quickly placed his hands on them, and soon, he could see a stream of tears flowing down her cheeks.

"Hey," he murmerd. " I'm here." He responded with a soft tone.

The eyes poured of silent tears. Jake pulled her into his warm arms and rested his chin on her head.

"We are done fall. Someone knows... ." Her voice cracked.

Jake's eyebrows furrowed, and he broke apart the embrace. The words puzzled him, and his eyes stared at her wide with confusion.

"Who?" He uttered the word.

Bianca's eyes darted to the ground. She didn't answer immediately, but the silence was enough to ring a bell in his mind. Jake's stomach twisted and turned, dread coiled in his chest like a snake.

"Bianca, this isn't a game anymore. We have to stop. We had our fair share, but it's time we end this." His voice trembled.

No!" Her voice snapped. "We are gaining so much over some stupid message."

The words that came out her flabbergasted him.

"Bianca!" He spoke her name in frustration, running his hands through his hair." This isn't about the money! This is about our reputation!" His voice snapped as he yelled.

"I can't afford to lose my scholarship. I can't disappoint my parents, Bianca." He spoke with his voice cracking. He gulped down to moisten his dry throat.

"Your reputation was over the moment you stepped into the business, Jake!" She snapped at him. "We have to finish."

"After all, I'm Bianca, the soon to be next Queen of Hidden Ville High, and I never back down."

Jake exasperated out loud.

"This person sent a warning to you! I'm in danger too! Our reputations are at stake!" He yelled. "I'm out B." He spoke in annoyance and turned his back on her.

"Wait." Her voice cut through the tension. She pulled out her phone and showed him. "At least see it."

There was silence for a moment as the air between them felt much heavier and threatening.

"Whoever they are, they are messing with the wrong people, Jake." Bianca spoke with a steadier voice as she broke the silence.

"Besides Victoria, who else knows? B?" He questioned her.

"Anna." She replied. For a moment, he stopped pacing around in circles, his brown eyes darkness and in a low cold tone uttered.

"Anna is dead."

Silence fell upon the two figures ,and the air between them became heavy.

"Bianca," Jake finally spoke, cutting the silence between them." Someone is watching our every move. They know everything about us."

Bianca felt chills down her spine. She lifted her chin up.

"Let them try." She uttered with a small smile tucked at the corner of her mouth.

Jake sighed.

"You are impossible," before turning his back on her and sauntering towards the field. "I have a game to finish."

Bianca watched him leave, her mind fuming. She returned to her bench, her thoughts clouded with paranoia. The feeling of her being watched crept on her body like a shadow ready to devour her.

"Boo!" A voice cut through her thoughts -sending her to let out a scream as she nearly almost fell off the bench. Her heart raced, and she placed her hand over her chest and felt her heart thudding. She gained her posture before she could lush out at the person. She froze.

"Logan?"