Chapter Seven - First Strike

Two days had passed and I still wasn't able to get over the brutal killing of my crackers right before me.

How those poor little things must have sought me out of hope before falling into the abyss of darkness forever. It still broke my heart.

"Rebekah?" Our history teacher called and I looked up from my doodling in my notebook. "You've done really well on this test. I gotta say I'd lost hope after the last one but good job on this one."

"Thanks." I smiled.

She went back to teaching and I went back to doodling. I'd already studied this chapter for the test I'd failed so I was allowed to zone out.

And think about my move to get Sean, the idea of which seemed a little far-fetched now because the rumours hadn't died down yet. People were still talking; girls were still shooting me murderous looks and guys were still checking me out.

And amidst all that, Sean was in his own little world with football and a little bit of Ashley here and there.

While pretending to take down notes, I felt a small tap on my shoulder and turned around.

Kimberly nervously lifted her glasses before offering me a smile and whispering, "hey, Becks."

"Hi, Kimberly."

"I heard another rumour about you."

I sighed. "What is it this time?"

"It's Rebecca. The evil one." She very subtly pointed to the second last row where Rebecca was using her phone secretly, barely paying any attention to the teacher. "She and her minions are telling people you've slept with half the football team."

My mouth opened slightly. It was Rebecca? And not Matt? No wait, I couldn't rule him out completely. He hated me just as much as Rebecca did, maybe even more. Maybe they were spreading the rumours together.

Either way, I couldn't believe that being a girl herself, Rebecca could do something like that. I knew she could give Matt a tough competition in the moral department but this? This was a whole new level of crazy.

Kimberly lifted her glasses again and cleared her throat like she wanted to ask something but was on the fence.

I deadpanned. "No, it's not true."

"Oh." She chuckled, scratching her forehead. "Not like I would have judged you either way. Just thought you should know."

"Thanks."

I looked forward again and sent a message in our girls' group.

SOS

Meera and Cheryl were sitting a row ahead. Their heads lifted up at the same time and they shot me a look back, eyebrows raising with a what?

Bathroom meet after class

I hit send.

*****

"You cannot let her get away with this," Cheryl fumed, her hands sitting over her hips as she paced back and forth in the bathroom.

"That's right but it's not my priority. My priority is to fix my image first. All of this started because of the changing room incident with Matt. Rebecca felt threatened and started spreading these rumours. I can only see one solution for now."

"Which is?" Meera frowned.

"Get Matt to admit we're not involved in any way. This way, Rebecca will be assured her precious Matt only belongs to her and she'll stop spreading silly rumours about me. People will stop talking and once the dust completely settles, I can pursue Sean again."

"Wow. I don't remember your life being this complicated."

"I know. I miss the peaceful times. But it can all be just like it used to be if Matt can just tell everyone."

"He was pretty clear about his intention two days ago and your crackers had to pay the price."

"I haven't forgotten," I muttered, staring into space with narrowed eyes. "I just wish the odds would turn in my favour for once. Give me a chance, universe. I promise I'll grasp it. Please. Just one." I stared up at the bathroom ceiling.

"Oh, here she goes talking to the universe again." Meera sighed.

"She does that when she's desperate." Cheryl chuckled.

"She is right here, guys," I said without taking my eyes off the ceiling. "Please, universe."

"Come on," Meera drawled, grabbing her backpack. "Mack's waiting for us. Let's go, you witch in the making."

"Witch?"

"That's how I see you when you call out to imaginary things, believing it will work."

"It's called praying."

"Same thing."

I rolled my eyes before grabbing my bag and leaving the bathroom with them.

Even though the staring had toned down a bit in two days, it was still there and I didn't want to go to the cafeteria during lunch anymore. But then I reminded myself that this was a normal reaction of any kid to bullying and I instantly toughened up. I could not be bullied. I was not weak.

So, I snapped open the cafeteria doors and walked in like I owned it. And any time a girl shot me a dirty look, I glared at her until she squirmed in her spot and looked away. Ha! That's how you deal with bullies.

"I need to use the bathroom. I'll see you guys in class." I got up after finishing my lunch as quickly as I could manage without choking on it.

"Do you want me to come with you?" Cheryl asked, barely succeeding at masking her concern behind her vivacious smile.

"Nope. I'm a big girl who can tackle her bullies."

"Of course you can. I was just offering you company."

"Unless you have to use the bathroom as well, which I know you don't since you just did before coming here, nope I'm good."

I got up, squared my shoulders and walked my way through the glances. Once I was out of the double doors, I leaned my back against the wall and exhaled.

I cannot do this for long.

"Come on, universe," I said under my breath and started walking towards the bathroom with a sigh.

I was about ten feet away from the door when the sound of a chuckle stopped me. I looked around. The corridor was empty. Was I hearing things?

Dismissing it as my imagination, I started to walk again until a soft giggle echoed across the deserted corridor and this time, it was followed by a suppressed moan. My eyes widened. Oh, I think I know what's going on.

My head snapped towards the empty classroom right next to me just as another moan wafted past the half open door. My jaw dropped. Covering my ears with my hands, I started to march away until I heard the voice of a guy.

"No strings," he muttered, a little breathless.

And I instantly recognized it because it was the same voice that I'd fallen in love with for a day, believing it belonged to my Prince Charming until I realized who it actually belonged to. And ever since, just the sound of it was enough to make me grimace with disgust.

"None," the girl agreed with a wavering voice. "Please, Matt."

Oh God! Why am I always put in these situations?

Feeling a shudder of cringe through my whole body, I snapped my head away from the classroom to be on my way but then a sudden realization made me halt with wide eyes.

My head tilted up to face the ceiling.

Universe, is that you finally answering to my prayers?

If my enemy's mere presence repelled me enough to make me choose hell over it, why was I suddenly stepping towards the classroom door, you may ask.

Because I had a brilliant, little plan brewing inside my head.

I looked around and slowly tiptoed towards the door which was left ajar. Convenient. I took a peek and yes, as abhorrent as the sight was, it was my enemy making out with a cheerleader. One of his hands was tangled in her auburn hair while the other was currently being led by the cheerleader herself to her hips and down to her ass.

So, he didn't actually have a thing with Rebecca. Or maybe he did and he was just cheating on her. Knowing him, I wouldn't put it past him to do something like that.

God, please forgive me for what I'm about to do. I know it's wrong but I do not have another option. And well... thank you for this opportunity.

With that little thought, I pulled my phone out and clicked a picture.

It was the perfect shot. Almost like they were posing for me. And now, the plan was to back away as slickly as I had done the job but my phone rang loudly, startling the three of us.

"Shit!" I cursed, hitting reject even before seeing the contact.

They both pulled away and snapped their heads in my direction. While the girl started to fix her hair all embarrassed, Matt just looked at me with a scowl. Not a murderous scowl, just a I'm sick of seeing your face already scowl.

"You?"

"Yes, me," I muttered nervously. "The one who happens to go to the same school as you."

"What the hell do you want?" One side of his mouth raised with distaste as he took a step away from the girl to near me.

"Nothing. Absolutely nothing." I shook my head innocently and started to pull the door close to leave them alone but his voice stopped me.

"Is that a new hobby of yours to creep up on people?"

"Nope." I grinned, instantly deciding that I couldn't let this opportunity to gloat in front of my enemy slide. "Just a girl on a mission."

His brows pulled together until I flashed my phone at him, showing him the picture. I knew it was a stupid move but it wasn't like he could snatch my phone from me. I was at a safe distance.

If there wasn't murder in his eyes before, there was now.

"What the hell?" he snapped, furiously advancing towards me and I quickly locked my phone just to be extra safe.

"Since you won't do anything to tell people we're not together, I guess I'll just take matters in my own hands. Can't exactly pair me with you when you are clearly shoving your tongue down someone else's throat." I smirked.

He inhaled slowly as if keeping his anger at bay. I watched as his jaw clenched as he calmly pointed to my phone. "Delete that."

"Nope."

"Before I make you."

I chuckled.

Considering our history, I should've been running away with the way he was glaring at me but I wasn't the one to back down. He should've known it by now that I wasn't afraid of him. And there was nothing he could do here. I'd won this time.

"You know I'm not afraid of you, Williams." I shrugged innocently. "But thank you... both," I said while looking over his shoulder at the girl. "...for your cooperation. I'll be on my way now to figure out exactly how I'm gonna use this picture. Toodles."

"Fine," my enemy snapped just as I'd started to pull out of the classroom. "I'll post whatever story you want."

Surrender? Bargain? How unexpected of my nemesis! Needless to say, I was overcome with pride.

I should've ignored him and walked away but I decided to take a few moments to relish in the sight of him like that. Defeat looked nice on him.

I brought my hands together to my chest and pouted. "Really?"

He rolled his eyes and pulled his phone out of his pocket. Swallowing his own pride, he stared at me expectantly, waiting for me to dictate whatever I needed him to post.

"How about..." I tapped my chin with my index finger, pretending to think and then widened my eyes with excitement. "I, Matt Williams, am the biggest jackass around here."

He kept a straight face, not even slightly amused.

I chuckled, flashing him my phone once again as I clicked my tongue. "Just kidding. Too late, Williams. I've already found a better way."

Right then, he could easily pass for a mad bull getting rankled by a red cloth, the red cloth here being me, of course.

"I didn't know you could stoop so low," he spat.

"Despite that, I'm still above you so imagine where you are." I stepped up to him and poked a finger in his chest. "And this is for my crackers, you asshole."

"For...crackers?" He watched me incredulously. "You cannot be serious."

"I am. Nobody messes with them. And certainly not an arrogant asshole like you. Besides, what do you care if I post it? You don't care what other people think about you, right?"

His chest heaved up as he inhaled loudly, a fire raging beneath the calm in his eyes. "Just give me the phone."

"Bye bye, Matt." I smiled as sweetly as I could. Who could have thought that my enemy's horniness would solve all my problems? Thank you, universe.

"Rebekah," he snapped as I started to step out.

"Aw! What happened to Becks, Matty?" I pouted, making his eye twitch at what I'd just called him.

"Wait." The girl's eyes grew wide as she took a step back in fear. "Rebekah? I'm sorry. I'm new around here. One of the girls had warned me to not cross you and to stay away from a Matt. I swear I had no idea he was—"

"Relax. I'm not the crazy Rebecca." I winked.

"I beg to differ," my enemy spat. I brushed him off with a roll of my eyes.

"You guys, please don't stop on my account." I placed a hand over my chest. "You should get back to your business. I've got what I needed."

With that, I stepped out and started walking down the corridor, feeling like a winner. I couldn't wait to celebrate my victory with my friends.

Quick and urgent footsteps behind me made me grow wary and I snapped around to find my enemy coming towards me like a giant wrecking ball hell bent on destruction.

"Hey!" I held up a palm in defense. My defense system clearly needed an upgrade.

"Give me your phone."

"No!" I snapped, making a run for it but he was fast as he locked an arm around my waist even before I could make it a few feet. And even before I could begin to struggle, he pulled my phone out of my pocket.

Then, he let go as quickly as he had grabbed me and began to try his hand at it. After a second, he shot me a glare.

"Yeah, of course you can't use it, dumbass. It has a password."

"Tell me."

I scoffed.

"I'll break your phone," he warned.

"Do it. The picture's saved. I can buy a new phone and still have it."

His eyes narrowed. "Fine then buy a new phone. I'm not giving this to you." He put it in his pocket and crossed his arms.

"What are you, five?"

He watched me with stubborn patience, waiting for me to crack.

I rolled my eyes. "Fine. I'll get a new phone after school and by night, get ready to see that picture on Instagram."

I started to walk away, feeling his eyes on me and the moment I stepped past him and was out of his sight, I flipped like the wind and lunged at him from behind. I pushed him with all my body force, ramming his front against the lockers and reaching around him to get my phone from his pocket.

I had my hand on it and was so close to pulling it out when his fingers closed around my wrist.

"Seriously?" He chuckled like the psycho he was.

"Dammit!" Without wasting any time, I climbed on his back like a monkey and locked my arm around his neck, but didn't squeeze. "What do you think I am, some spoiled brat?" I snapped. "That I'll just tell my parents I lost my phone and they'll immediately buy me a new one? Give it back."

"I knew it!" There was so much pride in his voice, I was tempted to squeeze just a bit. "And what do you think you're doing right now?"

"Showing you that I can have you in a chokehold if I want to, but I'm not. So, give me my phone back before things have to get ugly."

To my surprise, instead of attempting to get me off of him, he spun around so my back was pinned to the lockers and I was tightly sandwiched between them and his back.

Then he pulled my phone out.

And grabbed the arm which was around his neck. I realized how easily he could free himself if he wanted to when he uncurled my fingers and started scanning my fingerprints one by one to unlock my phone.

I gasped.

"No!" I used my other hand to push him forward but it was like he was made of fucking steel. So, I tried to pinch or hit him with it but he trapped it between his elbow and body in an unbelievably tight grip to conveniently have a go at my phone.

My eyes grew wide when he started going for my thumb impression next. He could unlock my phone with it.

"Hey!" I kicked the front of his legs because that's all I could do with my legs around him. "Let go."

"I..." He struggled just a bit to get my thumb to cooperate. "...don't think so, Becks."

I had to think fast. I couldn't let him win like this. Not so easily. Not without a fight.

So, I bit his ear. Hard.

"Fuck," he cursed out, falling weak for just a tiny second and that was enough for me to grab my phone and push him away to escape his hold.

With his hand around his ear, he snapped around. Once again, there was disbelief in his eyes before it was replaced by a burning glare. Honestly, at this point, I was surprised he could still be surprised by my actions.

"You," he started with a murderous step forward until—

"What in heaven's name is going on here?"

Our heads snapped to the end of the corridor to find Principal Miller standing there with a look of horror plastered on her face.

Oh no!

She took a moment to process it all and then, her face turned red with anger. She opened her mouth to say something but just then, people started moving out of the cafeteria and towards their classrooms.

"My office. Now," was all she said before turning around and stomping away.

*****

The room was silent. Neither of us were talking.

The principal was angrily tapping her pen on her desk, throwing occasional glances between us. Her silence was starting to worry me.

I cut a glance at Matt and noticed his red ear. I don't know exactly how I felt about that but I definitely didn't feel like a winner, irrespective of the kind of person he was.

"I've never," the principal started and I turned my attention to her. "...ever seen two people behave so savagely in a school hallway."

Always a first for everything, I thought.

She leaned forward and asked in a whisper yell, "what the hell was that?"

"Sorry," I muttered.

"No, Miss Andrews. I don't want a sorry. I want an explanation, not like there's any way either of you can justify that behaviour."

"Um..." I started. "We were fighting over my phone."

"Pray tell, why?"

"I clicked a picture of him and he didn't like it."

She looked between us incredulously, clearly on the verge of losing her shit. "That was over a picture?"

"Um, you should ask him." I turned to Matt and when he shot me a death stare, I gave him a little smirk. Go on, tell her you were making out in a classroom.

He turned to her and cleared his throat, "it wasn't a good picture."

"I want to see this picture. Now," she ordered me.

The consequences of the picture came to me. First, Matt would get in trouble for making out on school grounds and suffer disciplinary actions, which was something I didn't really mind. But then, I would get in trouble for clicking that picture and be labelled a creep.

"He deleted it," I told her.

"Did you, Mr. Williams?"

"Yes." He nodded. Thank God he realized he'd be in trouble too and didn't deny it just to go against me.

"What was it?"

When he didn't answer, she turned to me.

"Uh...it was a picture of him popping five oreos in his mouth at the same time. He was looking like an idiot and I captured it. He wasn't too happy about it."

She turned back to him. "Is that true?"

"Yes. I popped five oreos in my mouth..." I could hear the gritting of his teeth as he spoke. "...at the same time."

I bit my lip to hold back a laugh but couldn't do it and finally concealed it with a cough. "Excuse me."

His jaw clenched while he kept his gaze fixed ahead.

"I'm giving you both a strike. Two more and you're expelled. Is that clear?"

I was the only one to nod.

"For now, for today, detention after school for 30 minutes."

"What? Again?" We both asked at the same time, much to our annoyance as we cut a glare at each other.

"But—" I started.

"Dismissed."