Chapter Four

  April

  I dash out of the library, my blood boiling with anger as I go over what I just heard. I don’t even bother picking up the books I accidentally knocked over.

  I take a deep breath, focusing my thoughts on where they need to be–Carl. He needs to pay for how he hurt Charlie. I don’t know the full details, but I know it was enough to hurt her. I can’t stop remembering how her voice sounded as she told Emily about what happened by the water fountain–so raw, so vulnerable…the pain in her voice…

  I clench my jaw, my mind made up as my boots click on the tile floor of the hallway. I walk toward the pce where Carl likes to hang out before lunch with his friends, but right now, he’s alone. Thank you Jane for being obsessed with him because you thought I was.

  I see him at his locker; alone, just like I thought. “Carl!” I call out, anger in my voice. He turns toward me, an eyebrow raised.

  He smirks arrogantly. “I haven’t talked to you in a while gorgeous.”

  I stop in front of him gring. “You, me, after school. Three O’clock. Don’t be te.”

  His smirk falters for a second, becoming something like confusion or worry. It disappears as quickly as it appeared, his smirk set firmly in pce. “What’s this about?”

  I gre at him and stalk away, not providing any further information.

  ______________________________________________________________________

  I stalk toward the lunchroom, dropping into a seat next to my friends without a word. Jane turns toward me with a friendly expression that immediately drops when she notices the murderous gre on my face. “What happened? Who’s getting killed after school? Do I need to bring an extra set of clothes for you? A trash bag? Bleach?”

  Normally, I’d ugh at her theatrics, but today I just answer in one word. “Yes.”

  Jane raises an eyebrow, her grin repced by cautious curiosity. “You’re serious?”

  I don’t respond. Instead, I stand and head for the food line.

  The buzz of conversation and ughter in the cafeteria feels distant, like I’m underwater, moving through the motions. My boots echo on the tile floor as I grab a tray, loading it with food I don’t want but know I need.

  Back at the table, I sit down and start eating without looking at anyone. My friends’ voices blur together as I focus on the pte in front of me, each bite mechanical, each thought sharp.

  Carl is going to pay. Not just for Charlie, but for everyone he’s hurt.

  ______________________________________________________________________

  After lunch, I dash into the girls' bathroom and lean in front of the bathroom mirror, my hands clenched into fists, a gre fixed on the sink before me. My heart pounds with a mix of pure rage and adrenaline.

  Why that little….I’m gonna beat his scrawny little…

  I clench my teeth and stand up straight, adjusting my outfit as another person walks in, humming. I pay no attention to who it is, pulling out my small pocketknife I keep with me for protection and start cleaning it.

  “Whaddya got there, Ari?” I hear from behind me, a strangely familiar voice.

  and that nickname, only one person has ever called me that…

  “Sophie.” I turn around to find my ex. She hasn’t changed one bit. Same condescending eyes, and the same clothing style. The only thing that’s changed is the fact that now instead of looking at me with hate, there’s a little bit of hope in her eyes.

  Sophie smirks and moves closer to me, gently grasping my chin in her hands. “Now, now, is that any way to say hello to the love of your life?”

  I gre and pull her hand away from my chin, walking away. “You lost the right to that title when you broke my heart and stomped on it for good measure.”

  Hurt fshes across her features before she composes herself. “Aww, come on Ari, you know you still love me…” She smirks, taking a step towards me again. “We were good together, weren’t we? You know it, I know it…”

  I take a step back. “No, we weren’t. You were toxic, I didn’t trust you, and you cheated on me. How is that good?”

  She steps toward me again, and I instinctively step back. It feels like a dance, one where I desperately try to maintain distance. But like all good things, this too must come to an end, a fate that looms closer with each step she takes. I bump into the wall behind me, and a smirk spreads across her face as she inches closer, invading my personal space.

  I gre at her, uncertainty gnawing at my resolve. I feel trapped—until a flicker of memory pulls me back. My pocketknife lies just within reach, resting on the edge of the sink. Sophie continues her relentless chatter about how great we once were, but I tune her out, my focus narrowing.

  Suddenly, she wraps her arms around my waist, drawing me nearer until our faces are barely an inch apart—her warm breath dances over my skin, reminiscent of memories I wish to forget.

  But I refuse to be drawn in. With a swift motion, I duck out of her embrace and grab the pocket knife from the sink. Heart pounding, I dart to the other side of the bathroom, holding the bde up, ready to defend myself if she tries anything.

  Sophie chuckles darkly, putting her hands up as if in surrender, taking a step back. “Oh, someone’s learned some new moves.” She smirks suddenly, lurching forward and disarming me in one swipe, sending my pocket knife skittering across the tile floor. “You also forgot I was in the army, Ari.”

  I show no response, looking around the bathroom for an escape, but she’s blocking the only exit. She walks closer until she’s right in front of me, trapping me against the wall. “C’mon, baby….remember how good we were? We weren’t perfect, but nobody is…c’mon Ari…give me another chance…” She grasps my chin gently in her hands, forcing me to look at her. She gives me puppy dog eyes, silently begging me to say yes.

  I shake my head and move out of her grasp, gring at her. “One, my name is not Ari, it’s April, and two, why would I give you my heart when I know you’re just gonna break it again?”

  She crosses her arms, gring at me, starting to get fed up now. “Oh c’mon. I know you don’t have anyone else. You might as well take me back just so you don’t die alone like the sad, pathetic loser you are.”

  I raise an eyebrow, an idea forming in my mind. “You don’t know that. How could you?”

  “Because you’re a loser and nobody will ever want you,” she replies haughtily, thinking I’m about to give in and take her back.

  “What if I told you I do have a girlfriend and she’s amazing?” I smirk, watching the suspicion and confusion form on her face.

  “I would say I don’t believe you.” She sneers at me.

  “Well, I do. She is amazing and so much better than me, but she still loves me. And I love her and trust her and she trusts me.” I smile softly, putting up the act. Internally though, I’m freaking out, already knowing Sophie’s gonna ask to meet this so-called girlfriend, and then I’ll be exposed.

  Sophie rolls her eyes and scoffs. “Uh-huh…sure….like you could get anyone. What’s her name?”

  I blink, trying to come up with a name. A fsh of red catches my attention and Charlie walks in. My eyes widen, an idea coming to me. “Babe!” I dart over to Charlie my eyes wide and I give her a hug. I lean forward as if to give her a kiss on the cheek, but instead whisper in her ear “Please just py along. This is my ex-girlfriend. Act like you’re my girlfriend. Please.”

  I pull away, my eyes holding a silent plea. Charlie leans forward, pulling me closer again, whispering in my ear, “Fine, but you owe me.” I blush as if she just said something dirty. She puts her arm around my shoulder.

  Sophie watches the whole exchange with a raised eyebrow, not hearing the words exchanged, however. “I take it this is the mystery girl?” She asks suspiciously.

  Charlie looks at me. “Oh, flower, you talk about me?” I blush slightly at the pet name and she smirks before turning back toward Sophie. “Hi, I’m Charlie, and you are?” She raises an eyebrow, holding out a hand to Sophie.

  Sophie looks her up and down before shaking her hand, dropping it back at her side. “Sophie, the ex-girlfriend. Maybe soon to take your pce.”

  Charlie smiles politely, it not quite reaching her eyes. “You wish. My flower is gonna stay just that. Mine.”

  Sophie smirks, leaning against the wall. “We’ll see about that, hm? Ari and I have a lot of history and well…history has a way of repeating itself.”

  Charlie pulls me closer, pressing a kiss to the top of my head, making me flush furiously. “Only if we don’t learn from our mistakes. And my flower is a fast learner.”