Chapter 22 (Part 2)
777 Words
The next day, her morning was a lot less eventful than the previous one. It was actually almost back to normal. It seems like everyone has a new subject to scrutinize. She guessed that by now, most of the students believed that the new Calista was the real one.
As usual, she went straight to her locker and smiled when she saw a familiar figure standing beside it. She raised her brow at the guy. “Not mad at me anymore?” she then asked playfully.
Warren sighed, “seems like it…”
They just end up laughing it all off, and they’re back to how it used to be once again. Both of them are too awkward and unsentimental to make those cringey apologies, it has always been Shannon who did those types of things. This will do.
She unlocked her locker and pulled it open, not expecting to find anything else inside but her usual stuff. But to her surprise, there was a folded note atop one of her books, making her frown. It’s Penta week so she’s not worried about any attack, but it would be a different case if an Underdog actually targeted her. But she never had a feud with anyone from Class E… right?
Though the school administration promotes Penta as a time for everyone to be treated equally, this was actually used by the bullied ones to retaliate against their perpetrators. Instead of equality, it only causes a switch-up. It advocates revenge and was actually a dangerous time for some, because the used-to-be targets may use this opportunity to release their pent-up anger.
We all know that suppressed rage is the worst when it goes out of control.
“Did you offend anyone again?” her best friend laughingly said, seeing the note as well. “Don’t tell me it’s from William.”
“If William wanted to tell me something, he or one of his cronies would’ve been standing in your place right now. He’s not the leave-a-note type of person.”
Ren shrugged, “right. Did you offend anyone again?”
He pointedly said the last word which made her roll her eyes, before picking up the said note and opening it.
I am a victim too. Why didn’t you save me?
“Creepy…” Warren drawled.
She absentmindedly frowned and tried to analyze the meaning behind the short message. Is this about the five she saved? Has someone been left out? Seriously, how many students does that son of a b***h bully? He is so f****d up, really.
“William Li must be expelled.”
“What?”
“I’ll do anything for him to be expelled this week,” Cali said in finality before looking straight into Warren’s eyes. “This should’ve been done ages ago. If I could send him to jail, then that would be better.”
“Are you serious?” the latter asked in disbelief, eyes wide.
“No… being in jail would be too easy for that bastard. Wasn’t there a rumor that the Li’s are involved in some drug-dealing business?”
“Don’t even think about it! We’re just students. What can we do?”
His words made her smile. Of course, it’s ‘we’ instead of just ‘you.’ He’s always automatically adding himself to everything she plans to do.
“What can we do?”
The two of them whirled around and found Shannon standing a few feet away, with Connor and Maddox. She couldn’t help but glance at Ren. Seeing that he was not that affected by the jocks’ presence anymore gave her a sense of relief. The two guys aren’t that bad, at least they are way better than their friends.
“Did anything happen?” Shan worriedly added before walking closer to them.
Cali handed her the piece of paper. “I guess the five weren’t the only ones William harassed on a daily basis.” She turned to the pair standing behind her best friend, “am I right?”
Connor frowned, “William usually gets tired of his targets after around three days. The five you saved are his only constant ones. Maybe one of those who he once bullied held a grudge?”
She nodded and didn’t say anything more. Even though she admitted that the two are not like their friends, she still can’t trust them with her plans. They’re still two of William’s close confidants so, of course, they will choose him over anyone.
She had to find out who was the letter sender first, then she could start figuring out how to take the Li’s to their downfall.
- Writer
