True Intention

Ch 27- How does a person become so blind?

Naomi POV

Carla had begun to intensify her wild attacks on my character on social media as we headed into Thanksgiving Break.

I'm still not sure whether I want to go with my parents on their tropical trip to Fiji, or just stay at school. Their idea of Thanksgiving was so far from anything traditional that I honestly envied terrible turkey dinners just to get a chance at normalcy. I know, I know, normal is relative. But I had always wanted to understand what holidays with family were like. We didn't have a single actual tradition, for any holiday or birthday, in my house. We never saw our extended family, though they did call us.

Sometimes I think, in a way, that being the "spares" in their family was more damaging to them emotionally than they wanted to admit. We'd gone to a few family functions, but after some pissing contests about who had achieved more and whose children were better, we just stopped going entirely. They had asked me if I had any friends I was planning to go home with, and I told them I had made friends but that none so far had asked me. I let them know that I'd keep them posted either way, and they just shrugged it off before flitting off to tropical islands.

It's weird that they didn't seem fussed about what I did over the holidays, right? Shouldn't they be at least moderately concerned? It was my first year away from home, and really, it's like they forgot I existed, sometimes. My counselor would say I can only be responsible for my own emotions and choices, but I can't help feeling a little hurt at what I could now see as emotional neglect. I'm not sure abuse is quite the right term, but it was often that they went through the motions of what they were obligated to do, with little intention of actually doing something helpful.

It was Thursday, and the guys had gotten stuck with a flat tire at the gym this morning, so I told them I could handle walking alone. Soren hated it, but at some point I needed to be able to just do it. It was impossible to be with one of my friends 24/7. The whole point of everything I'd been doing was to be stronger, to be independent. To move forward and put the past where it belonged, in history.

Unfortunately, it happened to be one of the days I crossed paths with Carla. I had this feeling that she had people watching for a chance that I'd be alone, because she was slightly breathless as she stood on the path in front of me. She lifted her hand, finger pointed in accusation.

It reminded me of a bad movie, and I hoped she never tried to be an actress.

Well, she'd make a believable villain, at least.

"YOU!" She shouted, her voice ringing out shrilly in the morning air. "Everything is your fault. I was popular until you stole him from me. Such a f*****g w***e, everywhere you go. Stealing everyone's boyfriends, tempting all the boys with your weird ass eyes and disgustingly fat body. I don't know what they see in you other than being easy. Good thing I kept them away from you today." She smirked proudly, eyes aglow with malice. She what? "That's right. I might have found myself an accomplice. Just like before." She cackled. I'll be honest, I was sweating. The last thing this girl should have is muscle to help her with her evil plots. Wait. She was watching my face and smirked. "That's right, you know him, Yet another one of your rejects or whatever. Sadly, he doesn't want to bash your reputation, but he does want to f**k you." She ranted, crossing her arms and sighing.

"What do you expect from me, Carla? I'm not doing anything. I'm just existing. Soren came after me. Not that I'm complaining, he's a great boyfriend." I said nonchalantly. Her eyes bulged, and she turned bright red with anger. Oh, that's right. We had put our new status on our socials, but she probably hadn't seen it yet. I sighed as she screamed in rage, stomping her foot like the immature brat she was.

I really could not understand, for the life of me, how anyone thought she was cool. How did they endure her language, voice, and behavior? Like, what was the impetus behind glomming onto her in the first place? I felt like I was missing some sort of social nuance that led others to follow her like the damned pied piper.

"You better dump him. Today. He is mine, bitch." She began stalking closer, aggression rolling off of her. Oh, was she actually going to physically attack me? Had she forgotten my reputation in school? I did my homework, this girl can't fight for s**t. She does not want to get into a fight with me. I cracked my knuckles in preparation.

"No. He doesn't belong to anyone but himself. We may be dating, but he's his own person. And I'm not dumping him just because you're delusional." I insisted. I was not going to give in to this b***h ever again. It was then that I noticed people watching and recording. Carla was oblivious or she'd have tried to fake being a victim again. Attacking me wasn't what she needed on social media. It just made her look bitter and jealous.

Which is exactly what she was.

Someone that could never, ever be happy with what life gave her, because she was too busy looking for someone to be cruel to, to blame, and to burden with the unresolved anger that she should actually point at the person in the mirror.

"I am so sick of seeing your face. I should have made sure someone take care of you before. There was another girl that got in my cousin's way and I helped her make sure that b***h stayed in her place." She said proudly. Wait a minute. Was she saying she caused someone injury? I decided to try and find out more while she was blabbing. Oh my God, was her cousin exactly the same? "That's right. It's funny actually. My cousin has a thing for your buddy Archer. He was helping that Sarah b***h so we cut her brake lines. She's another w***e, just like you. We were hoping she wouldn't make it, but at least she ended up paralyzed for life." She shrugged. Holy s**t. "In fact, maybe I should get my cousin to move here while I'm in school. She's working in some tanning parlor but I'm sure she can find something out here." She giggled.

There was something not right about this girl's whole thought process. Not at all.

"Did you just say you tried to kill someone?" I queried in disbelief. This was bad. It was so bad. Soren was going to absolutely flip his s**t. Probably going to handcuff me to his wrist. She flipped her hair, an unhinged smile on her face.

"Yep." She said, popping the p. "Don't worry w***e, give me the man I want, and deliver Archer to Stacy, and we might leave you to deal with Kenny. I'm sure he'll treat you with all the... respect... a slut like you deserves. Probably beat you daily when men look at you. Gotta learn to keep them from wanting you so much, dummy. It makes you a massive target, boyfriend or not." She was speaking as if she was perfectly sane, but I had serious doubts. I narrowed my eyes at her.

"No woman deserves to be beaten or r***d by anyone, Carla. I have no control over who finds me attractive other than turning them down." I huffed, annoyed with her utter lack of logic. Was she blind?

How on earth did she propose I prevent a man from finding me attractive?

I mean, reasonable, logical, humane ways.

"See, that's where you are wrong. If you weren't there, then other girls would have a chance. Since you've taken away the hottest option here, why should your choice not be removed too? You deserve everything Kenny wants to do to you." She shouted, getting angrier by the second.

It was telling, and everyone nearby was getting a record of it, but at the same time she was dangerous. It was clear she would use any opportunity to take me out, as she'd said. I was poised, waiting for her next action, my brain trying to process everything and yet remain focused on my opponent.

Suddenly, familiar muscular arms enveloped me. Ren. I didn't want to feel as much relief as I did, but I couldn't help it. Carla flipped her hair, now too angry to realize a retreat was her best choice, or that we had a captive audience, complete with phones recording everything. She glared at Ren's arm wound around my waist protectively. His lips landed on my neck as if he was unable to stop himself, whether it provoked the b***h in front of us or not.

"I should have known he'd come and save your ass." She scoffed. I gently removed Ren's arms. He wanted to protest, I knew, but I shook my head. I was standing up to this b***h myself, today. After what she'd said about Sarah, as well as Kenny, there was no point in trying to keep the peace.

She was never going to leave me alone.

"He isn't here to save me. I don't need saving. Go ahead, give me your worst Carla." I said, taking a combat stance as I waited for her next move. She was mad enough to shriek and throw herself at me. Thankfully, I'd worn my hair in two braids, so while she could grab them, it wasn't going to do serious damage. I'd been feeling relaxed and chose to wear black lowrider loose fit cargoes complete with studded belt and chains, converse, and a fitted black long-sleeved tee under my favorite Noragami hoodie. One that had Yato's eyes across the chest and kanji down the sleeves. It was cool in my mind, but the opposite of sexy. I think anyone but Ren would agree.

She was wearing clothes that were not appropriate for fighting, and barely appropriate for school or the weather, which was near zero celsius. Soon it would be snowing. She wore a tight mini tube dress in hot pink with matching heels and a short denim jacket. How was she not freezing her ass off? She did that thing where she uses her scary fake nails like claws and runs straight for your face. I sighed. I almost felt bad. I saw Ren's smirk out of the corner of my eye. He had his phone out, probably texting Lou.

Of course he was enjoying this s**t. f**k. I dodged a few times, which made her trip and get angrier when she couldn't seem to make contact.

After about the fifth attack, I saw Lou heading our way, and finally swept her legs, landing her harshly on her hands and knees, bloodying them.

It was then that she noticed the people recording, and began to cry wolf. Lou just shook his head and escorted her away while she screamed her head off about injustice. Ren grabbed my hand and dragged me to class, keeping me glued to his side all day.

To be honest, it had felt good to face her directly.

Good to know that playing clean, I was the winner.