Repeat and Retribution

Chapter 31

“And so I was thinking, since our class hasn’t picked our representative for the school pageant…” Denise started but was immediately cut off by a screaming Elena from afar.

They were currently walking along the hallway as they had just gotten out of the library, when their friend suddenly came running towards them, shouting while waving. It wasn’t really that hard to recognize the girl, as she had these really nice round glasses and a very small figure like that of a teen-ager.

“Cryst, Cryst!” The girl was waving her hands in the air, holding several pieces of paper that looked liked posters.

“Whats wrong?” Crystal tries to calm her down when she had finally reached them.

“Have you seen this?” Still trying to catch her breath, yet Elena tried pointing at the paper that she was holding.

“Seen what?” Crystal could not help but frown, seeing the panic in her friends eyes.

Elena then shoves the now crumpled piece of paper on each of their hands, pointing at the picture that was being shown there.

“Oh my gosh!” Denise gasped when they had finally looked at the thing.

“Who could have done this!” Kathy hissed almost ripping the poster into two.

There was a hint of anger that suddenly ignited inside Crystal, specially when she noticed the funny look of the people around them. But, she still managed to hold it in, breathing heavily but making sure to keep her composure.

It was only after a few moments that she had notice that almost all of the students that were walking pass them had the same pamphlet.

Giving herself a few minutes to breath and think, she was able to immediately calm down after analyzing things.

With a warm smile and a somewhat sad face she lets out a sigh. “Wow, the person did a pretty amazing job with this, though the image alteration is quite obvious to say the least,” she says cheerfully looking at her the image on the said thing.

Her face was carefully and meticulously attached to what seems to be a body from a porn star, as the picture was showing a naked woman sitting, hands on her breast to hide the n*****s, yet her legs were spread wide open with a heart shape blocking the sensitive area.

All three of her friends ended up looking at her, eyes round and mouths wide open, moving yet unable o say anything.

“Aren’t you angry?” Denise finally broke the silence after a few moments.

She just gives her friend her sweetest look. “A bit, but let’s face it, whoever did this actually has the resources and time, plus a really big grudge against me, so I doubt that they’d actually show their face. Plus, I wouldn’t waste my energy on such cheap and childish thing,” she neatly folds the piece of paper before putting it inside her bag.

“I think I know who could possibly have done this!” Kathy raised her clenched fist in her ace as if trying to crush something.

“Me too,” Elena nodded in agreement.

“Shouldn’t we report this to the guidance office?” Denise added looking at their two friends before turning her way.

“I will, but I think it’s best to let it be for now,” keeping a smile on her face, Crystal was still holding on to her temper.

“Then when?” Kathy butted in, face red as she now crumpled the piece of paper she was holding.

“Let’s wait for the school board to notice it, for now, just try avoiding those people, I don’t want to get you guys involved with this,” she calmly says.

With this she knew that she was facing a very bold and tricky opponent. She knew she had to be very careful with how she was going to approach this, as she also had friends to look after, knowing full well that people like this would target other people too.

“You’re so brave Crys,” Elena eyes twinkled as she presed her hands together while looking all awed at her.

“Oh Crys, you don’t have to worry, we’re here for you!” Denise gave her a tight hug.

“Yeah, If you want, we can go and give those girls a piece of our minds!” Kathy nodded as her face was now less angry than before.

“Thank you, but you don’t have to do that. I’m okay knowing that you guys are here for me and know that this is not real,” she says as she really didn’t want to drag her friends into trouble.

“Are you sure you’re all right?” Kathy asks, noticing the whispers and laughs that were now starting to become louder.

“Don’t worry about me, what I’m concerns me is you guys, since you’re still hanging around with me.” She didn’t really care about this farce as she knew that she’ll be able to handle it, but she really wasn’t sure what she could do if her classmates were suddenly targeted as well.

“Well, you have nothing to worry, were tough too!” Denise raised her arms posing like some body builder as she was showing her make believe biceps.

“Hey, wouldn’t this make a very nice article for the school paper’s anti bullying campaign,” she blurted out, remembering about her friends connection.

“But wouldn’t it cause more trouble for you,” Elena stated, since putting it in paper will surely cause this issue to blow up.

Though she knew the risk, it was a thing that she knew she could use to her advantage in a manner, so long as she plays it properly.

“Don’t you want an exclusive interview with the campus’s most scandalous girl right now.” she giggles.

Pressing a hand to her chest after flipping her hair, Crystal’s classmate’s were suddenly enthralled by the sheer confidence that she was showing right now.

“If you’re okay with this, I can set you up with one of our writers to avoid any other issues and bias,” Denise then says, smiling as her face suddenly brightened at the thought of the scoop.

“I’m definitely okay with it,” Crystal smiles, nodding as she gave her friend a pat on the shoulder.

“You’re amazing Cryst,” Elena grabbed on to her arm like some excited schoolgirl.

Their conversation was only cut short when they noticed the young man that was walking towards them, he seemed to have suddenly garnered all the other students attention. As the man was still wearing his jersey, bag on his shoulders-face straight and was quite domineering

“Hey Cryst!” The young man calls out to her the moment he sees her.

“Oh my gosh!” All three girls were suddenly taken aback, walking backwards in awe as the young man approached her.

“Larse, what are you doing here?” she greets him with a sweet smile.

“Have you seen this?” the man pulls out a paper from the pocket of his bag

She just let’s out a smirk. “Yeah, funny right,” she pretend to laugh. Yet the man’s face remained serious, ominous.

“Are you all right,” his voice was deep yet soothing voice.

“I’m good, thank you for asking,” Crystal could not help her smiling from growing wider as she could feel that the man was worrying about her.

“Don’t worry, I’ve ask some of my friends to look for the person who did this,” Larse let out a half smile, nodding as if to assure of something.

She was caught off guard that she wasn’t really able to react immediately, the look of surprise was written all over her face as she tried to find the right words to say.

“Thank you for that, I really appreciate it,” she was suddenly lost for breath because she felt a sudden rush of heat climb up her cheeks.

She was only returned to her senses when she noticed the silent yet force coughing sound of the girls behind her. It was obvious that her classmates were trying to get her attention because of the man.

“Oh, by the way. Larse, these are my classmates, Elena, Denise and Kathy.” Crystal gives way to let the man see all three of her companions.

The three girls did not even hesitate nor took a moment to swarm the young man who’m she had just introduced, making her hold her laugh in amusement.

“Hi Larse, I’m a big fan!” Kathy says shaking the man’s hand.

“We always watch your games,” Elena was right in front of him, eyes looking straight into the young man’s face.

“Go tigers!” Denise cheered as she made what seemed to be a funny imitation of the schools squad jump.

Larse smile was somewhat, warm yet very demure as he made turns looking at all three. “Wow, thank you, it’s a pleasure to meet you girls,” he chuckles.

“Yes, it’s nice meeting you too!” the three said in unison, almost squealing.

“I should be going now, I just came by to check on you and wanted to make sure that you’re all right.” Looking at Crystal, he gives her a wave.

The three girls quickly disbursed to let Larse get close to her again. Staying by the man’s side like bees to honey.

“Thanks for the concern Larse,” she tilts her head as she gave him her sweetest smile. Quite thankful for the man’s concern.

“We’ll, I’ll see you around then,” he nods, giving a playful pat to her arm before quickly running away after saying good bye to her friends.

A sudden volt of electricity suddenly rushed all over her skin the moment the palm of his hand touch her skin. It made her knees tremble a bit and making her pant, thankfully she managed to hold on to her breath for a few moments, avoiding his notice.

“Good luck with your game!” she waves at him when she managed to get her bearings back. Though she was now much more confused at what she was feeling.

“Bye Larse!” all three girls said all together as if it was a cheer.

“Oh Crys, you’re so lucky,” Elena states as she turns to her.

“I am aren’t I,” she just let’s out a half smile at the thought.

“Yeah! He seems to really like you,” Denise added feeling all giddy as she quivered.

That made her giggle, she didn’t really think that it would be possible, knowing full well what Larse’s type was. Knowing that, she just shrugs the thought as they continued to walk.

“Will you be all right by yourself Cryst?” Kathy asks.

They were now parting since she was taking a different path while her classmates we’re already heading out.

“Yes, I’ll be perfectly fine, thanks to you guys,” she gives each one of them a hug, as she was really happy with them.

“Bye Crys,” Elena waves at her as she walks towards the parking lot.

“Bye guys.” She waves back.

Quickening her steps, she hurries to the car that beeped at her the moment she got into the parking lot.

“You’ve seen how many of these have been circulating all over the campus!” Brittany took out a whole bunch of pamphlets from the back of her car the moment she got in.

“Yeah,” she sighs.

“You want to go and kick those girls ass,” Brittany smirks.

Slouching at the passenger seat she just continued to contemplate. “I’m not really in the mood. Besides, I think there’s a better way to handle this,” she states, knowing full well that facing the woman in a brawl wasn’t really a good idea.

“I thought you said you was going to fight, what’s this all of a sudden,” Brittany scowls as she started the car.

“I was. But not in a physical sense, though I would really love that,” she gives her a raised brow.

“Then what’s on your mind then,” Brittany asks, worry written on her face seeing the solemn and sulking look on Crystal.

“I have a friend in the school's paper,” she states grinning at her.

That somewhat made Brittany light up a bit. “Oh, I see. It seems we can actually use this in our favor,” she let’s out a cackle.

“My thoughts exactly,” Crystal nods, as she had managed to get an idea of how to handle the situation.

“Then, let’s just consider this as a kind of free publicity then,” Brittany says with a deep and foreboding tone, knowing full well what they were going to do after that.