“It looks good,” I answer. “I like it.”
Our attention is quickly drawn to the store next to where we’ve stopped when we hear a deep, burly voice say, “Girls, store security. Show me your bags.”
We all look to our left, and see Lindsey and her stuck-up posse leaving the store, while an older guy in a security uniform quickly approaches Lindsey.
“Now this is interesting. Hang on a second.” Sam grabs her phone, and starts recording what’s happening.
When Lindsey sees us, her face turns tomato red and she turns her back to us. “What?” she half yells at the security guy. He may be older, but he looks like he’s been doing this for a long time and can take anyone down who’d attempt to cross him.
“This is so amusing. Can’t wait to upload it to social media,” Sam says loudly so Lindsey can hear it. “I wonder how many shares I can get on this considering Lindsey’s been stopped for shoplifting.” Sam chuckles as she now moves to sit at a bench close by while she continues to record.
“We believe you’ve got some items you haven’t paid for and I’ll need to see inside your bag,” the security guard says, loudly.
Ding, ding, ding. Sam’s right. Lindsey’s been stopped for shoplifting.
“I can afford anything I want in here, why would I shoplift?” Lindsey defensively scoffs at the guard, who’s now crossed his arms and looks unimpressed. He’s probably heard every excuse under the sun.
Lindsey looks back at us and snarls, while Jordan and Mariah slide as far away from her as possible. “Look, we’ve got you on surveillance. I was watching you and your two little friends who refused to put anything in their bags when you asked them to.”
Sophie, Sam and I look over to Mariah and Jordan, and their faces turn the same shade of tomato red as Lindsey’s. We turn back to watch Lindsey. She sneaks a look over her shoulder and uncomfortably shifts. The guard’s eyes travel the length of her body and he catches how she tightens the grip on the bags she’s holding. He straightens his body and shakes his head. “I wouldn’t run if I were you,” he warns her.
Lindsey looks like she’s a wounded animal backed into a corner. Her eyes are wild as her shoulders shake uncontrollably from the adrenaline and fear pumping through her body. “She’s going to run,” Sophie whispers.
“Not in those shoes,” Sam says loudly.
And she takes off. She turns and runs toward the exit. But the security guard, although old, is agile and fit and he catches her before she’s made it three stores away. He grabs her arm and escorts her back.
“Why did you run? I told you not to,” he says while marching her back to the store. “Now I gotta call the police, and I didn’t want to do that. I was going to give you a warning.”
Lindsey’s face is covered in tears. Her bottom lip is quivering as she’s pleading with the guard to let her go. “I’m so sorry, I promise I won’t do it again,” she says between sobs.
“It’s too late for that now, girl. Should’ve thought about it before you decided to run.”
Jordan and Mariah leave her and start walking away. “Oh my God,” Sophie bursts as she springs to her feet. Both Jordan and Mariah turn to look back at Sophie. “You two are going to leave her to deal with this on her own?”
“We didn’t steal anything,” Jordan bitchily replies.
“But she’s your best friend. You both stood there and backed her up when she pushed me to the ground and tried humiliating me, but you’re walking away when she gets caught for shoplifting? Great friends you are.”
“We didn’t shoplift,” Mariah finally speaks. “And we told her not to.”
“Thank God you’re not my friends. You don’t know what he’s going to say or do to her in there and you’re walking away. Wow, great friends.” Sophie shakes her head and huffs in disgust at them both.
“Whatever, slut girl,” Jordan spits toward Sophie.
“You did not.” Sophie runs for her, and Jordan lets out a high-pitched squeal as she tries to run from Sophie. Sophie grabs her by the ponytail, yanking her head back before turning her around and backing her up against the nearest wall. Jordan squints and cowers from Sophie.
“Sophie, she ain’t worth the hassle,” I call, trying to calm her.
“I’m so sorry,” Jordan profusely snivels. “I’m sorry, I promise I won’t do it again. Please, Sophie, please! Let me go!”
“There’s only so much bullying a person can take before they snap and teach the bully a lesson,” Sophie spits in Jordan’s face while heaving her from the scruff of her incredibly teeny tiny shirt. “You’re a damn coward. Look at you.” Sophie lets her go and steps back from her. “You think you have power in numbers yet all you are is a worthless bully. Karma will kick your ass, exactly like Lindsey got hers.” She points to Sam who’s still recording. “I just hope I’m around to see you get yours, bitch.”
Sophie turns her back, and walks away. Jordan, the quivering bully she is, runs away shouting over her shoulder, “You’re all nothing. Losers!”
Sophie takes a few steps toward Jordan who squeals in a high-pitched voice, and picks up speed to run away.
When it all settles, the nervous energy makes me laugh. “Wow,” I say. “That was interesting. Lindsey got caught shoplifting and Jordan almost peed herself with fright when Sophie cornered her.”
“Typical bullies. The moment they’re confronted they buckle. Anyway, if they want to cause us any problems, I’ve got a nice little film I can post to social media. I’ll even tag them –and everyone we know—to give them maximum exposure,” Sam says happy with herself to have captured it all.
We sit on the bench together and let our hearts calm down from those intense few moments. “Um.” A pair of pretty shoes stop in front of me. I look up to see Mariah.
“Mariah,” I say through my clenched jaw.
“I’m sorry for everything.” She looks down timidly and slouches her shoulders.
“You’re just as bad as those two,” Sophie says. “Because even though you’ve never said anything to us, you continue to hang out with them and back them up when they do and say horrible things.”
“I know.” She blinks repeatedly and her mouth turns down in a frown. “I just want to say I’m sorry.” She slowly turns and starts to walk away. “You’re right, We don’t know what’s happening to Lindsey in there, so I’m going to go wait.”
“What about Jordan?” Sam calls after her.
“She’s probably already found Aaron. They came together but Aaron and Levi went in one direction and we went in the other.”
Suddenly my heart rate spikes and I shiver while I suspiciously look around me, it feels like watchful eyes are burning into me.
“Don’t be like them, Mariah,” Sophie says.
Mariah puts her head down and walks into the store while the three of us gather together and decide what we’re going to do.
“Truthfully, I’ve had enough excitement to last me a lifetime,” Sophie says. “I think I’m going to call my Mom to come pick me up.”
Sam looks at me and nods her head. “Yeah, me too. Anyway, I miss Taylor and want to call him when we get home.”
Sophie calls her mom, and Sam calls ours. We decide to meet our moms at the same place so we don’t have to split up. Knowing Jordan is here with Aaron and Levi means they may try to harrass us if we’re on our own. And this scares the shit out of me. We all head into Lush, selecting a few things before we need to meet our moms out near the frozen yogurt store.
“Mom’s going to love this moisturizer I got her,” Sophie says. “It’s mango and vanilla, it smells good enough to eat.”
“I got Mom a bath bomb, strawberry and chia seed,” I say.
“Chia seed?” Sam screws her nose up. “Was that the pink colored one at the front of the store?” I nod my head. “I didn’t like that one.”
“Lucky it’s not for you then; it’s for Mom.”
“Whatever.” She rolls her eyes and grabs her phone out of her pocket. �
��I’m seeing if Taylor’s home or at work.” She turns her back and walks a few steps away.
“Do you think anything will be said about today?” I shrug my shoulders. “I’d be so humiliated if that confrontation was caught on anyone’s phone and uploaded.”
I squint at her and shake my head. “Why? You told her off.”
“Not that one. The one where Lindsey pushed me.”
“If anything is said, it just shows what a bitch she is for doing that to you. We were walking away from her, we didn’t even know she was there, so it’ll make her look like a bully.”
“She said some horrible stuff.”
“Which isn’t true.”
“She’s popular, Dakota, I’m not. Everyone will believe her, not me.”
“I wouldn’t worry about it. Besides, it’s still summer vacation. By the time we’re back at school, everyone will be talking about something else. And we have something she doesn’t want anyone to see.”
Sophie’s face breaks out into a huge smile. “I’m positive she wouldn’t want anyone seeing that.” She bumps into my shoulder, still smiling.
She leans against the railing outside of the mall, near where the cab stand is. “You know, you’re pretty cool, Dakota.”
“You’re only figuring that out now?” I say sarcastically.
She shrugs a shoulder, her long blonde hair slightly swaying as a small gust of wind picks it up. “Yeah, you’ll do.”
Both her mom and our Mom pull up behind each other. “Thanks for today. I had a lot of fun.” She walks backward to her car.
I wave to her mom then go and tap on Sam’s back to tell her Mom’s here. She’s still got her phone to ear and quietly says goodbye to Taylor telling him she’ll call him later on.
Sophie’s mom beeps her horn as she leaves, and we jump in our car. “How was the mall?”
“Good fun,” Sam replies before I get a chance to say anything. “Lindsey got caught shoplifting.”
“What!” Mom shouts slamming the brakes on. Luckily, both Sam and I have our seatbelts on because the abrupt way Mom stops makes us both lurch forward. “What were you doing hanging out with her? And what do you mean ‘shoplifting’?”
“We weren’t hanging out with her. Actually we had no idea she was going to be there. But, I saw a cute top in Charlotte Russe, and while we were there Lindsey, Mariah, and Jordan came out of the store next to us. The security guard followed them out and stopped Lindsey from leaving. Anyway, Mom, she tried to run and he grabbed her and dragged her back to the store. And guess what else? Jordan left her there. She left her there! Can you believe it? She walked away. What type of friend would do that? But anyway, she got dragged back into the store. The guy said he was going to let her off with a warning but because she ran he had to to call the cops.” Sam’s only taken one breath the entire time, telling the story in an animated way.
Mom’s listening intently, and when Sam finishes talking she quickly glances over at me. “Is she serious?”
“I even got it on my phone. Do you want to watch it when we get home?”
“You recorded it?” Mom sounds cross, and frankly disappointed.
“I did,” Sam happily responds. “She’s been really horrible to Sophie and when this happened, I thought it was a good opportunity to record it. If she wants to be a bitch, I can always threaten her with it.”
Mom’s mouth gapes open as she looks at Sam in the rear-view mirror. “You can’t be serious?”
“I am.”
“Sam, that’s not right. You’re going to delete it off your phone.”
“No, I’m not.”
Mom’s hands tighten around the steering wheel, her knuckles turning white. Taking in her appearance, she looks so mad. “You will be deleting it from your phone, young lady,” she almost growls at Sam. Her jaw is tight, and her shoulders are high.
“No, I’m not,” Sam stubbornly replies. “You don’t get what a nasty piece of work she is, Mom. I’m keeping this as backup, you can even call it insurance. But I’m not deleting it.”
“This isn’t open for negotiations Samantha Kristen Bennett. You will delete it.”
Oh shit, Mom is using Sam’s full name. This isn’t a good sign. “No, Mom, I won’t. She’s horrible and if this is the only way I can assure she stops being a bitch to everyone, then so be it. It’s called karma with a capital K. I promise you though, I won’t post it and if I think about posting it, I’ll talk to you first.”
There’s silence in the car for a few moments while Mom calms down from her anger. “If you post it, then you’re no better than her.”
“I told you, I won’t post it.”
“You can ruin her life if you post it for no other reason than simply posting it.” I smirk and chuckle to myself. “What?” Mom asks while she pulls into our driveway.
We get out of the car and start walking up to the house. “I’ll be surprised if she hasn’t already ruined it for herself. The things I’m finding out.” I shake my head while we head into the kitchen. I grab three water bottles, handing one each to Sam and Mom.
“Don’t go looking for trouble, Dakota. Your friendship is over, respect it and leave it at that.”
“Hey.” I hold my hands up in resignation. “Believe me, I’m not looking for anything to do with her, Jordan, Mariah, Levi . . . any of them. They aren’t who I thought they were.” With my water bottle in my hands, I freeze in midair. No, they’re not nice at all and what’s even worse, I used to be one of them.
Filled with shame, I tilt my head down and look at my shoes. I was horrible.
Just over two weeks have gone by since the whole ‘Lindsey is a felon,’ incident. Sam and Sophie have been keeping an eye on social media in case any footage is posted.
Funnily enough, Lindsey and Jordan have remained really quiet on social media. Nothing has been posted, which is incredible considering there were quite a few people milling around when Lindsey pushed Sophie.
It’s probably only a matter of time.
I’m in my room, listening to the radio when I hear a knock at my door. “Come in.”
Sam opens the door and slides in before closing the door behind her. “Thought you might want your phone back,” she says with a smile.
Sitting up in bed, I cross my legs and take my phone when she holds it out. “Why?” I ask suspiciously. “Has something happened?”
“No.” She happily jumps on my bed. She’s got a huge smile spreading across her face, her eyes following me as I slide to unlock the screen.
The first thing I see is a text message. The name at the top of the box tells me it’s from Reece. It reads:
Hoping we can get together and watch a movie soon. What do you think? Double date? .
The time stamp is a few minutes ago. “Huh,” I blow out a breath while re-reading the message.
“So?” Sam asks while leaning into me. “Can we go?” I’d told her all about the conversation Reece and I had by the pool the night of the cook-out. “Can we?” She bounces on the bed enthusiastically.
The thought of going on a date with Reece scares me to death. “I don’t know,” I whisper while looking down at my phone. My hands begin to shake while my pulse frantically races through my veins. “Um.”
“What’s wrong, Dakota?” Sam moves closer to me, gently laying her hand on my thigh.
Tears sting my eyes as every harbored feeling pushes to the surface. “I’m so scared,” I manage to whisper through a strangled breath.
“Hey.” She wraps her arms around me. “Why are you so worried?”
Trying to contain myself, I manage to curb the tears and look into Sam’s concerned eyes. “What if he tries to . . . do something with me?”
“You don’t have to do anything you don’t want. And besides, he doesn’t come across like the type of guy who would force you.”
I nod my head, because logically I think I know that of Reece, but then my mind goes back to prom. Waking up out in the field with my dress hitched with no
memory of anything occurring. Shuddering with just the memory, I nod my head again. “I won’t be able to survive if that happens again.”
“You can’t live your life frightened of what might happen.”
“I know.” Sam sighs a long breath as she lets me go and sits back on my bed. “I’m getting better, really I am. I’m not as terrified as I was and I know I’m smiling more.”
“I think it’s time to tell Mom and Dad.”
“No!” I shout, almost lunging at her. “We can’t say a word. It’s been way too long, and besides.” I shrug as I tilt my head and focus on my phone. “I have no proof. I don’t want them to know.”
“I promised you I wouldn’t say anything, and I won’t. But maybe you need help to figure out how to deal with these emotions you’re having.”
Looking at Sam, her face is encouraging and loving. However the depths of her eyes show pity and sorrow. “We all have a war to fight and conquer. This is mine.”
“But you don’t need to fight it alone.”
“I’m not fighting it alone. I have you.”
Sam’s shoulders slump, and her face falls. “You’ll always have me, no matter what.”
The air in the room thickens as I kick myself for bringing Sam down from her high. “Hey, let’s go on that double date,” I say attempting to lift the mood again. Sam smiles at me, but the happiness is a façade only. She’s still concerned for me.
“Yeah?” she asks.
“Yeah. Do you want to call Taylor, see when he’s free?”
“I’m all over it.” She jumps off my bed and runs out of my room. Within seconds she’s back with her phone.
I send Reece a message saying:
Hey. Movies sound G8. When?
Immediately I get a text back:
WUD 2NITE?
“He says he can come any night this week, but not during the days,” Sam says while her head is down, still texting Taylor.
“Reece asked what I’m doing tonight.”
Sam looks up at me with a smile. The glimmer in her eyes makes me happy, I like seeing her excited to hang out with me. “Mom,” she calls and runs out of my room. She’s gone to ask Mom, so I send a text back to Reece:
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