Do It Or Else: A High School Bully Romance (Dirty Little Secret Book 3)

by Kai Juniper

  "I don't know if that's enough proof to say it's her. Maybe I should try to talk to her again. I need to ask better questions to get her to tell me stuff."

  "What are you going to ask her?"

  "I'm not sure yet. I'll figure it out."

  His phone dings. We both look at each other like we're thinking the same thing. It's another text with another demand. I don't know why we're both thinking that. Briggs is constantly getting texts, but it's like we could feel this one was different.

  He looks at his phone and reads it. "It's definitely her."

  "Why? What's it say?"

  He shows me the text, which reads, Greetings, boys. Have you missed me? I hope by now you've realized your futures are in my hands. Two of you don't seem to care. One does. There's still a chance to save yourselves but only if all three of you cooperate. Your assignment? To defend someone you usually pick on. Do it at school today. Or else.

  "It has to be her," Briggs says.

  "It does sound like something she'd do, but I can't imagine her not turning us in, even if you did as she asked. She's not going to let us get away with killing a guy."

  "The guy raped women. Maybe she thinks he deserved to be killed."

  "I don't think she thinks that way, but I could be wrong."

  Briggs looks at his phone. "Shit, I don't have much time left. I need to go finish this paper."

  "Yeah, go." I give him a kiss.

  He takes off, running up the hill with speed and perfect form. I've never had a thing for athletes until I started hanging out with Briggs. I'm actually looking forward to seeing his game tonight.

  When I'm back in the building, I walk down to Ms. Higgins' classroom and see her at her desk, reading something on her tablet.

  "Ms. Higgins?" I walk up to her.

  "Ella." She smiles. "Did you need something?"

  "Yeah, do you have a minute?"

  "Of course." She sets her tablet down.

  I pull up a chair and sit down across from her. "I need you to keep this between us. I don't want people knowing. I wouldn't even be talking about it, but I need some advice and I thought you'd be able to help."

  Her brows draw together. "Ella, are you sure you don't want to talk to the school counselor about this?"

  "No. I'd rather talk to you."

  She nods. "Go ahead."

  I sigh. "I think you probably know that I'm kind of an outcast here at school."

  "Ella, don't say that," she says, frowning. "You're not an outcast."

  "I am, and I'm actually okay with it. I don't need people to like me. That's not what this is about." I pause. "I need some advice on how to stop someone from bullying me. It's been going on for years and I need it to stop."

  "Who is it that's doing this to you?"

  How could she not know? The whole school knows Briggs bullies me, or that he used to.

  "I'd rather not say." I lean towards her, lowering my voice. "I've read all the advice online that says to just ignore the bully, but that doesn't work in real life. What I need, and what I'm asking for, is a way to get back at him."

  "So this is a boy?"

  "Yes."

  "Ella, if you're asking me for ways to get revenge on someone, I'm not the person to ask. I don't believe in violence as a way to solve your problems."

  "No, that's not what I meant. I don't want to hurt this person. I want to teach him a lesson. I want to teach him to show compassion for people instead of threatening them or making fun of them in front of the whole school. This isn't just for me, but all the people he picks on. Do you have any ideas?"

  "I'm sorry, but I really don't. I don't think bullies change unless they want to."

  That wasn't the answer I was hoping for.

  "I really think you should talk to the school counselor," she says. "He's handled situations like this in the past and would be better suited to giving you advice."

  "Yeah, okay," I say, getting up.

  "Is there anything else I can help you with?"

  "No. That was it."

  Her phone dings and she picks it up. "Oh, good!"

  "What?" I say.

  She looks up at me. "Oh, I was just reacting to a text I just got. My astronomy club is having an event tonight."

  "You're in an astronomy club?"

  "Yes. I joined a few months ago. I'm loving it so far. Tonight's event was going to be cancelled for weather, but their text just now said the weather forecast changed so we're back on."

  "What's the event?"

  "It's something we do twice a month. We meet at different locations with our telescopes and look at the stars. Everyone brings food to share. It's like a party. It's a great way to meet people."

  She's into astronomy, which means she could've been on the road that night, up on the hill where the person took the video.

  "Where does your astronomy club meet?" I ask.

  "Usually someplace outside of the city so we can get a better look at the stars."

  Outside of the city. Like on that road. But she would've been alone that night, not with a group.

  "Do you ever go out alone to do this? To look at the stars?"

  "Sometimes, although I prefer to go with a group." She glances at the clock on the wall. "It's almost time for class."

  "Yeah, well, thanks for the talk."

  "Anytime." She stands up. "Ella, I wouldn't let that boy bother you. You're a strong girl. You can handle him."

  "Thanks." I smile, then head out of the classroom. When I'm in the hall, I text Briggs. I talked to her. I think you might be right.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Ella

  At noon, I meet Briggs behind the building and tell him what Ms. Higgins said. We both agree it has to be her. She hates bullies, rich kids, and athletes, so it makes sense she'd want Briggs, Parker, and Finn to be punished. And she's into astronomy so it's entirely possible she was out there that night to look at the stars and ended up seeing the hit-and-run.

  "What are we going to do?" I ask Briggs.

  "Parker and I will do what she told us and see if that buys us more time."

  "What if it doesn't?"

  "We'll bargain with her. If it's Ms. Higgins, I'm guessing she's torn between turning us in and letting us go. She wants to punish us, but she probably also feels some guilt over turning us in and ruining our futures. I'm thinking that's why she's taking so long to go to the cops. Maybe she thinks these assignments she's giving us are a way of punishing us without having us go to jail."

  "That actually makes sense."

  He smiles. "And that surprises you? I thought by now you'd figured out I'm smarter than I look."

  "You are, but you're also really hot."

  He grabs me, pulling me against him. "We need to finish what we started at the park."

  "I thought you didn't want to."

  He kisses me, a deep passionate kiss that fires up that intense need from last night, a need I'm hoping he'll satisfy right here, right now.

  He pulls away. "I need to go."

  "Wait—when are we finishing this?"

  He just smiles and walks off.

  Why is he torturing me? Working me up and then leaving? That's so mean.

  When I'm back in the school, I walk by Ms. Higgins' classroom and hear her laughing. It's one of those nervous laughs you use with a guy when you really like him.

  "I'd love to," she says. "But I have my astronomy club meeting tonight."

  I stop and listen, not sure what I'm expecting to hear. It's not like she's going to admit she's the mystery texter.

  "Oh, Chuck," she says with that nervous laugh. "You say the funniest things." She pauses. "I'd love to go back there! That restaurant was wonderful." She pauses again. "Yes, I'll talk to you later."

  This morning I was sure Ms. Higgins was the person sending those texts, but as I thought about it more, I started doubting it. There has to be a way to find out.

  "Ella." Ms. Higgins sees me as she comes out of the classroom. "Did you nee
d something?"

  "Um, I was just going to ask you about the next assignment, but I didn't want to interrupt your phone call."

  "Oh, sorry," she says, sounding flustered. "I shouldn't be taking personal calls at work. So what was your question?"

  "Nothing. I figured it out." I smile. "Was that a guy you were talking to?"

  "It was. He's a principal at a middle school." She smiles, then looks down, seeming embarrassed. "Ella, I shouldn't be talking about this with you."

  "I only asked because you seem really happy."

  It's true. She does seem happy. Would a person who saw a hit-and-run and is sending threatening texts be happy? I'd think she'd be nervous and tense, not happy.

  "Do you go out with him on the weekends?" I ask.

  "We go out every Saturday night, sometimes Fridays too."

  The accident was on a Saturday night. If she was on a date, she wouldn't have been there to witness it.

  "How long have you dated him?" I ask.

  "It's been about a month, maybe longer. We started seeing each other right before the end of winter break, so however long that's been."

  "And you've been out with him every Saturday night?"

  "Yes." She tilts her head. "Ella, why are you so interested in this?"

  "I was just wondering. I hope it works out. See you at class!" I say as I walk off.

  It's not her. It can't be. She was on a date that night, and I'm guessing the date didn't involve sitting in the woods on a hill overlooking a dark, deserted road.

  It's not her, I text Briggs. I'll explain later.

  If it's not Ms. Higgins, who else could it be? Would it be another teacher? But who?

  The halls are filling up now that the lunch period is almost over. I go to my locker, and as I'm putting in my combination, I hear some girls cackling in a high-pitched voice. It sounds like Vanessa, one of Aubrey's friends. She's done some local commercials and thinks she's famous because she's on TV.

  "Oh my God, look at her face!" I hear Vanessa yell so everyone can hear.

  "It's about to pop!" I hear Aubrey say as she laughs.

  I turn back and see Charlotte trying to get through the crowded hallway, her hand covering her chin. Vanessa and Aubrey are on each side of her, keeping pace with her.

  "She should be on that reality show," Vanessa says.

  Aubrey gasps. "Totally! The one where the doctor—"

  "Leave me alone!" Charlotte says, hurrying down the hall, her face bright red. Vanessa and Aubrey intentionally made a scene and now everyone is staring at Charlotte.

  "Get away from her!" I shove people aside to get to Charlotte.

  "Aww," Aubrey says to Vanessa. "Looks like Charlotte's girlfriend is coming to save her. Do you think they still do it when her face looks like that?"

  "Leave her alone!" I yell at Aubrey.

  People in the hall stop, forming a wall around Charlotte so she can't get past.

  "Show them your face!” Vanessa says to Charlotte. "It's so disgusting."

  "What's going on here?" Briggs' deep, powerful voice cuts through the laughter and murmuring crowd.

  "Briggs, you have to see this," Aubrey says, pointing to Charlotte. "I didn't think she could get even uglier, but then this happened."

  Vanessa bursts out laughing.

  The crowd parts as Briggs, with his tall, muscular body, walks up to Charlotte.

  "Show him," Aubrey says to Charlotte. "Show him that giant crater on your face."

  Briggs' eyes shoot to Aubrey. "Shut the hell up!"

  Shock covers her face and her jaw drops. She's speechless, for the first time ever.

  The hallway is silent, everyone staring at Briggs.

  His eyes move back to Charlotte, who still has her hand covering her chin. "You don't have to show me."

  Charlotte glances at me beside her, like she doesn't know what to do. I give her a look to go along with it, knowing Briggs won't do anything to make it worse. This is his assignment, to stand up for someone he normally wouldn't.

  "Briggs, just let her show you," Vanessa says. "It's the biggest fucking zit you've ever seen. Like, seriously, it's huge."

  Briggs puts his hand on Charlotte's shoulder and leans down to her. "Ignore her. Ignore all of them. There's nothing wrong with your face. We all get zits."

  "I don't!" Aubrey says, shoving me aside to get to Briggs. "Just look at it. I swear you've never seen anything like it."

  Briggs glances at me, then back at Aubrey. "Did you just shove her?" he asks, pointing at me.

  Aubrey shrugs. "I don't know. Maybe. Who cares? It's Trailer Girl. Charlotte's lesbian lover.” She laughs and Vanessa joins in, then some other people start laughing.

  "You think this is funny?" Briggs yells, quieting the crowd. "Would any of you like to be in Charlotte's place right now, having everyone fucking laugh at you?"

  Nobody responds.

  "Yeah, I didn't think so." He looks at Aubrey. "You want to know how it feels to be humiliated?"

  She's too shocked to answer.

  "Okay, here we go," he says. "You're a fucking bitch with no personality who's boring as shit. The only reason you're popular is because of me. Because you dated me. How's that feel? Does it feel good?"

  "You asshole!" She smacks his arm, which doesn't even make him flinch.

  "As for you," he says to Vanessa, "hanging out with Aubrey, and acting like her, isn't going to make you her friend. She doesn't even like you. She only lets you be in her presence because you do whatever she tells you."

  Vanessa looks at Aubrey. "Is that true?"

  "No! He's just being an ass."

  "Does she still make you stop and get her coffee every morning before school?" Briggs asks Vanessa.

  "Yes, but—”

  "Stop getting her coffee and see if you're still friends."

  "I'm not listening to his!" Aubrey huffs. "Let's go, Vanessa."

  Vanessa follows Aubrey as she makes her way through the crowded hallway.

  "Show's over," Briggs says to the crowd, then he looks at Charlotte. "You okay?"

  She nods.

  "C'mon, Charlotte." I grab her arm and lead her through the hall to the door, taking her outside. "What happened?"

  She slowly lowers her hand. There's a massive zit on her chin, big and red and oozing with pus. It's the worst zit I've even seen, and I've had some really bad ones.

  "It showed up last night," she says, "and it keeps getting worse."

  I shrug. "It's not that bad."

  "Ella!" She hits my shoulder.

  "Okay, it's bad, but it'll get better. Did you put anything on it?"

  "I tried everything. Every zit cream I had, even the prescription kind. Then I tried an ice pack, which did nothing. Then this morning before school I went online and tried all these home remedies but everything I try just makes it worse."

  "I guess you just have to give it time to go away."

  "And deal with THAT?" She points to the school.

  "I don't think people will say anything after seeing Briggs' performance just now."

  "Yeah, what was that about? Why'd he stand up for me?"

  "I don't know. I guess he was just being nice."

  "Are you and him back together?"

  "Um, kind of. I'm not sure."

  I didn't tell her what's been going on with Briggs and me. I didn't want to jinx it. Things are good between us right now and I don't want it to change.

  "Let's go back inside," I say.

  "I don't think I can. I'm too embarrassed."

  "You have any makeup in your bag?"

  "No, but there's some in my car."

  "C'mon." I head to her car.

  "Ella, it's not going to work," she says, following after me. "I already tried."

  "We're going to try again."

  We go in her car and I try my best to cover the zit with concealer, but then more oil seeps out of it, causing the makeup to run off. She's just going to have to deal with it, but at least nobody will m
ake fun of her. If they do, they'll have to deal with Briggs.

  I'm really proud of him for doing that. I know he only did it because he had to, but he could've picked someone else to stand up for, and done it when there were fewer people around. Practically the whole school saw what happened with Charlotte, and I could tell Briggs wasn't just playing along to get the assignment done. He showed real compassion for Charlotte. It wasn't an act. He genuinely wanted to help her.

  That's the Briggs I keep falling for. The Briggs I think I might love.

  After school, I go home and jump when I see someone in the kitchen. It's Susan. She's standing by the sink, chopping carrots.

  "Ella, did I startle you?"

  "Yeah." I put my hand on my chest as I try to catch my breath. "I thought you were a burglar."

  She smiles. "Sorry. I should've said something when you came in. I thought your father would've told you I'd be here today. He must've forgot." She puts the carrots in a pot on the stove. "I had a break at work so I offered to come over and make dinner." She looks at me. "I hope it's okay. I don't want to make you uncomfortable."

  "I don't care if you make dinner. It's just strange to see someone actually cooking something in the kitchen. Dad and I usually order in or just heat stuff in the microwave."

  Having her here does make me uncomfortable, but I don't want to tell her that. This is something my dad should've talked to me about, before she showed up here. I don't mind her coming over, but cooking in our kitchen, like my mom used to do? I'm not sure I'm ready for that.

  "What are you making?" I ask.

  "Pot roast with carrots and potatoes. I was going to toss the potatoes in with the..."

  I stop listening when I see the photos are gone. The bookcase that used to have shelves full of photos now only has one shelf with photos of me. The ones with my mom are gone. My dad took them down. Did Susan tell him to do that, or did he do it on his own?

  "Ella?"

  "What?" I look back at Susan.

  She smiles. "Which did you want? Oven potatoes or mashed potatoes?"

  "Um, mashed. I need to go study." I grab my backpack and go in my room and shut the door.

  I like Susan, but I'm not ready for this. Just a few months ago my dad wasn't even dating and now his new girlfriend is practically moving in.