I couldn't believe we were going to do this. As I walked into the school, whispers and giggles floated around me, nearly strangling me. Joel stayed close to my side. Cleo and Leo weren't yet at school and Vivi was off posting the note, so I didn't have them for additional support.

My stomach was jumbled with knots as I walked towards my locker. Yet, excitement also flooded through me. This could be the end. Luca was going to get what he deserved, right?

Joel opened his mouth to speak, but I already knew what his question would have been.

"Don't worry, I'm fine."

He seemed to scrutinize me, his eyes scanning up and down my shorter frame. Finally, he sighed and let it go. I wasn't sure if he believed me or was too groggy to argue. Either way worked for me.

Joel had to walk to his own locker, which was not in the same area as mine. So, I feigned a smile and waved him off, yanking open my locker and exchanging my books and belongings.

As I was about to close my locker and head to class, it was slammed shut for me. For a minute, I stood still, listening for the chatter of voices or anything to signal witnesses were around.

Nothing. The hallway was so silent my own breaths nearly echoed off the walls and tile.

"Hey, Connie," a familiar voice sneered, causing a chill to rush down my spine. I was frozen by both shock and fear, my heart racing faster  than a race car could. I hoped I would never have to hear that voice again.

But, then, something in me snapped. I wouldn't be controlled by him any longer. "What do you want?" I hissed, whirling around to face my ex boyfriend. He was, sadly, handsome as ever, but maybe not as much as Joel. At least, Joel surpassed him in personality by a long shot.

"I just, you know, wanted to come by and see how you were doing."

I found myself laughing. "Yeah, that's cool. I'm good, peace out." Anger coursed through me so much that my body started to shake.

His fingers snaked around my arm and yanked me back, pinning me against the locker. His foul breath infiltrated my senses and I felt like gagging.

"Oh, so you think you can just walk away from the mess you've created, huh?"

"Where's Christie? Does she know you're here?" I felt like taking a bold step. I mean, what was the most this dirtbag could do to me?

He shoved me harder against the lockers, the metal digging into my flesh.  "Don't even mention her. Not after everything you've done to us."

"You know," I seethed, buried anger rising to the surface, "I've moved away from you! I've no contact! What else could I possibly do to please you?"

He stepped away for a second, but stayed close enough that he could restrain me from running off. He tapped his chin in mock thought and proceeded to roll his eyes. "I don't know. Maybe you could stop pestering my buddy Luca and his girlfriend. You bring trouble everywhere you go, don't you? Actually, why don't you just die. Yeah, that's what it would take to please me."

"Well, I'm terribly sorry, but I'm no longer here to please you."

His expression shifted from agitated to livid. "Listen here. I don't care if you want to please me or not. But, as long as I'm here, you're not going to get away with your schemes anymore."

"If you want the 101 on schemes, ask Luca," I spat, spit actually landing on his nose. "Otherwise, go home. You have no business being here. I have people that actually support me now. I'm happy here, and I'm so sorry if you're not."

He attempted to punch me right on the side of my cheek, but I ducked just in time. I was ready. Then, I tried to crawl around him, but he lifted me back to my feet and pinned my arms against the lockers.

"There are witnesses here, you know," I shouted, trying to keep my voice from shaking. Honestly, he terrified me.

"I don't care."

Luca appeared behind him and my breath caught in my throat. Not because of Luca, but because of what Josh pulled out of his pocket and placed against my skull. A gun.

"What did I ever do to you, Josh?" I whispered.

"You existed. But, don't worry, you won't for much longer."

I wouldn't let him kill me. That wasn't how I was going to die. So, with a mixture of adrenaline and some help from God himself, I was able to knee him in his man parts while he was distracted by Luca.

The gun fired, but narrowly missed my shoulder. I screamed, then dove to the ground and snatched the gun. With my back now against the lockers, I shakily held the gun in front of me. I knew how to fire it, and I hoped I wouldn't have to.

Josh scoffed. "You wouldn't."

"I would, you prick!" I screamed, a single tear running down my face.

Luca held up his hands as I next pointed the gun in his direction. I could barely hold it steady. "Don't you move any closer, either of you, or I'll end this right here, right now!"

Josh scoffed. "Put the gun down, Connie!"

"No," I sobbed, tears now streaming down my face. "Finally, finally I have an advantage over both of you!"

"Connie!"

Through blurred vision, I could make out Cleo and Leo rushing towards me. By now, other people had come out to see what was going on.

"Help! She's gone crazy!" Luca cried.

"Connie, don't shoot him!" Cheyenne screamed. "What the hell!"

I could make our Joel's voice from the chaos of noise. "Just breath, Connie. It's going to be okay."

I slightly smiled.

"Ima kick your ass if she doesn't, Luca!" Vivi exclaimed. I found myself chuckling despite the situation.

"Connie, please!" Luca begged. "Do you all see what a monster she is?"

"No," some girl I remembered writing notes to yelled. "You're the monster!"

Another boy called out, "Kindness always wins, and Connie has the kinder heart."

"Yeah!"

"All those notes she wrote to help us out, and what did you ever do, Luca?"

"Everyone's just scared of you because of your dad!" Someone else added.

I sniffed, finding my grin growing wider with every statement that was added in my defense. No one, and I mean no one, came to his defense. In the end, not even Cheyenne.

"End this once and for all, Con!" Cheyenne called out to me.

Josh scoffed. "Do you guys even know that she killed someone? Do you guys even know who this girl is?"

"The past doesn't mater," Cleo spoke up, and all other shatter slowly died down. "It matters that she's been able to move on and you haven't. All you want is revenge."

A chorus of "yeah!" resonated through the hallway, and soon people were chanting my name and hurling obscenities at Luca and Josh, though most people didn't know who Josh was.

Leo nodded in affirmation. "Yeah. You like killing people, too. Just like you killed my brother."

Luca's gaze hardened. "My father will hear about this!" He didn't even try to lie anymore.

"Yeah, when you're on trail," I spat, lowering the gun.

"What, you're not gonna shoot me? Whimp," he scoffed.

"I'm just being the bigger person," I smirked, letting the gun clatter to the ground. It accidentally fired and hit Luca in the leg, but that was purely fate. My feeling was right; everything would be okay in the end. I couldn't help but smile up at heaven.

-----
I didn't plan on the climax being so early but I honestly felt like the stories was dragging out and this was time. But, don't worry, there is still more to come! I've had Josh's confrontation planned for so long and here it is!

If you haven't noticed, this book is supposed to be full of messages.

Dedicated to everyone who has supported this book from the beginning and to those who took the time to catch up and continuing reading! You guys all mean so much to me, every since reader! We're at 1.28k reads, 170 votes, and 1.3k comments! What the heck? Thank you!

QOTD: Would you have shot Luca?

-Sarah