Chapter Two
"I'm sorry? But who in their right mind would want to be called a snitch?" Skylar said. Jade didn't seem anything but an angry girlfriend eyeing Skylar with jealousy. At least that's what it seemed like to her.
"You don't understand." Said Karla. "Jade is a fucking bitch and if you make her angry she'll go out of her way to make your whole life a misery."
"It's true," Cassia said, on a serious note, "everyone here has already been added to her book and people who've been with her since first year aren't here anymore for good reason."
"What book?" Skylar asked.
"She calls it 'The Adee journal'," Karla said.
"Adee is short for Adequate," Cassia said.
"But Jade isn't your typical mean queen of the school, some people just never see it coming since she seems so innocent." Said Karla, "She will go after your secrets and if it is dark or deep then she'll add you to the top of her list in her special book. But that's not the worst part, she will tell the whole world about your secret and you won't even be able to run away from her."
"We're talking about the whole school, social media and connections she has with other people in the country," Cassia said while pointing them out on her fingers.
"But why?" Skylar asked.
"Cos' she's obsessed with ruining people's lives," Karla said dishearted. "People have killed themselves for what she's done."
The pit of Skylar's empty stomach jerked, she felt like she was about to gag and a pool of blood filled the space of her mind, it was so wide and brimmed, she had forgotten how to think.
"That's…" Skylar began, she tried to be in two places at once: active in the conversation and in out of space. "That's awful…"
"Yeah…" Cassia said.
"So, if you have any secrets… then, you're gonna be in a lot of trouble," Karla said.
"No. I've got nothing to hide." Skylar lied, "But I'll make sure to stay away from her as you said."
"That means no Rhyder. He's in a relationship with Jade and if she sees you hitting on him she ain't gonna have it." Said Cassia as she smiled with a deceitful smirk.
"I don't care about him," Skylar said, "I just need to sleep. I'm tired."
And indeed, Karla and Cassia could hear the lassitude from her voice. Karla got up and said goodbye but Cassia hung around to clear the floor from all her dirty laundry. After she was done, she told Skylar that she was going to head down for dinner, asking if she wanted to come, but Skylar refused.
Everything was now peaceful and quiet, except for the pattering of the rain hitting against the window. Skylar found her pouch of medicine and took a couple of pills from each bottle. She was able to swallow it whole, with very little water. Skylar lied down on her bed hoping to fall asleep sooner than to lay awake with her demons.
Skylar had an awful dream which seemed to suck away most of her sleep when she woke she felt more tired after sleeping for eight hours. She couldn't remember much of the dream except screaming and loud bangs was echoing inside her head, pounding in her skull. Her head felt nonexistent as if she was a floating balloon, but she continued getting ready for her first day of school.
She had breakfast and Cassia ushered her to Sector A. Cassia asked a teacher concerning Skylar's new class and a nice male teacher with brown hair and a trimmed goatee led her into his classroom. The door was labelled Class 1-B.
"Sorry, I'm in class 1-A," Cassia said, Skylar waved her farewell and stepped into her new classroom.
"Hello, class." The teacher said to the class. "We have a new student here with us, her name is Skylar and since she's a bit late for the school year, I hope you guys will be able to help her catch up." He then turned to Skylar, "There's a seat at the back."
Skylar's eyes immediately caught Rhyder's, he sat next to an empty seat in the middle row at the back. Unfortunately, right in front of him was Jade, she was playing around with her phone but she had just noticed that Jade was a bit too smiley.
Skylar sat down next to Rhyder who smiled and said, "Hey."
"Hey," Skylar said with a feeble smile. But tried to avert her gaze at him and to concentrate more on the class, otherwise, she wouldn't get her eyes off him.
"Take out your Grammar and comprehensive workbooks and turn to page seventy-two." The teacher said.
Skylar raised her hand sheepishly when she realised she hadn't yet received any of her books. However, the teacher didn't seem to notice her raised hand and her small yelps of 'Excuse me, sir?' With less regard to a couple of students turning their heads to her.
"What's wrong?" Rhyder asked quietly.
"I don't have my books yet." She replied.
Rhyder was going to say something before someone had their hand raised and spoke with such confidence Skylar never sought she could muster.
"Mr Norris?" Jade said, gaining the attention of everyone in the room… almost everyone.
"Yes, Middleton?" Mr Norris said.
"The new girl doesn't seem to have her books with her," Jade said kindly, though Skylar sensed that she was ridiculing her. "Should one of us share our book with her?"
Skylar had a bad feeling that Jade was manipulating the whole situation for her advantage: to find Skylar's secret.
"Of course, Skylar, why don't you shift your desk with Rhyder's and share his book?"
Skylar was surprised by what he suggested, it seemed like a very bad idea, not because Jade was smiling delightedly at her and that it seemed like she was carving up a plan. However, Skylar abided while the teacher wrote quotes on the board and read from the book aloud.
Rhyder placed the book in between them, Skylar found it easier sitting next to Rhyder, not only to read the text and understanding the lesson but it helped her resist the urge to glance at his face because every time she did so, her eyes downcast and her chest would give off a strange rumble forcing her to control herself. His aroma was very attractive and it made her want to get close to him more. The tinglings and the thoughts made her feel uncomfortable with herself.
She made the chance to glance around at the class. Some of the boys would mess around and be unfocused with the lesson; the girls, however, were daydreaming or writing down notes. One boy, in particular, was very distant from everyone. He sat in an odd position, he was sitting on his feet, his knees up, leaning on his table and his arms were stretched lazily on top of them. He gazed out of the window, occasionally he would point at it and drift his finger, following a raindrop.
Skylar's first impression of him was that he was unique, he appeared to be someone out of the crowd or the odd-one-out. Rhyder noticed Skylar's frequent glances at the boy by the window.
"What are you looking at?" He whispered.
"Um, nothing." Skylar said, "Just wondered who that guy is."
"You don't wanna know." He scoffed.
"Alright then," Skylar replied coldly and returned her attention to the board.
There was a very long pause between them and it lasted till the period was over. Skylar dragged her desk back in its original position.
"What are you doing?" Rhyder said, "You're gonna have to sit with me so I can share my book with you, right?"
"We have a free period," Skylar said.
She thought it best to be blunt and straight to the point or else her emotions were going to get in the way of everything she worked hard to block out. The boy who had been doing absolutely nothing exited the classroom, his black cap shadowed his face. The people stepped away in fear as he passed like he was a king they had to bow down to.
"Curious, aren't you?" It was Jade, she had approached Skylar's desk now and there was a lust of interest in her eyes. "He's my ex, best not to mess with him, he's a part of a fierce gang but he got himself into a lot of trouble last year and he's stuck here, no longer doing any gangster shit," Jade said.
"What's his name?" Skylar asked, confused why Jade told her his story without the mention of his name.
"It's best not to say it without permission. We can't tell you if he won't. Simple as that. They all fear him, he was a pretty good boyfriend but…"
"You have me." Rhyder kissed her on the cheek, his arm wrapped over her shoulder.
"You're the best, babe." And she returned the kiss.
Skylar felt like she was being flattened by their adoration of each other, that she stood up and left the classroom. The rest of the school day went down normally, she replied to Rhyder's questions with blunt answers to avoid him. It was during the chemistry period when Rhyder spoke once more…
"Hey, I couldn't help but notice that you don't really like Jade." He said.
"Oh, so you noticed?" Skylar retorted. Luckily, Jade was no longer in earshot as she needed to use the restroom.
"I'm guessing you've heard things about her- about The Snitch- but despite all that, she really is a lovely person."
Skylar rolled her eyes.
"She's nice," He continued, "and she wouldn't hurt anyone. She's sweet and confident. It's best if you get to know her first before letting other people's opinions cloud your judgement."
"Unless you're daft enough to not see through her or stupidly ignore anything that she's done then you're the one I have to feel sorry for."
"I know what she's done," He murmured, "more than anyone. But that doesn't define who she is."
"She's a snitch, that's all I know and I won't be stupid enough to be anywhere near her." Skylar crossed her arms and looked away.
She couldn't believe him, 'What does he see in someone like her? He has no class or taste in good women.' She thought.
It was now lunchtime and Skylar couldn't wait to hang out with Karla and Cassia. She got the privilege of being introduced to some of Karla's friends, they were all very sweet and welcoming. They all sat at a table together. Skylar was starving, while everyone was eating snacks and hanging around during recess, Skylar remained in the classroom eating away the time while reading through some of Rhyder's notes.
The smell of roast beef filled her nostrils and she dived in for the food galore! She had a small plate of salad and pudding for dessert.
"So sorry you were in Jade's class." Said Karla who sat next to her, "Some people there are weirdos, you know."
"Yeah, noticed. There was this gangster guy there to--"
"What? You saw him!" Cassia said and another girl gasped, "Don't just call him that! If he hears then he won't hold back, doesn't matter if you're a girl."
"But he's a junior-" Skylar shrugged.
"So?" Said Emily Brown, the girl sitting next to Cassia. "Even seniors are scared of him!"
Skylar found it all a bit too overdramatic, the school already had a snitch, who allegedly caused someone to commit suicide and now a gangster maniac, who probably had been arrested before. What else next?
"Move." A harsh tone of voice commanded, but before Cassia could react she only managed to see the green snake-like eyes piercing through her. And before she knew it, she was thrown on the floor.
"Hey!" Skylar stood in defence but froze as she noticed Jade, holding her tray and being surrounded by her gang of stupid pretty girls.
Cassia's tray slid down and Jade slammed her's on the table in its place.
"Who the fuck do you think you are?" Karla said, sneering at her with hatred building up. She looked like she was going to burst.
"I would like a private convo with the new girl here." Her voice was like ice and her eyes gaping like knives. Everyone left the table deserted, Karla helped Cassia up on her feet and both of them left giving Skylar worried looks.
Skylar sat down, "What do you want?"
"Just to talk." She said, "I feel like you don't like me, well, you shouldn't." She smiled evilly. "I'm sure you've already heard that I'm The Snitch around here. Not every school has them, so it's best if you're clear on the rules."
"What are you really here for? My secrets? So that you can expose them to the world, why would anyone care who I am?"
"I do. I care about everyone in this room. The ones I care the most are the ones whose secrets I've kept locked away under lock and key. But for those whose secrets are leaked by me, are the ones who deserved it…" She uttered softly.
"Oh yeah? And not for your entertainment?" Skylar retorted.
Jade laughed half-heartedly, "No, of course not! Let's just say some people wanted me to do this, they encouraged me and now I've taken a step further."
"A step over the line, you mean."
"Of course, some people probably didn't deserve it but some did, people who are unforgivable-"
"And who are you to decide who deserves what?" Skylar yelled, people around were starting to take notice.
There was a small pause, Jade stirred the straw in her drink before taking a sip but never taking her eyes off Skylar as she thought of a counter-argument.
"Who gets to decide who dies or not? Some may say God or death. But I would say, murderers. You see killers take away the person's life, they commit the act themselves and they would feel empowered to gain that kind of control over someone." Skylar felt a chill down her spine and goosebumps formed everywhere. "Let's say, 'A' killed 'B', 'B' would've been alive if 'A' hadn't killed him. Now, 'A' feels more in control because it is me who rids 'B's life. Do you understand? It's like they defied a phenomenon.
"Now, I don't commit murder. If I did, I wouldn't be here. But it's that power of control that thrives me. It pushes me forward. I have a list of dirty little secrets that I've collected since middle school. The top ten are called 'The bloody ten', the person at the top… fell. Horrible, what happened to her. But I see it this way, she got what she deserved."
"Yeah? Why's that?" Skylar's voice seemed shattered and broken.
Jade leaned in closer and whispered, "You wanna come in on a little secret…"
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