𝚂𝙲𝙰𝚁𝙻𝙴𝚃:

I grunt as I hit my head against a tree. Little stars burst into view, but I managed to use the trunk to support myself to get up. Only to be held at a chokehold against it. To a person looking at us from a distance, this scene would look romantic. Boy pushing girl against a tree. But it wasn't anything close to romance. 

For one thing, we were both coated in blood. 

And for another, I hardly think it's ok to make out with my brother. 

"WHAT DID YOU DO WITH THE MONEY, SCARLET?"

I struggled in my brother's grasp, but he was 5 years elder and had a body build of a wrestler. 

"You need to let me go if you want an answer," I gasped, desperate for air to reach my lungs. The world had started to fade in and out. The only upside to this was that I couldn't see my brother's heavily scared, ugly face properly. 

John dropped me to the ground. 

Dark red hair, to the point where it was nearly black fell across my face. I live up to my name, I guess. I coughed and wheezed, clutching my chest as air painfully hit my lungs. Azure eyes identical to mine peered down at me. My brother stepped closer. 

"Do not," he said quietly, "make me ask again."

This scared me more than the yelling, mainly because it seemed as if my brother only had one volume; loud.

"I--" I hesitated. I did a stupid, stupid thing but I don't regret it. "I-I gave it to help mom."

John gave a muttered a curse. Glaring at me, he shook his head. 

"Why, Scarlet," he growled, "are you putting your life on the line for that old crone?"

I scowled up at him. "Don't talk about mom like that."

"She was never able to take care of us."

"She loves us."

We were in a standoff. 

John scoffed. Then turned and walked away from me, "same time, same place."

I grit my teeth and reached for my bag. At least he didn't rip my homework like last time. College is the only chance I have to leave this dump. I painfully got to my feet and made my way to school. 

I stuff my hands in my pocket as I felt eyes on me when I entered school grounds. I knew how I must look, with a cut near my eye and multiple bruises on any visible skin. But John had looked worse, I felt a spiteful pride at giving him that black eye. And if I had my gun, then--

I smile to myself at the prospect of what I'd do to him. 

I still cringed away from the multiple pairs of eyes. Contrary to popular belief I hate the attention I get. I feel trapped under the gazes of the stupid teenagers who probably don't know what 3 x 2 is. It's the usual mix of stares; respectful, awe-inspired, wary, and scared. As I pushed open the doors to go find my locker, I see a guy with brown hair and clear green eyes looking at me as if I was a piece of gum he had found on the bottom of his shoes. I scowled. I wasn't in the mood to deal with a rich brat, so I sent him glare. 

He looked taken-aback, but glared right back through the black frames of his glasses. 

I pushed passed him and slammed open my locker. I should go to the nurse's but I don't want to deal with that bitch's nosy questions. I head for AP English, we were reading Frankenstein by Mary Shelly, which is more interesting than people give it credit for. 

"Alright students," Mr. Wilson said, clapping his hands together, "come on up and leave last nights homework on my desk. You have this class to work on your oral presentations for Frankenstein."

I force myself out of my chair. It's first period and I'm already tired. 

---

"Hello Anderson."

I roll my eyes. Not this asshole again. 

"Learn how to take a fucking hint, Aaron." I slammed my locket shut for the third time today. I swear, it's a miracle it has no dents. "Don't you have a damn boyfriend?"

Aaron shrugged. "Yeah, so?"

"So? Are you pretending to be gay? How sick are you?"

"I'm not gay. Bisexuality is a thing, y'know."

Fair. 

I turned to face him, "bisexual or not, I am not helping you cheat on your boyfriend."

"Oh come on," he groaned. "Look Tommy wants to wait until he's eighteen to "be intimate" with me." He made air quotes, "It's just sex, Anderson, no strings attached."

"No. I wouldn't fuck you for a million dollars."

He barked out a laughed. "Of course a slut like you would fuck for money."

I stiffened. Then relaxed my body, "say that again. Actually, you know what, don't bother." I kneed him in the crotch, he groaned. 

"You're a bitch," he spat.

"Yeah, I am." I said, heading to the library for lunch. Better to go there then spend it in the lunchroom where I will be bombarded with questions like--

"Scarlet!"

I jinxed it didn't I?

A Vietnamese girl came skipping up to me, a concerned look on her face. "Are you alright after your--" she leaned in, "fight."

"Yeah, I am?" I eyed her, confused. I had never seen this girl in my life. 

"Oh, are you sure?" she simpered, "do you need the nurse's office?"

"I'm-er--fine." Not that it's any of you business. "You should head to lunch."

"Oh, but aren't you-"

"Bye!"

 I as soon as I threw myself on a bench, I heard my phone buzz.

John: Call me. Now.

John: I don't care where u are.

I swallowed a groan. But if I don't put myself through torture now, I'd regret it. I pressed call. 

He picked up on the second ring. 

"What do you want?" I mumble, looking around to see if anyone was watching.

"We need Terry dead."

"Terry?" The librarian sent me a glare and John hissed at me to shut up. I lowered my volume. "Why? Isn't he your best mate?"

"Not anymore, betrayed us." 

"Well, I never would have guessed." Sarcasm dripped off every syllable.

"I don't need this right now, Scarlet."

"I don't care!" I ignored the glares from the librarian. "I told you that he was too sketchy, that he couldn't be trusted, but I was "just a kid" in your insignificant opinion."

"Listen, I need to figure how to get the 70K he lost back, so I'll--"

"70K?!!" I jumped up "Are you serious?! I warned you--"

"Scarlet, shut up-"

"Oh, I'm sorry were you busy making a best friends with your enemy?"

"SHUT UP. Look, I made a stupid mistake, but I need him dead and I need you to kill him."

"Oh, hell no. I am not cleaning up after you. This is your fucking mess--"

I felt the phone being snatched from me and heard the dial tone. "What the--"

"This is a library. Stop screaming for Christ's sake."

I looked at the guy about to die. It was Mr. glares-a-lot from this morning. I already hated him