"I always knew there's more to her..."

"I can't believe she's back at it again"

I heard two girls not-so-discreetly say to each other as I passed them, their hateful tone obvious but I ignored everyone -mostly girls by the way-that sent me a smutty look and pretended to not hear their snarky comments with the headphones on my ears with nothing playing.

I guess it's out already, we're back to square one.

My fists clenched, and the raw urge to punch something or rather someone grew with each step down these cursed hallways.

Quickly, I threw every necessary book into my bag to avoid coming out into these hallways as long as possible.

"You didn't reply" the disappointed tone of the one person I expected to stand by me came from beside me but I chose to ignore her and continued what I was doing.

"Raven" I turned and glared at her hand that gripped my elbow preventing me from walking away and back at her, pinning her with my sharp stare.

"What?" I bit out, noting how she shuddered at my tone. Good.

"I texted and you di-"

"Reply you?" I scoffed. "What was I supposed to reply? 'Oh yeah, I totally forgive you for letting those clouted bitches embarrass me?'  If that's what you expected, I'm not sorry I didn't give a fuck about a stupid bland excuse of an apology you sent" she cringed again when I jerked my arm from her grip.

"I said I'm sorry" I scoffed again.

"Sorry? You're sorry? Look around you, can sorry replace the shit you let happen?" My arms flailed around at each gawking body, my eyes clouding with unshed tears.

How can sorry ever fix this?

"You know what, fuck this I'm out. When you decide on whose side you're on; mine or theirs then maybe just maybe I'd consider your apology"

Harsh? Maybe but c'mon it's not her who has to endure side comments when entering a room or simply passing by just because of a stupid rumor, it's ME again. What I don't just get is the point of all this. Let's face it, as untrue as the rumor is, that isn't something new to happen when he's slept with many girls so who were they to judge?

It's stupid.

They are all stupid to start a rumor just because he got me lunch just once.

Pft. What do I expect from immature adolescents?

I glared back at the group of girls staring at me, and smiled devilishly when they looked away embarrassed. Or maybe just another set of jealous stuck-up bitches.

Readjusting the strap of my backpack, I raised my chin and chose not to let anyone's stare or comment bring me down and instead let my mind wander to less depressing thoughts.

A ghost of a smile appeared on my lips upon remembering Saturday's activities; from the time at the movies to each goofy laugh we shared after, cramming our faces with ice cream.

Amazingly, they both were very welcoming and super friendly and I didn't feel somewhat of a third wheel even for a second. Between Kash's mischievously playful attitude assorted with her thousand and one pick-up lines which leave me wondering what makes up her Pinterest home page and Cora's caring yet grave demeanor. My heart warmed at the number of times she asked how I felt and even gave me her number whenever I wanted to talk.

Where have they been my whole life?

**

"I told you it wasn't a rumor at all"

"I still find it hard to believe he'd do it with her"

I shifted uncomfortably on the high stool. You'd think after 24 hours the rumor would die down. 'or maybe just a few more days' I internally comforted myself and glowered at the sheepish smile the two gossiping girls sent back at being caught.

Rolling my eyes, I turned my gaze to my imposing biobuddy who leaned against the table that had the aquariums and several textbooks splayed over it, going  through the written material given for the project.

This was bad, very bad. I couldn't be seen this close to him again too soon.

I tensely peered round the four walls of the biology lab and at everyone who had their heads down at their projects to even regard the presence of anyone else apart from who they were supposed to be working with even the two nosy girls from earlier on. Once again, paranoid for no reason.

"Are you just gonna stare and not do anything?" He teased, quirking a playful brow.

Playing along I flipped my hair, leaned against the table with my chin resting on my fisted palm and smiled cheekily. "Does Alan-I-know-every-goddamn-thing-cos-I'm-the-genius Scott need my help?" I teased back making him chuckle.

"So you agree to be the dummy?"

"Ouch" a voice mocked behind me followed by a set of an annoying giggles.

Sighing in exasperation, I looked up and prayed to God to save some bitches from my slowly growing wrath.

"Oh, it's funny huh?" I asked after turning to face them.

"Yeah it is, especially when the insult is directed at you, dummy" the one with glasses between the two girls sassed, quirking a brow in a challenge and who was I to back down from one?

Reciprocating her fake smile, I mentally accepted and turned forward.

Twirling a pencil between my fingers, I smirked devilishly as a sinister plan gradually developed. Little miss chatterbox has no idea what's coming her way.

**

I looked left, right, and left again but the dead silence of the empty hallways greeted me back. Pulling out the hairpin from my pocket, I bent over to stick it into the keyhole.

A small smile took over my lips upon hearing the gentle click of the door finally giving in. I gently placed the pin back into my pocket. Returning to a vertical base, I looked left and right again before slowly opening the door which was locked to prevent unnecessary entrance since most of the class's projects were left behind to prevent sabotage.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not about to sabotage someone's work. Okay well, maybe a little but I'd like to consider this more of an act of vengeance, payback even.

Softly shutting the door, I leaned against it and took a deep breath, letting my eyes browse the empty lab dimly lit by the rays of the setting sun that barely seeped through the white curtains.

Colour me delighted when they finally landed on the medium-sized transparent jar standing out like a sore thumb amongst the arranged papers and books on Mr Rob's table.

For some reason, a set of students accidentally or not, I do not know bought poisonous frogs which were now the main characters in my little scheme.

I cautiously emptied the jar of toxic little frogs into the aquarium I had carried in which was filled with several leaves and plants to make it less noticeable.

Looking down at the aquarium whose plastic lid had several initials written on the piece of paper taped to it followed by a DO NOT TOUCH and replaced the plastic aquarium with the similar one I had.

Too bad cos touch I shall.

I know that you're wondering why I'm about to subvert the hard work of a poor girl just for a stupid dig. When it's put like that, then I may feel guilty but c'mon it's Nina Simone we're talking about. The Nina Simone aka my Mexican nightmare aka the girl that broke my pinky finger when she pushed me over and jumped on it during gym aka the same Nina that stole my science fair project in freshman year and accused me of stealing it from her and actually getting me a month detention aka little miss chatterbox. Yes, that Nina Simone.

What I'm doing actually pales in comparison to what she has done or what she could even do. It's time to settle this itty-bitty vendetta we have going on and if this goes as well as it was in my head then maybe I'd be venerable that is if she finds out, but I highly doubt that.

We'll just have to wait and see.

*rubs palms together and chuckles evilly*

Look who isn't a good girl after all.

Hehe

Xoxo Ruth