Chapter 3

Well, that was an unexpected bonus.

The portly security guard and his equally portly nephew, Arthur, followed me as I led them on a zigzag path behind the school buildings toward the woods.

We fanned out and crept into the dense trees with Arthur moving surprisingly lightly like a wild cat.

"He must've done this before." I thought.

Without my interference, things between Tinsley and Asher had clearly escalated.

Soon, he appeared in front of us with his pants off and impatiently rubbed his hands over Tinsley's gorgeous lace lingerie, while she was facing us. Her eyes went wide, and her entire body stiffened.

This was fun.

As the security guard roared and covered my eyes, a wicked smile spread across my face. The star-crossed lovers were about to have their day in court.

Tinsley was best at crying. Right on cue, tears streamed down her beautiful eyes like a summer downpour.

As she cried, so did I.

She pointed at me and yelled, "Gia, explain! Why are you doing this to harm me?"

"Oh, Tinsley," I said. "Why would I ever harm you? I'm your best friend!

"You always told me Asher's just a rich idiot and that you didn't like him at all. You've always said that you hated him for bringing up the fact that your mom's a bar hostess…"

"...Stop talking!" She tried to stop me.

Asher's and Arthur's expressions grew darker with every word we said.

Finally, Asher snapped, "I didn't harass Tinsley, and she came with me of her own free will! This is just a school crush at most, so why am I the only one taking the fall!"

I wiped my tears and bit my lip to keep myself from laughing out loud.

"Oh, look at your male lead, Tinsley. Look at all that manly responsibility."

When Arthur looked over at me, I asked, "If you didn't force her, why would she go to the woods with you when she hates you so much?"

Asher sneered. "Mind your own business, Gia. When have I ever forced her?"

I pointed at Tinsley and replied, "You bought her expensive lingerie and forced her to make out with you. Doesn't that count?"

Tinsley didn't have a dad. Her mom was a bar hostess, one before she was born, and she still was now. They lived in a cycle of mutual shame.

Every bra she'd ever worn through puberty, from her first to her third, had been a gift from me. But one day, she flicked the clasp on my bra and laughed at how old-fashioned mine was.

I never asked how Asher knew her size.

He arrogantly lifted his chin and snapped back, "Who said I bought those? Do you have proof?

"She's a slut, so maybe she begged some other guy to buy them.

"She's just as cheap as her bar hostess mom and comes crawling to me with a single snap of my fingers. Why would I even need to force her?"

Arthur had heard enough. He slapped Asher's face and told him to shut up, while Tinsley lowered her head and stared at her shoes, twisting her fingers in silence.

There it was again, the same old act.

Whenever things got messy, she went mute and acted as if I were her designated spokesperson. She probably had no idea how much trouble I could stir with my mouth.

"In that case, why is your backpack full of the same tampons Tinsley just used?"

Asher went pale. Something seemed to cross his mind, but he quickly spread his hands and scoffed. "What backpack? What are you talking about?"

"Excuse me."

A teenager suddenly appeared at the door, leaning against the frame and bent slightly over as he gasped for air. His pale face was flushed from intense running.

"Mr. Biggs, I found two backpacks near the woods," Henry said.