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ZACH
I waited for Bianca. According to Becca, she had a psych class today and Becca was kind enough to tell me where and when. If nothing else, I knew when to lay on the charm; Becca had been more than willing to give up what she knew.
I leaned up against the wall, my arms crossed over my chest, and tried not to flip out. If Bianca thought I was going to let this slide, she had another thing coming. My only concern was making sure it didn't get back to Emma.
I checked my watch. Her class would end any second. I tapped my foot as rage boiled up inside me. If Bianca had been a guy, I would have pummeled her into next week.
The door to her class opened and a few students filed out. Bianca soon followed, alone, just the way I wanted it. She didn't see me until I was walking alongside her.
She jumped when she saw me. "Oh, great, what do you want?" she muttered.
"We're going to talk."
"I have class." She sounded bored, like I was keeping her from doing her nails or something.
"I guess you'll have to miss it."
She stopped and faced me. I saw a scratch on her neck, mostly healed, but a reminder of what she'd done. She caught me looking at it and turned her head the other way.
"Look, I don't have to talk to you. I think you should leave me alone."
I stepped closer to her. If it intimidated her, I didn't give a shit. "We're talking." I motioned to an empty classroom, and she reluctantly went inside.
"You're not closing the door," she said. "You do that, and I bolt."
"Fine. We can talk with it open."
I stared at her and she stared back, her pale blue eyes refusing to give an inch. "If you don't get to the point, I'm out of here," she said.
I inhaled deeply. I hated her. "We had a deal."
"I didn't touch her."
My hands balled into fists. "Bianca, we're past lying."
"I don't know what happened to her, and I had nothing to do with it."
"Is that how this is going to go? You went too far, Bianca. I told you what the consequences would be. But if you want to play, I'm game. Just don't come crying to me later. You asked for it."
She chuckled. "I'm not scared of you."
Her confidence enraged me further. "You willing to risk it?" I asked, moving in closer. We were inches apart now, and she took a step back into one of the tables but caught herself before stumbling.
"You can cut the act. You'll never share that video. I know that and so do you."
So that was it all along? She thought I wouldn't make good on my threat? I smiled, which caught her off guard. The first crack in her foundation. "Yeah, I'm going to share it. And I'm going to do it right now. I'll even send you a copy if you want. And to your parents too. I'm sure they'd love to see it."
"You post that video and it hurts you just as much as it hurts me. And what about your precious girlfriend? You don't think she's going to know you're in it? That she won't recognize you?"
"Here's the thing. I'm the only one with a copy and I've edited it. Pretty simple these days. No one's going to know I was ever in it. And if I remember correctly, you're the star. The main attraction. Enjoy the fallout, Bianca."
I turned to leave and she ran after me, grabbing my arm. Her cold expression was replaced by wide-eyed fear. Desperation was ugly on her. "You wouldn't."
"You broke our deal," I seethed. "The only reason I came here is to give you one last chance, Bianca. And you know why? Because Emma wants me to forget about it. Call it even. Move on. But I can't do that because I have no idea what else you have planned. If I had my way, I'd ruin your fucking life! And what have you done since the moment I got here? You challenged me? Are you serious?"
"People think you've changed. You haven't changed a bit," she spat. "You're the same asshole you've always been."
"I guess you bring out the worst in me."
She swallowed hard. "I know what you've been up to. You're telling people that I beat her up. My friends are turning their backs on me. Everyone is turning their backs on me. That's because of you!"
I shook my head. "What are you talking about? I haven't told anyone. Don't you think they assumed it? Who else would hurt her? I guess Jake finally dumped your sorry ass?"
She started hyperventilating. "She's ruining my life. You are ruining my life," she said, pointing her finger at me.
Bianca went from bravado to all-out panic in less than a minute. She made me sick. "No, you ruined your life. What was it about Emma that threatened you so much? You had Jake, you got her kicked out of her apartment, nearly cost her the job she loved, what more did you need from her? A pound of fucking flesh?" My voice was rising now. I took a few steps back to regroup.
"I wanted—" she stopped. Whatever she was going to say, she clammed up. "I'm done with her, I promise." Her voice drifted to a whisper. "Please, don't share the video."
"How do I know I can trust you? You're not exactly a woman of your word."
"I'm done with her, okay! I'm done," she shrieked. "Do you want it in blood?"
She seemed to be losing it, but with Bianca, I couldn't know for sure. She was an aspiring actress. What a joke. "Let me make sure you understand this. If you call, text, contact Emma in anyway, I post the video. I won't give it a second thought. And I certainly won't give you any warning. I'll make sure to send a copy to all your friends and family. Your dad wants to be a judge, don't forget that. This video will end any chance of that."
She slumped down in one of the chairs and nodded. "I hate you," she said, her voice having lost its fight.
"I feel the same way about you."
"What is it about her?" she asked as I was leaving. "What is so fucking special about a small-town freak?"
I looked back at her, catching her wipe a single tear from her face. I didn't feel an ounce of sympathy. "You really want to know? I'll tell you. She's nothing like you."