Chapter 3

6th period. I was almost out of school. I couldn't wait to get out of this school.

Bzzz

Bzzz

Bzzz

It took me a minute to realize that it was my phone that was vibrating. I looked up at the teacher, making sure he wasn't looking my way, and then pulled out my phone.

It was a text from Michelle.

Finally!

With relief I opened the text, only for that relief to quickly fade away into panic.

From: BFF

Cassie it's an emergency. Meet me at my house as soon as you can. I really need your help.

It had to be bad. We never went to Michelle's house because of her parents. They were constantly fighting, and Michelle hated letting us see that. We would always meet up at someone else's house because of this.

I hurriedly finished my notes, anxious for the bell to ring already so I could leave. As soon as the bell rang I practically flew out of the classroom and ran to my locker. Only to be met with Chris, once again.

I looked at him in irritation, a smirk plastered on his face. If only I could slap that smirk right off of his face.

I walked past him, acting as if he didn't exist, and went straight to my locker. His smirk faltered slightly before he masked it and went back to normal.

"Hey Anders. You didn't forget about today, did you?" he asked. I just rolled my eyes and closed my locker, intent on getting away from him as quickly as possible.

"No Chris, I didn't forget. I have something else of more importance that I need to do though. I can't deal with whatever the hell this is right now. So, if you'll kindly move out of my way, I need to go."

I began to walk to the front doors of my school, so I could get to my car. Chris jogged up beside me, falling in step as he spoke.

"Woah, woah, woah. Where do you think you're going? We can't do this any other time. I made it clear that it needed to be today." he said, staring directly at me.

I rolled my eyes out of annoyance and picked up my pace, desperately hoping he would just drop it and let me leave. I made it to my car, opening the door, when he shut it. His face was completely serious, and I would be lying if I said it didn't frighten me a bit.

"As I said already Cassandra, I told you today and only today. So, if you walk away you're done for." he told me, his voice void of any emotion.

"It's not like I'm going to jump off the face of the Earth. Can we just do this tomorrow?" I pleaded, my irritation nearly getting the best of me.

"You can't just hold off what you need to do for a few minutes? I'm sure whatever the hell it is can wait long enough for you to save yourself, right Cassandra?" he said tauntingly. If only I could...

"A few minutes and that's it. No more, no less." I said firmly.

"You have my word milady." he said, adding a playful bow.

"Don't ever call me that again." I said, annoyance clear in my tone.

We began walking to the garden in the back of the school, so we would be out of sight of everyone else's incessant stares. Once we got there, I immediately turned to him and showed him I meant business. I didn't want to be there longer than what was needed.

"So, what did you want to say?" I asked immediately.

He was quiet for a couple minutes, seemingly debating what he wanted to say. After I realized he wouldn't talked I turned on my heel, ready to walk away when he grabbed my arm.

I yanked my arm out of his grasp and looked at him in frustration. I didn't have time for this. I needed to get to Michelle.

"Chris, spill it already. I don't have the time to just stand here and wait on you to speak."

"Alright, the conditions are simple. You know you're already nominated into the game. You must sleep with me by the end of the year or I'll tell everyone what you've been hiding from them. And trust me, I know what it is."

I stared at him in complete shock, at a loss for words.

"Of course, this has to be willingly. I won't force you to sleep with me. But you know the consequences if you don't. So, it's your choice Cassie." he continued. I could only stare at him in disbelief, still trying to process everything he told me. He couldn't be serious, could he?

Looking at his face was all I needed to answer my question.

"That hardly seems like I have much of a choice. It's basically blackmail asshole." I said, slowly becoming pissed off.

"Aww Cassie. Don't think of it as blackmail. It's more like encouragement." he said. I could see the amusement from my discomfort practically gleaming in his eyes.

"You're horrible. I should've known you'd do something so ridiculous." I said, holding back the unshedded tears that were building up. I refused to cry in front of him of all people.

I turned and ran to my car, needing to get away from him as quickly as possible. I heard his footsteps following me as he shouted my name, but I just kept going.

I reached my car and with relief I got in and locked my doors. Chris came up and began to shout at me through the window. Why is he pursuing me so much?

"Cassie, you have to agree to the terms. They aren't even that bad. You're overexaggerating."

"Overexaggerating? Screw you Chris." And with that I backed up out of the school parking lot and drove off, focusing on getting to Michelle as soon as possible.

What was his fascination with me? Why did he want me to be in that game so bad? WHY ME?

I quickly stopped thinking about Chris and sped up, anxious to check on Michelle.

About 10 minutes later, I pulled up to Michelle's house. It was eerily quiet and I feared the worst automatically.

No Cassie. Stop always assuming the worst.

But was it really that bad to think like that right now?

I didn't have much time to ponder these things when I heard a loud crash come from Michelle's house. It sounded like something broke.

Oh God.

I jumped out of my car and dashed to her door. I knocked once, but got no response. I tried again and to my dismay I still got no response. I was about to begin pounding when Michelle suddenly swung the door open. Seemingly shocked, she stood still for a few seconds before recognition flashed in her eyes and she grabbed me by the hand.

"We need to go." she said, her voice raspy as if she had been crying.

"Michelle what happened? Is everything ok- "

"Can we just go Cassie?!" she shouted at me, and I visibly flinched. She noticed this and looked at me apologetically.

Before I could respond, her parents appeared in the door way looking menacingly angry.

Michelle and I got into my car and locked the doors. I hurriedly put the keys into the ignition and sped off, but not before seeing the venom in her parent's eyes.

I was so dead.

We rode in silence and I felt anxious every time I looked over at her. She looked broken.

In an attempt to lighten her mood, I decided to make a suggestion.

"Do you want to head to my house and eat Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream and watch scary movies?" I asked, knowing these were her favorite things to do.

She looked over at me and gave me a small smile.

"Yeah...that would be nice."