Chapter 6

MEL (2009)

It’s been three days since Keller yelled at me at the party. I was running to the school swimming pool, which is quite far from the main campus.

It’s already quite late, all sports training has ended, and I doubt that anyone else is left on the territory.

Except me. And Keller, because twice a week this jerk swims in the school pool outside of school hours.

Actually, it's against the school rules, but obviously not when you're Shane Keller.

Logically, it’s time for me to calm down and forget about his hurtful words, but in reality everything is different, because over the past days, anger and indignation because of his act have only increased.

Hour after hour, I replayed in my head every word of his, his intonation, and came up with comebacks one sharper than the other. Now I'm furious and want to speak up!

Who is he to talk to me like that?!

When I reached the one-story building, I forcefully pulled on the side door and immediately found myself in a room with a pool. As I'd expect, there's no one here but Shane.

“Hey!” I shouted to get his attention. “Do you know what my problem is?”

Shane emerged, dusted himself off, and stared at me in bewilderment.

I was glad I took him by surprise.

“You are a freak! You are my problem!” I pointed my finger in his direction, standing at the edge of the rim. “Do you think everyone loves you? Do you consider yourself a fucking gift?” I don't usually swear, but this guy really got on my nerves. “Well, it's not like that! I don’t give a fuck about your friendships with everybody and your attitude! And if you even allow yourself to talk to me the way you did last Friday again, I will tell Ryan everything. And Shane,” I stepped dangerously close to the edge and glared at him, “If you don’t calm down, I will make sure that Ryan understands what an asshole you are and sends you to hell!”

And then I gave him the middle finger and left the same way I came.

When I left, I couldn’t stop smiling, and my body was shaking because of a huge amount of adrenaline.

I did it! I said everything I thought, and made him listen to me. And I wasn’t even scared of his eyes full of hate.

Now he knows that I am not a spineless worm and I can fight back.

But the closer I got to school, the more doubts came over me.

What if I overdid it? Crossed the line?

Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned Ray?

When I said that I would end his friendship with Ryan, his eyes blazed with such fire, as if he wanted to burn me with a look.

And I don’t even want this - I don’t want them to quarrel. Despite my dislike of Keller, I know that he and Ryan are best friends from nursery school.

I don't want to ruin this long friendship.

It's true, except if Shane doesn't back down, I'll be forced to do so. Ryan won't take it if he finds out how his friend treats me.

Before I left, I had to take my homework notebooks out from the locker. The school was empty when I went up to the second floor. After I took everything I needed, I returned the same way and approached the stairs the moment Keller came up it.

My first impulse is to hide, but I stop myself. Besides, it's too late. He noticed me and, judging by the look, he was furious.

Keller was already dressed in jeans and a sporty bomber jacket, and only his dark, wet hair indicateв that he has recently gone swimming. I have already lost my fuse and reserve of courage and I only hoped that the second round could be avoided.

However, hardly.

However, I tried to move past, but Shane's strong hand grabbed my forearm and squeezed it hard.

“Let’s talk a little,” He muttered and, without slowing down, dragged me along.

In order not to fall, I had to run.

“There's nothing more for us to talk about!” I was trying to free myself. I was scared in earnest, because I saw a genuine rage on his face.

“No, honey, we’ll talk,” He chuckled coldly, giving me an unkind look. “You don't think it's not fair - you had the opportunity to speak out. Now listen to me.”

He opened the door to the nearest classroom and pushed me inside with his hand out. I rubbed the place where he squeezed his fingers - it hurt. My arm will most likely be bruised by the morning..

Shane closed the door and then turned to me. He stared hard at me for long seconds.

I really pissed him off. But I must not show that I am afraid of him, otherwise the whole effect of my tirade in the pool will burst like a soap bubble.

I crossed my arms over my chest and lifted my head high - this was necessary not so much for bravado, as in order to look into his eyes - he is twenty centimeters taller than me, no less.

“You wanna talk? Then talk! Because I’m not a mind-reader.”

Shane didn't answer. Instead, he took a step forward, and without stopping, walked towards me until we were nose to nose close to each other. He even bent over for it. My legs were shaking, but somehow I managed not to back down.

“He just intimidates you. It's just intimidating."

Well, he succeeded.

“Are you afraid of me?” He grimaced, and his eyes lit up with smugness. “You are so scared that I can breathe your fear in.”

I swallowed, my palms were sweating desperately.

- I knew that fiery speech of yours was nothing more than a dummy. That's right, Wallace - be afraid. - He leaned even lower and whispered in my ear, - Be afraid, you little vanilla bitch. Because I can destroy you. I can turn your senior year into one big problem. Bet I can, Wallace? - He was amused by the genuine fear in my eyes. - No, you don't want to, right? Be smart, Wallace. Shane stepped back, but kept looking at me with his green, pitiless eyes. - Just be smart.