by Erin Lee
That’s not happening. Even if I was sure we could get a conviction on these three princesses and the punk who killed my ‘boo,’ it wouldn’t be enough. They’d form some sort of princess clique like on that show Kathy and Lizzie used to watch on Netflix and probably start a panty-selling business. Fuck that. The only way to get true revenge for Liz is to give them exactly what they gave to her – humiliation. But this will be worse. An eye for an eye, right? Even the bible says so.
I don’t bother with Colby or the other princesses’ sites today. Instead, I do a background check and spend the afternoon scooping out Kelsey’s site. After hours of notes and forgetting to return Baby Girl’s typical impatient texts, the following is all I can surmise:
She’s insecure. No girl that age takes cleavage shots like that if they aren’t. And, I swear to God, if I see another Duck kissy face...
She puts on a tough girl front. She swears when it’s entirely unnecessary. She does it to look cool. She does it the most when she’s talking to Emery – the one she refers to as “The Queen.” And Emery eats it right up. Not for long.
This ‘boo’ is new and likely easy to untangle her from. He doesn’t do it for her but has the social status she needs. She’s more into herself than him – as evidenced by the way she makes sure she’s the star of every selfie she takes of them together. She likely keeps him around because Emery approves. I need to remember to check on this. Emery should hate this kid. He’s friends with Colby – the kid who started this and cheated on her with Lizzie.
Kelsey, too, has a Daddy complex. The stuffed animals are my cue. Maybe she doesn’t have a father at all. If she does, her old man doesn’t appear to be involved. All I can find for family is a mom and a little sister much younger than her. That won’t hurt. And the mother is hot. I could go in from that angle if the daddy approach doesn’t work. But it will. It always does. Look at Baby Girl.
On cue, the phone rings. I don’t have the heart not to pick it up. The poor woman gave me everything I asked for last night with not even the slightest of struggle.
“What’s up, babe?”
“Not much, Daddy. Just checking on you. How are you? How is your day?”
I hate when she does this. It’s like she has a sensor on my soul and can tell when I’m up to something. I wish she’d just stay occupied for a little longer while I figure things out. It’s not like I won’t get back to her. I always do. She’s my fucking unicorn.
“I’m good. Don’t worry about me. You know better.”
“Yes, sir.”
Fuck it. I’m not going to get off that easy. Not with Baby. Time for a smoke break anyway. “How are you?”
“I’m good, Daddy. Just chilling out today. Last night was a lot. I’m glad you got home okay.”
Shit. I forgot to check that she did. I’m a piece of shit Daddy no matter how you look at it. I should tell her to save herself and find someone who isn’t such a fuck up. But then... No. Fuck that. She’s mine. Not happening. ...Pull it together. I close my computer and stand, ignoring the pain that shoots down my back. I reach in my back pocket for smokes and a lighter and head to the front door. “Thanks, babe. You too. Sorry I didn’t text. My head’s still not right. I’m getting better though.”
“It’s okay. I understand. You’ve been through a lot. I just want you to know I’m here for you.”
“Little One, you never have to worry about that. I know where you stand. Thank you for being here. You’re my unicorn. I’ll get my shit together soon. I promise.”
“I’m not worried, Daddy. I’d wait for you forever. I love you.”
I wince. “Thanks, kiddo.” I light my cigarette as she proceeds to tell me her plans for the night and asks my permission to visit a girlfriend I’m sure she’s fucking on the side.
The sound of her voice calms me. It’s ironic, really. She talks so damn fast and can never stay on topic. With any other woman, this would annoy me. But with Baby, I don’t have many complaints. No matter what’s going on, she’s always happy; always seeing the silver lining to everything. Something about that gives me comfort – like, maybe, like she says, things will work out okay. The problem is, with Lizzie gone, even Baby can’t make that go away.
“Be on your best behavior. I want to hear all about it. And try to have fun, okay? I will be fine and you don’t need to text to say goodnight. Just shoot me a text to let me know you got home okay. I’m just going to go to bed early tonight. I have a ton of shit going on at work tomorrow and need to be at my best.”
“Are they still giving you shit?”
“Never ends.”
“I’m sorry, Daddy.”
“Not your fault. Stop worrying, you hear me? That’s Daddy’s job.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“That’s better. Good girl. Goodnight, kiddo.”
“Night, Daddy.”
I stand on the front porch of the duplex I’ve been renting since the divorce. I don’t mind it here, like I thought I would. It’s quiet. The neighbor next door is never really home. She spends weekends at her boyfriend’s house three states away and doesn’t bother me when she is around. The landlords are an older couple who never come around either. They are fine with me taking care of the property and mowing the lawn in exchange for a discount on the rent. Money is the last thing I want to think about and now I have to fork up more for lawyers. Maybe, I consider, I could offer to fix the roof and skip this month too.
Two cigarettes later, my thoughts drift back like they always do to Lizzie. Looking up at the sky, I can’t help but wonder if she can see the stars too. Fuck this. I stub the butt out on my jeans entirely unconcerned about the burn. Nothing can touch me like what these bitches and that kid have done to my heart. I barely feel it. I drop the smoke onto the chipped porch floor, turn, and walk back into the living room. No fucking more. It’s show time.
I begin with a fake email address, new social media accounts, and everything I can think of. If I want to get to Emery and her royal court, I have to reinvent myself. Sure, these bitches are stupid, but no one is dumb enough to forget the face of the man on the evening news flipping his shit about cyber bullying and getting his due. That’s going to be a problem too. But it’s not like I have that much to lose. God, I wish I could talk to Baby about this. I can’t. It’s my job to protect her ass, not make her an accomplice. And she has shit to lose – her future, her career, any hope for happiness. That just can’t happen. The best I can do with her is keep using her as a test subject. Then, when it’s time to pull the trigger, cut her loose. It’s in her best interest. She’s better off hating me than going with me to where I’m headed...
Erin Lee’s Released &
Upcoming Titles
(Multi-genre because it takes all kinds of crazy.)
Serial Killer/Crime
Just Things
(Diary of a Serial Killer Book 1)
Jimmie's Ice Cream
(Diary of a Serial Killer Book 2)
Thing Fifteen
(Diary of a Serial Killer Book 3)
Momma
(Prequel to Diary of a Serial Killer Series)
Psychological/Thriller
Alters (Lola, Party of Eight Book 1)
Host (Lola, Party of Eight Book 2)
Merge (Lola, Party of Eight Book 3)
99 Bottles
The Cell
Dare
Kept
Dangerous Games
Hangman
Twisted Things
Midnight Kiss
Horror
The Ranch
Moving On
The Cabin
Daddy’s Girl
Circus Freak
Smoe
The Haunt
Wendigo
Rotten
Soul Less
Vegan
When Darkness Whispers
Pawn Takes All
Escape Reality
Greener (Escape from Reality Series Book 3)
Apryl’s
Fools (Escape from Reality Series)
(Circus Freak & Soul Less)
YA/Teen/LGBT
Freak
Scary Mary
Romance/Dark Romance
Something Blue
(Happy Endings Resort Series Volume 28)
The Morning After
White Antelope
No Shame
Risking Destiny
Social Work/Family
Losing Faith
Take Me As I Am
Losing Faith
Wave to Papa
New Adult
Nine Lives
From Russia, With Love
To Hell with Russia
Poetry
Between the Cushions
Abuse/Self Help
One Good Reason
Crazy Ink’s ‘I am Enough’ Journal Series
Crazy Ink’s Quotes 2 Inspire Coloring Book
Mythology/Fantasy/Other
The Curiosities of Seafoam: An Erin Lee Short
Once Upon A Reality: Twisted Spins on the Classics (Reality Series Book One)
Twice Upon A Reality
(Reality Series Book Two)
Third Time’s A Charm?
(Reality Series Book Three)
Crazy Like Me
Love Like Crazy
Shrink Rap
Anthologies
13: An Anthology of Horror and Dark Fiction
13: Déjà Vu (Thirteen Series Book 2)
13: Night Terrors (Thirteen Series Book 3)
13: Resurrection (Thirteen Series Book 4)
13: Carnival of Fear (Thirteen Series Book 5)
Madame Scarlet’s Carnival
Twist Me—ASPCA charity
Slashing Through the Snow
Fractured Fairytales: Book One
Craving: Secrets
Craving: Security
Craving: Christmas
War Cry
Desperate Measures Box Set
Love Rocks Box Set
A Deadly World: Vampires in Paris
A Deadly World: Vampires in New York
Night, Night Sleep Tight
Shopping List, Volume 2
Beautiful Tragedies Poetry
Off Course
Mirror Anthology
Capture Anthology
Crazy About Love
Night, Night Sleep Tight
Crazy Fools
Insane Insomnia