by Jamie Begley
She opened her bag and took out a sheet of paper. She thought she should draw the poster out first to try to come up with some ideas.
After several attempts, it became hard for Elle to concentrate. The bimbos were laughing so damn loud she thought they were going to go into heat any second. The hottest athletes, not to mention the king of Legacy Prep, surrounded them.
Elle looked at the clock. It wasn’t too much longer before school let out. She zoned out, a lot on her mind.
Cassandra was going to kill her, She couldn’t protect Chloe at the moment. She was supposed to close at the diner tonight, and she had to find time to do her five-hundred-word essay Mr. Evans assigned about who you love the most. Yeah, if I even live till then.
Elle felt a pat on her back, snapping her back to the present. “I hope you make it to see the freak on time. It would be a shame if something were to happen.” That was Bimbo Number One, the one closest to Cassandra.
Then, the next thing she knew, all Elle could hear was the squirting of paint all over her. No, not my big, comfortable white sweater!
The whole class couldn’t help laughing at her torture. That was honestly what hurt Elle the most; not one person would ever rescue her, all they would do was laugh.
“You can thank me later, waitress. I know you’ve needed a reason to visit Goodwill.”
Elle had dealt with enough for the day, and Chloe wasn’t there to get hurt by her repercussions. If she was going to die today, at least she was going down with a fight.
Brrring.
Chloe. Elle grabbed her bag and ran out of the classroom unbelievably fast, her retaliation instantly forgotten. Chloe needed her.
That was when it dawned on her. ‘I hope you make it to see the freak on time.’ She finally understood—the only way to hurt her was to hurt Chloe.
Oh, shit! I’m coming, Chloe. Elle ran fast down the hallway; she didn’t jog or walk fast, she ran. At that point, it didn’t matter if she drew attention to herself.
When Elle ran into Chloe’s classroom, she came to a halt. She couldn’t believe her eyes. Her heart actually skipped a beat.
“Chloe, are you okay?”
3
Fight Fire with Fire
Elle had walked in to see Mr. Evans talking to Chloe, her elbows on her desk and hands concealing her face.
Chloe looked up. “Yes, I’m fine, El—” Her eyes grew wider. “Are you okay? What happened?” Chloe stood and walked over toward her.
Elle’s eyes wandered over to Mr. Evans. “Um, I accidentally spilled paint on myself in art. What are you all talking about?”
Mr. Evans walked over to them. “I was just passing by and saw Chloe in here by herself, so I was making sure everything was okay. Usually, the kids are practically one foot out the door before the last bell even rings.”
“Yeah, I know what you mean. She’s my ride, and I just told her we would meet up in here.”
“How come you met up here and not in your art class? The art class is all the way at the front of the school by the outside door.” Elle thought Mr. Evan’s face didn’t look confused in the least.
“I guess we didn’t think about it like that.” Elle started walking out of the classroom. “I’ll see you in the morning, Mr. Evans. Come on, Chloe; I need to get ready for work.” Elle hoped he would let it go.
Chloe joined Elle and they both headed out into the hallway.
“Elle, if you ever need to talk, you know where to find me.” Elle turned around at Mr. Evan’s voice. “Try and be more careful in art. Next time, it might not be paint that spills.”
Nope, he couldn’t let it go. At that, Elle kept walking. “Have a good night, Mr. Evans.”
They walked through the school, and when they reached the outside, Elle and Chloe felt like a weight had been lifted, like they were almost free.
“So, who spilled the paint? And dang, all over your outfit. That one was my favorite on you.”
Elle looked down at her body. Damn, she even got my favorite pair of faded jeans. “One of Cassandra’s sidekicks.”
“Which one? Her?” She nodded toward Nero, who was standing beside his Cadillac with Bimbo Number Two.
Elle could hear them speaking. “Nero, would you mind giving me a ride home? I rode with Cassandra this morning.” She leaned against his car, giving him a sweet smile.
“No problem, babe.” Nero’s eyes traveled from her eyes to her chest. “Leo, let’s go!”
Elle had seen a young boy running over to his car. He was honestly a miniature version of Nero, especially before he had cut his hair. The only difference between them was the kid had dirty-blond hair. Elle realized he was the new one who had sat at Nero’s table.
“Backseat, Leo.” Elle thought Leo made the cutest face at his remark before they all climbed in the car, slamming doors and bringing Elle back.
“No, the other one.” Elle shook her head. I really need to snap out of it.
Elle and Chloe got into Chloe’s BMW. Unlike the other kids’ cars, which were all various Mercedes, Porsches, and Lamborghinis galore; it was classy. Not too expensive, not too flashy. Granted, Chloe would never have picked something like that out for herself, but her politician father had given her no choice.
When the doors were shut, Chloe spoke, her face full of concern. “Elle, is something wrong? You’re acting weird today.”
“I’m fine, Chloe. I guess I’m just getting tired of this same shit every day.”
“Listen, Elle, you don’t have to stay. You’re free to go. If your parents found out how you’re treated here, they wouldn’t let you come ba—”
Elle’s eyes drilled into Chloe’s. “I am not leaving you, Chloe. I’ve told you this a thousand times.”
“Well, we have survived this long by not getting into it with them. I am not like you, Elle.” Chloe looked down at her steering wheel.
Elle stared at Chloe, knowing exactly what she was asking of her. “All right, Chloe. I won’t fight back. I promise.”
With that, Chloe pushed the button to start her car. “Fighting back doesn’t solve anything, Elle. You know that.”
Elle nodded and smiled at Chloe. No, I used to think that. Today, however, revelation had come over Elle. You had to fight fire with fire.
Elle walked into her front door, waving to Chloe as she closed it then rested her head against it.
“Everything okay, sweetie?”
Elle jumped up. “Oh, hey, Mom. Yeah, everything is great; just tired is all.” Elle scanned the living room. “Is Dad in the kitchen?”
“No, um, he’s in bed sleeping.”
“Has he not gotten up all day?” Elle started to worry.
“No, sweetie, he just laid down for a nap.” Elle’s mom gave her a smile. Even she didn’t buy her own words.
“All right. I’ll be in my room doing my homework before I head to work.”
Elle walked through her house, but when she passed her parents’ bedroom, she stopped and wondered if she should go in to check on her father. Maybe later. I’m already depressed as it is.
Elle went into her room and turned on her computer.
Who do I love the most? She contemplated about her essay. Evans’ English class was by far her favorite; she wanted to be a writer someday. She honestly knew the answer. Yet, she felt a little betrayed at the moment by her father - the person she loved the most. Regardless of how little her father talks, he would always wish her a good first day of school, and this would have been the last time. She decided to put her feelings aside for the sake of her grade. She got about halfway done before she looked at the clock and realized she needed to get ready for work.
She dressed in her uniform, which she hated probably more than life itself. She was convinced it was twenty years old since the red had turned into more of a burned-out orange. At least, I’m pretty sure it used to be red.
Elle threw on her pea coat, her best Goodwill buy to date.
When she was finally ready for work, she walk
ed out of her bedroom and headed toward the kitchen.
“Hey, Josh. How was the first day back?” Elle couldn’t help forgetting about all her problems when she saw her eight-year-old brother’s face.
“Fine, I guess.” Josh shrugged. “How about yours, Elle-bell?”
Elle looked hard at Josh. Other than his blond hair, she felt as if she might have been looking in a mirror because of his expression. “Fine, I guess.” She decided she would need to talk to him soon; find out how school really was going. “That smells good, Mom. Save me some for later?”
“Of course, sweetie. Oh, your dad is in the living room.” Elle’s mom gave her a real smile this time.
Elle walked into the living room where she waited for her dad to say something, but he never did.
She went for the door, but before she opened it, she said, “School was great, Dad.”
She was honestly disheartened. Not only had he not wished her a good last first day, as was his tradition, but now he hadn’t even asked how it had gone.
Brushing off the hurt feelings, Elle walked outside. The cold air against her skin made her happy. The smell was always crisp and clean. There was just something about the sound of hearing her boots crunching in the snow that lifted her spirits instantaneously.
Elle walked to the bus stop, and from there the bus would take her downtown. When she boarded the bus, she took a window seat, looking out at the passing scenery. She really did love Kansas City, Missouri. It was her home; however, the past few years had made her feel like she didn’t belong anymore.
Maybe I do need to leave with Chloe.
Her stop came up and she exited the bus, heading down the few blocks it took to get to the diner from there. While walking, Elle didn’t mind the noise and action; she liked watching the passersby going out for the night.
However, it wasn’t long before Elle’s attention was drawn by two men standing outside of the Kansas City Casino Hotel, which was right next door to the diner. One had bags under his eyes; Elle thought he must have been on something. He kept looking over his shoulder, like someone could be coming for him any second. The other one was sternly speaking to him. She couldn’t hear what he was saying, but Elle knew he was trying to get him under control.
When Elle passed in front of them, she heard the cool one say, “The big boss gave you a job. You don’t have a fucking choice.” The thick, Italian accent made it difficult to hear with the city noise.
Elle kept walking. She didn’t care about whatever it was; it was none of her freaking business.
She entered the diner and hung her coat up on the rack. It was an old diner in need of a serious upgrade. The downtown buildings were all old, although some had kept the same flare they had possessed many years ago. Like this dress I’m forced to wear.
Elle didn’t mind work. She got to meet people she would have never met under regular circumstances, especially with the casino hotel next door. The tips were never bad, either. She did make enough to pay the rest of her tuition at school.
Once she’d clocked in, Elle started waiting her tables. Monday was always a slow night because everyone was mostly too tired from the weekend. This made work pass slowly for her, forcing her to hear her own thoughts. Yet, after today, she didn’t want to think.
She was one of the two employees on the schedule to close tonight; consequently, she hoped it would pick up soon, since otherwise she would lose her mind.
As the time passed on, Elle was never freed from her thoughts, though. The diner only ever had a few people in and out the whole night. Thirty minutes before closing, she started to clean up to get ready for the morning. In no time, she was done and only had the trash left to take out. Therefore, she went to put on her coat and grab her purse.
Afterward, picking up the trash bag, she went into the kitchen and called out, “I’ll see you tomorrow, Steve. Have a good night.” Steve was the diner’s cook.
“Later, Elle.” He kept at cleaning his stove.
Elle went out the back door to throw away the trash, planning on leaving from the alley between the diner and the Casino Hotel. She locked the back door and threw the trash into the dumpster. Elle had turned around to start her walk to the bus stop when she heard voices entering the alleyway.
“Please, please, don’t kill me.”
“Shut him the fuck up before I blow his brains out right here.”
Elle ran to hide behind the dumpster. She knew she did not want to come face to face with that voice.
She could hear some footsteps come closer. “All clear, boss.”
As they all entered the area behind the diner, Elle couldn’t help peeping from behind the dumpster. It was pitch black from where she was, yet she was able to see four men thanks to the light from the diner. One was dressed in an expensive suit, his dark hair combed back. He was an older man. Under normal circumstances, she believed he would be super-sexy and handsome, but right now, he scared the piss out of her. He was definitely the one in charge.
Before I blow his brains out. Yep, that was him.
She noticed the man being held with his mouth shut was the crazed guy from earlier, who had been standing outside the casino hotel. A younger man was holding him, looking almost as scary as the one in charge. She believed him to be twenty years old, though he could possibly be scarier than the boss.
“Go get the car, Sal, and be quick about it.” Elle could feel nothing other than chills when she heard his voice. Damn, that man is scary.
“Sure thing, boss.” The third man wasn’t as frightening as the others. He might have been if the two Hannibal Lecters weren’t standing there, however.
The man ran out of the alley as fast as he could.
A minute passed, and Elle could tell the poor man knew his fate. He possibly looked more scared than Elle was at the moment. His instincts started kicking in and he tried to fight off the one holding him, biting the hand covering his mouth. The man dropped his hand before he thought he would lose it, giving the man free reign to scream.
Before he could let a cry for help escape, the one called Boss pulled a gun from the inside of his suit jacket. With that, Elle couldn’t look anymore. She knew what was going to come next.
Bang.
One was all it took.
Elle started to hyperventilate, covering her mouth before they could hear. She knew if she didn’t stay quiet, she would be next.
A car skidded up, and she heard the doors open and bodies being shuffled in. Before the doors were even shut, the car skidded right back out.
Elle kept her mouth covered as tears started to well in her eyes. She needed to get out of there in case anyone came back to clean up the mess. You can do this.
When she peeked out from behind the dumpster once more, no one was in sight. At that point, Elle couldn’t let herself think anymore; she needed to let her body take over. She jumped out from behind the dumpster and did the only thing she could do—run the hell away.
Sal stopped the car outside of his boss’s home. Thank fucking God I’m home. The piss smell of the dead body was getting to him.
“Sal, go back to the Casino and get rid of the tapes and make sure his piss is cleaned out of my car.” It hadn’t been the smartest thing to kill that dumb-fuck in the alley right where he worked, knowing people would hear the gunshot and they didn’t have time to clean up the blood, but he told himself, he hadn’t had a choice.
“Okay, boss, I’ll call you when it’s done.”
“Lucca, get rid of this piece of shit and don’t come home with that blood on your fucking shirt. Whatever slut you got at home tonight don’t need to be turned on by that shit. Capiche?” He was mad at his son. He shouldn’t have let his fucking hand get bit. He had risked everything the boss had worked for his whole life.
His son gave him a quick nod. The boss could tell he was disappointed in himself. The only reason he knew was because he wore the exact same face the boss made when he fucked up. His son was growing more and more like him
every day. He knew he was sure as hell just as scary as him; it was just the lack of experience.
He got out of the town car and went up to his house. He needed a fucking drink after that mess. He picked up the bottle, poured the brown liquid into his glass and then went to his cigar box and pulled one out. Sitting down behind his huge desk in his big leather chair, he started to settle. There was nothing like whiskey in one hand and a cigar in the other to calm his nerves.
An hour passed, and his thoughts became less gruesome. He led a hard life running the family and this city; however, he wouldn’t have it any other way. He belonged at the top, and everybody else knew it, too.
A knock came at his door, ruining his alone time.
Sighing, he let out a harsh, “Come in.”
“Boss, I ain’t got good news.” He was holding a laptop in his hand.
He pinched the bridge of his nose and handed Sal his glass. “Fill the glass to how bad the news fucking is.”
Sal went over to the alcohol station where he quickly poured the glass half-full. After a second, he decided to say fuck it and filled the glass to the rim.
“Fuck, Sal, bring me the damn glass and tell me the bad news already.” The boss understood, whatever it was, it was nothing he wanted to hear in this lifetime.
“Good news for you, you get a fucking front-row seat, boss.” He opened the laptop and pressed a button on the keyboard.
He knew exactly what he was watching, a surveillance of the alleyway. Luckily for him, it also showed behind the diner next to his casino.
The first few seconds showed nothing. It was almost as if Sal hadn’t pressed play yet. Then a young girl came out from the back of the diner with a trash bag, walking over and then throwing it in the dumpster. A second later, he saw her run behind the dumpster and into the darkness. He could no longer make her out.
“Fuck.”
“Oh, wait, boss, it gets better.” The boss didn’t like his fucking tone.
He saw the whole murder play out. Nothing changed from his mind; he knew what the fuck had happened. He downed the shot glass. He knew exactly what was going to come once the town car sped away, and damned if the girl didn’t run out from behind the dumpster exactly how he’d played it out in his mind. Then she was gone.