I was keeping the secret that I was going out, but not on a date, with Cade on Friday to myself. I could get in a ton of trouble at work, not to mention Daphne would have a field day with it. The week was passing quickly, it was already Wednesday, and the closer I got to the outing, the more nervous I got. Cade saved me after our girl’s night…though I didn’t need him to, I was ecstatic he did. He’d only come back into my life a little over a week ago, and yet everything had been turned upside down.
I parked my car in the spot closest to the cart return. The light seemed to shine more brightly there, so I always felt safer after daylight hours. The walk in was quick, I sped up to ensure I got in securely. I couldn’t tell anyone why, but the dark scared me. A lot. It was an irrational fear. One I wasn’t proud of.
Grabbing the closest cart, I slung my bag in and examined my list. My pen was poised, ready to check items off as I got them. I wasn’t really paying attention or I think I would have recognized her. Sensed her. Something. Whether it be work, Cade, or the shopping at hand, I was distracted.
Jade Smithson sashayed up, her glaring green eyes squinted as her eyes took me in. Her hair was up, her clothes as trashy as ever. She was the type that had to have her boobs hanging out every day. And I mean, hanging out. I’m pretty sure that her outfits could make a prostitute blush. Her lips were painted a bright shade of pink, her eyes a bright green shadow adorning her lids. She reminded me of a clown.
“Why if it isn’t the slut, Francesca Taymon,” she cackled, her voice like nails on a chalkboard. Being here in front of her reminded me of the time she cornered me after school.
7 Years Prior-August
It was hot. The kind of hot that made your skin stick to everything and your clothes feel like they needed to be spun through the washer one more time. I was driving around, all the windows down, and the air on high. A little counterproductive, now that I thought about it.
I didn’t see her old, white beat up truck get on the road behind me until it was too late. School had ended not twenty minutes before. People were still all around town, talking, laughing, and hanging out. Jade wasn’t in school anymore, she had supposedly graduated the year before. It was still a little difficult for me to believe considering she never showed up and when she did, she was sneaking around with some boy or another while ditching class. Being the hopeless case she was she still came to hang out on school grounds after hours. Pathetic, I know.
The consistent honking jarred me from my concentration. Glancing in the rear view mirror, I saw her hag-like face conforming into awful expressions and mouthing words I couldn’t understand. My heartbeat quickened. Jade was crazy, it was well known, and her following me down the road couldn’t be a good sign. Sighing when I saw the school parking lot come into view, I made the hasty decision to pull in and have witnesses for whatever was about to happen. I parked near other vehicles, seeing the football team running around on the baseball field. My school was odd, the football players worked out there instead of their own field.
A door slammed behind me, an unladylike voice increasingly rising as it drew closer. The working out ceased. The kids hanging out and talking all stopped. It seemed all eyes were on me and Jade. She gripped the window seal, bending to get eye level.
“What the hell, you little whore! You stay away from my man!” she screamed, spitting on my face.
I saw Cason, Cade’s little brother, inching off the field towards us. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I stated as calmly as I could while swiping the spit off of me.
“Like hell you don’t. I know all about your little date with him. He’s mine! Stay away or you will be very, very sorry. He doesn’t like you anyway. He was just drunk and we were fighting. He loves me, little girl. You think you’re woman enough for a man like Cade? Think again,” she ranted. Her voice was screechy and ugly. How could Cade stand her?
“I don’t want him, don’t worry,” I told her, moving the gearshift to reverse. I backed the car out, not even looking to see if anyone was behind me. She jumped back seconds before I ran over her feet. I hid my tears until I got home, but then they fell freely. The slutty girlfriend was right. I wasn’t enough for Cade. And the fact that he was still with her was more than enough proof.
Present Day
“Jade,” I spat out, my voice full of hatred.
She looked me over, smirking like she knew a secret I didn’t. “Seen our boy Cade lately? He still calls me up, ya know,” she leaned forward, like she was letting me on this secret, “he likes the things I do to him.”
I don’t know if it was because she was so close to me, the stress I was under, or the thought of Cade putting his hands on her body, but anger took over. My fist clenched and before I knew what I was doing, it collided with her nose. I heard a crack and her eyes widened. She gripped her face, groaning slightly, before anger got the best of her.
“You bitch!” she screamed, lunging for me.
I flung my hands out to protect myself from her, but she was too quick. Her small hands pulled and squeezed my hair, turning my head every which way. I kicked my leg out, desperate for her to let go. I could hear people shouting at us to stop, but I didn’t care. This was my chance to get back at her for what she did all those years ago, and I was taking it.
“You’re the bitch,” I grunted out, finally getting her to release my hair by squeezing her wrists until she had to let go. I kicked her knee hard enough to make her fall, then once again for good measure. Her nose was smeared with blood, but I didn’t think I broke it. She peered up at me helplessly and for a split second I felt bad for her. But that feeling was fleeting. I couldn’t celebrate my victory for long, because just then, the cops strolled in.
I’d never been in a jail cell, or a fight for that matter. Both of those things changed tonight. The cot was hard, rough, and gross. Jade sat on the other side, glaring at me like she was contemplating going for round two. I prayed she didn’t. I doubted I’d win again. I heard footsteps coming closer, so I stood up, straight and proud. The policeman, Officer Max Rogers, stepped forward, his eyes widening at the sight of me.
“Francesca Taymon? Lawyer at J & B Firm?” he questioned, sounding astonished.
“The one and only,” I said, giving my best smile and a little spin. I always expected Max thought I was pretty or something, because he usually flirted.
“Well, what the heck are you doing in there?” he gasped, reaching for his keys.
“There was a little altercation…she provoked me, I lost my temper. It was a mistake, won’t happen again,” I explained, not looking at Jade at any point.
“Hey, I want to press charges!” she exclaimed, jumping to her feet.
Max raised his brows, giving us both a once over. “Alright, ladies. You two need to discuss this. I’ll give you a few minutes,” he said, gently smiling at me as he walked away.
I turned quickly, cornering Jade against the cot. “Listen, I didn’t press charges the time you threatened me in the school parking lot, or all those times I saw you drive by my house. So just drop it, ok? I’m a lawyer and you won’t win anything. The most I’d get is a few hours community service, but let’s face it, I know all the judges and cops in this town and you are trouble. Always have been. This is not in your best interest.” I glared at her, not even blinking.
Her eyes were wide and I saw fear in them. She sat down, “I was always jealous. He never loved me,” she whispered.
“I’m not talking about Cade. Are you pressing charges?” I inquired.
She stared up at me, then shook her head. “No.”
“Ok.” I spun on my heel, “Max!” I called.
He reappeared, a smirk on his face, and unlocked the cell. “You two are free to go.”
“Thanks, Max,” I smiled sweetly, patting his arm.
“Yeah, thanks, Max,” Jade cooed behind me.
He recoiled from her touch, taking large steps back
wards. “Good evening, ma’am. I’ll see you in a moment, Francesca.” He nodded his head to us both, then escorted Jade out.
Crossing my arms, I leaned against the bars and waited. My stupidity meter was on overload the past week or so. I punched Jade Smithson. I grinned…I punched Jade Smithson. Daphne would flip her lid before she threw me a congratulatory party. I was giggling to myself when Max walked up with an amused grin on his face.
“Don’t start talking to yourself, there, Francesca. I don’t wanna call the loony bin on you,” he chuckled.
“Ha. Ha. Max, you’re hilarious. Can you give me a ride to my car?” I asked.
“I was planning on it. That’s why I got that hooker looking girl out of here, so we wouldn’t have to deal with her,” he confessed.
I almost snorted. “She does look like a hooker. Acts like one too,” I agreed. “Let’s go,” I said, linking my elbow with his offered one.
He smiled, patted my hand, leaned in, saying, “You did good. She’s gonna have a black eye.”
I tried to hide the smile, but it was hard to contain. As bad as it was, I was proud of myself.
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