I know the lie they want me to tell
Because they think they've put me through Hell
But if the things they've done to me
Are done to them...
Will they rethink?
"Lose something?"
Crystal closed her gym locker and immediately grew angry. Standing in front of her holding the photo album she'd made for Jasmine was Vivian. The other girls that made up their class had already finished getting dressed and headed towards either the bus ramp or the front to wait for their rides.
"Give it back." Crystal said. She stepped forward to take the photo album, but Vivian side stepped her and bolted out the side exit. Crystal followed her, correctly sensing the trap. Once she crossed the door's threshold, someone delivered a quick punch to her freshly broken ribs. She cried out and would have dropped to her knees, but whoever punched her pulled her to her feet.
Crystal found herself being held firmly by a heavyset girl she didn't recognize. Meanwhile, Olivia and Onyx had rolled one of the school's trashcans toward Vivian as she resumed her place in front of Crystal.
"That album's...not yours," Crystal said between breaths.
"According to the inside cover, it's not yours either," Vivian countered. "Who's Jasmine? Your new girlfriend? What would Sharron say about how quickly you moved on?"
"She wasn't...my girlfriend...and her name...was Shayla."
"Sharron, Shayla, Sheila, Sally, I don't care." Vivian snapped in annoyance. "I'm sick of seeing you plaster her name and face on all this shitty artwork of yours."
"If you don't like the album," Crystal asked, "why steal it?"
"So I could do this." Vivian replied. And with a smile, she flung the photo album into the trashcan. Crystal's eyes narrowed as she watched Onyx add an open bottle of rubbing alcohol to the can while Olivia took out a cigarette and lit it. She tried to move to stop her, but the heavyset girl's grip was too strong.
"You know," Vivian said slyly "I've had enough of you disobeying me, CJ. If you won't listen to the warnings Stanley or I have given you, maybe your customers will."
Olivia dropped the cigarette, then jumped back as the trashcan's contents burst into flames. Onyx rolled the can back towards the building with her foot where it came to a safe stop near one of the larger dumpsters.
At a nod from Vivian, the heavyset girl let Crystal go and stood behind her with her arms crossed. Onyx and Olivia looked from Vivian to Crystal, waiting for a reaction. But instead of looking visibly upset, Crystal let out a disappointed sigh.
"You don't know my customers." She said bluntly.
"So what?" Vivian asked. "If they're anything like you, they won't do shit."
Crystal scoffed and started to walk away, but Vivian moved with her, staying in her face.
"I'm done tolerating your disobedience," she explained "If you'd listened to me in the first place, we wouldn't be here. Stanley's approach to come at you physically may have worked a little, but it's not enough for an irritating shit stain like you. You live to protect people, CJ...and since you failed miserably with Sally, your customers are all you have left. So I'm going to give you two courses of action to take unless you want them to start having their cars or homes burned to the ground. First, you're going to close down your shop...tonight."
At first, Vivian smiled when she saw the change in CJ's eyes because she expected to see fear or helplessness. Instead, her former friend fixed her with a look of pure indifference.
"Okay," Crystal replied. "And the second course of action?"
Even though she felt unsettled, Vivian maintained her smile as she answered.
"You're going to drop the charges against Derek's brother, then film yourself confessing to lying about everything you said he did to you."
Crystal looked from Vivian to the trashcan that held the smoking remains of Jasmine's photo album, then back to her before speaking.
"Fine."
"Fine what?" Vivian snapped.
"I get what you want me to do." Crystal said.
"Good," Vivian replied triumphantly. "You have three hours to get everything done, starting with the charges. Otherwise, it's open season on every customer you have."
"Understood."
Hours later, Vivian was out at the roller rink. She'd dismissed the twins, preferring to celebrate her victory over CJ by herself. With only an hour left before it closed, there weren't many people skating around on the floor. Vivian allowed herself a small smile of relief. Now that CJ was truly broken, she'd shut up and blend in with the rest of the graduating class. DK would be satisfied once his brother was back on the streets, Stanley would be able to keep up his Cameraman persona, and she would continue the rest of her rule in peace.
"God CJ," Vivian muttered under her breath "you didn't have to take this so personally."
"Excuse me."
Vivian found her thoughts interrupted by the arrival of two girls she didn't recognize. The one who spoke had brown eyes and curly black hair. The second one was wearing gold rimmed eyeglasses and short, brown hair. Both of them were wearing blue jeans, black tennis shoes, and black t-shirts sporting their involvement in a step group.
"Sorry to bother you," the first girl said with a smile "but you look familiar. Are you Vivian Morrison?"
"Yes."
"Awesome," the second girl said "I told you it was her."
"Is there something I can do for you two?" Vivian asked in annoyance.
"Sorry," the first girl apologized again. "It's just that we've been following your videos and all on YouTube, and we can't really believe it's you. Would you mind if we got your autograph?"
The second girl pulled out a notepad from her wallet and handed it to the first girl who extended it to Vivian. With a fake smile, Vivian took the notepad and pulled out a pen.
"So," she asked "who should I make this out to?"
"Jasmine Cortez."
Immediately, Vivian paused and stared at the first girl. Neither of them were smiling anymore.
"What did you say?"
"My name," the first girl replied "is Jasmine Cortez."
"And you're friends with CJ." Vivian muttered.
"Not just friends," Jasmine explained "we're more like family. I've been a regular customer and supporter of Crystal's artwork for quite a while. She called me earlier this afternoon to tell me that the album she'd made for me was done and she was on her way to deliver it. Then she called me fifteen minutes later to tell me what you'd done."
"Whatever she told you," Vivian replied "she's lying."
"No she's not."
Vivian whirled around and flinched. Standing behind her with her arms crossed was the heavyset girl who'd held CJ back outside the dumpsters. Tara or Tina or something.
"You remember Trina, right?" Jasmine asked as Vivian turned back around to face her. "She told me about what you did too."
Suddenly, Vivian realized who she was talking to. Jasmine, Emerald, and Trina Cortez were dangerous girls known for being tight with several gang members, some of whom were still attending Kingwood High.
"Why would you be friends with someone like CJ?" Vivian asked. "She's not a gang member."
"She doesn't have to be," Jasmine said as she picked up Emerald's notepad and handed it back to her. "And us knowing her is none of your business. She made something special for our family. A lot of us pitched in to help pay for it and design every page. That photo album was supposed to be a gift for our foster mom's forty-eighth birthday, and now she won't get it because of you."
"I didn't know." Vivian said nervously.
"Of course you didn't." Emerald said from behind Jasmine. "And even if you had known, you wouldn't've cared since that album wasn't yours."
Vivian's nervousness grew as Jasmine started to move closer to her. CJ might have looked at her with indifference earlier, but this girl had nothing but hatred in her eyes. She didn't have to be taller or look muscular to intimidate anyone. Vivian had heard enough stories about how ruthless she could get, especially in a fight.
When Vivian tried to step back, Trina pulled her towards a nearby wall, and Emerald moved in to complete the half circle, effectively cutting off any chance of escape.
"Okay," Vivian said in a shaky voice "What do you want?"
"Glad you asked." Jasmine replied. "Let's start with you paying us back the two hundred and seventy dollars the album cost."
Without hesitation, Vivian pulled out her wallet, counted out the money, and handed it to Emerald.
"Next," Jasmine continued "You're going to leave Crystal alone. You encouraged people to take action against her, then promised them they wouldn't get punished for it. It's your fault they're angry with you, not hers. Plus, we both know what Stephen tried to do. She shouldn't have to lie about it to avoid upsetting you or her brother. Take some responsibility for your actions and accept whatever consequences follow. Got it?"
Vivian nodded.
"Last thing," Jasmine said. "If you so much as daydream about burning or wrecking anything that Crystal makes or marks, I will make sure you're buried alive in a hole only I know where to find."
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