Total pages in book: 148
Estimated words: 135517 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 678(@200wpm)___ 542(@250wpm)___ 452(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 135517 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 678(@200wpm)___ 542(@250wpm)___ 452(@300wpm)
“That’s why I called you over. I have an idea; you may not like it.”
“What is it? Tell me.”
“Nothing, I’m not going to do a thing.”
“Wait, what? But isn’t that what you’ve been doing all along?”
“Not quite. You see, before, I was doing nothing for myself either; I was just existing and not really living.”
“So, what’s going to be different this time?”
“This time, this time, I’m going to live. Haven’t you noticed? When I do nothing, they make fun of me, start shit online, and who knows what they do and say about me behind closed doors. This time I’m going to do plenty, and I’m not going to hide anymore. I’m not going to lose any more of myself to this.”
“I’m still not understanding what you’re going to do. It doesn’t sound like anyone’s going to be bleeding out on the pavement or in a dark alley somewhere.”
This girl. “It’s like this. I had some time to read over everything that’s been happening. Not just with this last attack, but with everything that has been going on while I had my head buried in the sand, and I noticed a pattern.”
“I’ve watched hours of YouTube videos about how I’m being stalked, how my every move is being replicated. Everyone thinks it’s harmless, but according to the legends I grew up hearing about from my nana, the shit sounds more like a Skinwalker situation to me. Like this witch wants to be me.”
“The fuck is a Skinwalker? You mean like the movie?”
“Look it up.”
“You still haven’t told me what it is that you’re going to do, chicklet.”
“There’s something else I learned from my nana. Allow your enemies their space to hate. They will destroy themselves in the process.”
“So, what’s the plan?”
“Kill them with kindness! That’s something else I learned. I’m also in a better place. So even though their barbs sting, it’s not as bad as it once was. Only in the world, we live in can the victim be condemned time and again for doing absolutely nothing.”
“I’m still unsure what you’re talking about, but I’m down with whatever. Personally, I think we should cut the brakes on one of those fast cars of his and send his ass off a cliff.”
“Sydney, no. We won’t be doing that. Here, look at this.” I tossed her my journal, where I’d been scribbling for the last few hours while I was thinking up a plan.
“What’s this?”
“It’s going to be my new single. There’s a coded message in there. The one who it’s for will hear it and understand.”
“What message? I don’t see anything?”
“It’s a message of forgiveness. Maybe once he hears it, he’ll be able to move on, and so would she. Because, quite frankly, I’m over the bullshit already.”
“Speaking of which, guess who’s been asking for you?”
“Evan Thorpe.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, you know he digs you.”
“Yeah, and you and he both know that I’m not interested in him that way.”
“So, he just wants to have dinner or something, hang out, platonically, of course.”
She picked up her phone with a devilish look on her face. “What’re you doing?”
“I’m kicking off this goodwill tour of yours. If you’re out and about with a hot young star, they’ll think you’re dating, and maybe Miss. Insecure can jump off your ass.”
“You don’t get it. She is not going to care who I date. As long as I’m breathing, she won’t be at peace.”
“You’re starting to scare me. What is it exactly that you think she’s going to do?”
“That’s just it. I don’t know how deep her obsession runs or how dangerous she is. Maybe you’re right. Maybe going out with someone else will help take the heat off.”
I rushed to add on that last bit because she was really starting to look spooked, and that was not my intention. I plastered a smile on my face to put her at ease. “Good, you better look hot as hell tonight. Maybe I should call the paparazzi and give them a heads-up. Nah, that’s for tacky bitches who have no real swag and have to buy every damn thing, including their fame.”
“Sydney, if you don’t behave, I’ll go back into hiding again.”
“Fine-fine, calm down.” She made the call to Evan before passing it to me, and I spent the next five minutes explaining to one of the hottest men on the market that I wasn’t interested in anything more than a night out on the town.
He sounded convinced, and there was no hint of subterfuge, so I gave in and accepted his invitation to dinner the next night. I hung up and stuck my tongue out at Sydney, who was smiling at me like a proud mama.
“There, you happy?”
“Yes. Now let’s go find you something to wear.”
“The food’s gonna get cold.” I looked over at the mountain of bags she’d brought with her and wondered about the melting ice cream.