Chapter 10 Blackmail-ee
Cecilia
One week have passed since Alex began to blackmail me with the video of me vandalizing his car.
He made me do everything he wanted because of that video, including showing up every single day for two hours to ‘study’. Then he gives me a shit ton of quizzes later, I would pretend that I hated it and tried to convince him to delete the video. He never listens, but I don't mind it.
He doesn't know that I have been following him every day for the past week. I had done it the first day because I was looking for a chance to delete the video on his phone. I didn't really think the plan through, I just don't like that he had something over me.
I discovered something shocking during that first day instead. Alex works in a cafe as a barista. Not serve like a gig but actually works there part time. He pours coffee and wipe tables.
For context, I don't look down on his job. I've learned early on that I was privileged to have a lot of things that most people could only dream of. I respect people who work hard and honestly for their living. My time at the hospital only reinforced that feeling when I saw how some parents struggled to pay their kids hospital bills. I was grateful for the life I have.
But I would have never thought Alex Gomez worked. I didn't really know his family but I know his father is a big finance person and his mother works in Wall Street. I don't understand why he's working so hard.
I haven't approached him at his workplace yet. Firstly, it was plain creepy and I would look like a psycho if he finds out that I'm stalking him.
Sometime between the first day and now, it stopped being about the video anymore. I just follow him now because I'm desperate to figure him out. I want answers so badly but I don't risk getting caught. There's no way I would explain it if that happens. I don't want to add ‘crazy stalker’ to his idea of me.
I haven't told my best friends yet which is strange because we tell each other everything. But I just don't want to tell them. At least not until I got the whole story from Alex. It wasn't my truth to tell.
“What are you thinking about so hard?” Amber asked.
I flinched because of how close are voice is to my ear. “Why do you always sneak up on me?” I groaned.
“It's not exactly sneaking up when I called you multiple times before. You aren't paying attention and I don't want the instructor to punish us by asking to to stay back later. We have places to be.” She scoffed and flipped her ponytail.
The two of us were at PE. Luke was with the swim team while we were stretching with the dance team. The dance instructor, Carrie, was a hard woman to please. If she notices we weren't putting attention, she would make us stay back and mop the sweaty floor. I didn't want that so I kept my voice down.
“What places do we have to be?” I asked.
Amber paused the routine she was doing and glared at me. She placed both hands on her hips.
“I can't tell if you're kidding or you genuinely don't know.” She said. I only stare at her. It was obvious I had no idea what she's talking about.
“CeCe! How can you forget about the party this Friday? It's the first party of senior year and it's going to be amazing!” She jumped and clapped. The dance instructor looked at us and Amber immediately got herself under control.
“Oh,” I replied to her because I couldn't think of anything else.
The first party of the session was always a big deal at Blackwood High. Everyone's always fighting about who get to host it and make sure it's bigger than the previous year's. I hosted it Freshman year and sophomore year. A basketball player beat me to it last year, but he couldn't manage to make it bigger than the previous year's. It was a sham.
Alex had never hosted it before. It was the one thing he never fight me on. Now I understood why.
“Some boy on the swim team is hosting it this year. I'm so pissed we didn't get to plan it this year. But we can still blow everyone away with our dresses. What do you think?” Amber asked eagerly.
I searched for an emotion inside me but came up with none. I really wanted to be excited sky the party, but after everything I had gone through in the past months, a party was the last thing on my mind.
And I needed to figure out what was going on with Alex or I would never stop thinking about it.
“I'm sorry, but I don't think I'll be attending.” I say and went back to stretching.
“No way! We've talked about the senior party since freshman. What do you mean you're not going? It's like saying you want to skip prom.” She paused abruptly and gasped. “Cecilia Evans, you better not bail out on prom too!”
“Relax, I'm not going to do that.” I hope I don't have to. “I just don't feel like going to a party where everyone would be whispering about me.”
Amber went silent. She looked at me with a soft and guilty expression. She probably felt guilty for pressing me about it. I wanted to tell her that everything was okay, but before I could say anything, someone interrupted me.
“Hello girls.” Rachel said aloud when she got close to us.
Amber glared at her but I ignored her instead. I continued with my work out. But Rachel didn't leave despite our dismissal. I don't know what her motive is, but I know it's nothing good.
“I don't know if you've heard but the senior party is tonight and I'm co-hosting with Greg.” She giggled a little bit.
“You guys should come.” She adds.
“Pass.” I said. I didn't have any intention of going and Rachel only made that resolve harder. Amber nodded beside me.
Rachel placed a hand on her mouth like she was surprised about something. “I'm so sorry, I forgot you were sick. It's better that you're skipping. We wouldn't want you falling unconscious in the middle of the party and ruining the experience for everyone, cancer girl.”
My movements stopped. Rachel smirked, knowing fully well that she had gotten the last word. She leaned closer to me like she wanted to whisper but said loudly,
“Don't forget to take your medications tonight. We don't want you to disappear for another six months again.”
Everyone close to us heard her. They thought she was showing concern, but I heard the condescending tone clearly. She wasn't being nice, she was rubbing my sickness in my face.
She pulled away with a fake smile and walked off. I was boiling with rage. Everyone was now staring at me with pity looks again.
“That's it. We're going to the senior party.” I said.
“What? I thought you said you didn't want to go.” Amber replied, confused.
“I don't. But I want to teach that bitch a lesson. No one messes with me and get away with it.”
I would go to that party and make Rachel pay. I just needed to let go of all other reasons I didn't want to go before.