“Or elsewhat?”
His face is getting red, his eyes narrowed, his mouth pursed. He looks like he’s about to explode. This might be the first time someone’s said no to him.
“If that’s it, I’m going to head out,” I say, going around him.
He grabs me and shoves me against the hard metal posts lining the back of the bleachers, then grabs my wrists, pinning them on each side of my head. “You do what I say or you’re—” His jaw tightens as he breathes from his nose, like an angry dragon about to set me on fire.
“I’mwhat?” I ask, my heart pounding. I’m scared shitless right now, but I can’t let him see it. Never show fear. I saw that on a show about serial killers. They like seeing their victims afraid. It makes them feel powerful, so you should never show fear. Not that Briggs is a serial killer, but the same principles apply.
“I’ll make your life here a fucking nightmare.”
“It already is,” I casually say.
He leans down to my face. “I’ll make it worse. Worse than you can even imagine.”
I swallow, hearing my shaky breaths as I force myself to stare back at him and not look away.
“You understand?” Briggs tightens his grip on my wrists. “Or do I need to prove to you right now I’m not fucking around?”
A man’s voice echoes in the distance. It sounds like the principal yelling at some students.
“Let me go or I’ll scream.”
Briggs smirks. “Go ahead. They’re not going to help you. You’re trash. Nobody gives a shit about trash. If they could, they’d throw your ass out of this school.”
He’s right. Even if the principal heard me, he probably wouldn’t help. He’d accuse me of making up stories to get Briggs in trouble. He worships Briggs, just like everyone else here.
“Help!” I scream, figuring I might as well try it. Even if the principal doesn’t believe me, he’ll at least hear me and come over here. “Help! Someone help!”
“Who said that?” I hear the principal yell, sounding panicked. “Tell me where you are!”
Briggs slowly backs away. “Bitch.”
I give him a smug smile as I go around him. “Great meeting with you. Have fun at practice.”
When I’m at the end of the bleachers, I look up and see Principal Perkins standing at the back of the school, looking down at the field.
“Five thousand.”
I turn back to Briggs. “What?”
“I’ll give you five thousand to fail a couple tests.”
“You’re kidding, right? You seriously think I’d take money in exchange for being valedictorian?”
He looks at me, not answering. I turn and walk off.
“Ten!” he yells.
I keep walking.
“Fifteen!”
I keep going.
“Fuck,” I hear him mutter. “Twenty thousand!”
I turn back. “Seriously?”
