Page 15 of My Rules for Revenge (Twisted YA Mysteries #1)

I lied. I wasn’t prepared for Heather to ask me if I wanted to go out with her as friends. I got nervous in those types of social situations.

“I am not joking, but I will try my best. May I ask what type of movie it is? An anime one, perhaps?”

“Uh, no. It’s a regular movie about a guy and a girl who try to kill each other. They also fall in love. It’s the stupidest thing ever, and it’s amazing,” Heather explained.

“That sounds oddly intriguing.”

“Wait a minute, you like anime?”

“Yes. Do you?” I asked.

“Absolutely not.”

“Would you ever consider watching an anime movie?” I asked.

“Absolutely not.”

“Oh,” I reacted.

“So, I’ll text you the information.”

“Wait, do you need my phone number?” I asked.

Heather stared at me blankly, and I could tell that she was trying her best not to explode in laughter.

“Yes, Indira. I wish I could telepathically connect to your mind and text you, but that isn’t the case yet. If that were the case, I would telepathically connect to many minds and send them telepathic insults.”

“That would be an interesting thing to watch,” I admitted.

“Also, if I accidentally send you a nude, please pay no mind. I did that only once, but I like to inform people so they don’t freak out,” Heather warned me.

“Oh my god. Who did you send it to? If you don’t mind me asking, of course,” I said cautiously.

“It was some kid I knew from summer camp. I sent him that instead of a volunteer guidelines sheet. He wasn’t trustworthy, so I smashed his phone.”

“Wow! Are you being serious?” I asked, rather surprised.

“I am. My pics can’t get leaked, Indira. That simply cannot happen. I made that grave error once, and that won’t happen ever again,” Heather reassured me.

It was strangely a sign of the gods that she said that, given what happened the following year. I was no longer enrolled at the school when that occurred. To my knowledge, Heather also forgot all about me and our friendship. It was fine—she wasn’t the only one.

***

The morning after Heather and I had exchanged numbers, a miracle occurred—my request was approved, and my schedule changed.

I was no longer enrolled in the English class with Frank Jackson and those other delinquents.

I no longer had to entertain their absurd questions about my heritage and their inappropriate advances towards me.

I wasn’t sure if they realized, but I knew they saw me as some sort of sexual conquest. It made me angry that they saw me as an exotic trophy because of my Hispanic background.

I wasn’t “sexually freaky” because I was quiet.

I was serious about my studies. That was all anyone ever needed to know about me.

My new English class was fine. There were no obnoxious jocks, thankfully.

The miracle was my new chemistry class. A certain scruffy-haired young man was in it.

I couldn’t believe my luck when I found out that I had been assigned to sit next to him.

I built up the courage to speak with him a couple of weeks later.

We spoke briefly, however, and I felt that my time to make a serious impression was running out.

It didn’t help that he seemed to be as quiet as me.

He did seem nice in our minimal interactions, and it was difficult to believe that.

He was on the basketball team with the other knuckleheads, of course.

In my opinion, you were guilty by association in high school. You were who you hung out with.

The chance to talk with him more popped up when he asked me to help him with a chemistry worksheet.

We had to identify all the elements in the periodic table and divide them into their specific groups.

I already knew every single element and each of their atomic numbers, among other things.

I went on to show him how he could easily remember which element was which.

I formulated my own strategies after intensive studying.

“Wow! You’re really good at chemistry. How did you get this smart?” Eddy asked.

I tried to cover my face as my cheeks reddened.

“I want to study chemistry at an Ivy League school like Bright Rock. I’ve been studying it since I was in middle school. I really need a full academic scholarship,” I explained.

“Oh, wow! That’s cool. I admire your ambition. I’m sure you’ll get in.”

“You’re way too nice,” I said.

I grinned in appreciation.

“I wish I were as smart as you,” Eddy complimented me.

“You’re smarter than you think. I was able to teach you my learning methods, and you’re doing well. You should be proud."

“All thanks to you, Indira. I hope I can get better grades in this class.”

“Yes, hopefully,” I replied.

Eddy remained quiet. My mind went into panic mode as I tried to figure out how to continue the conversation.

“Why do you need good grades?” I asked.

“I need them high to be able to stay on the team. I haven’t played much this year, but it’s still important to me,” Eddy replied.

“You’re on the basketball team, right?” I asked.

“Oh, yeah. I don’t think I mentioned that. I am.”

I obviously knew, but I didn’t want to seem like a stalker.

“Do you like it?”

“Yeah, I love it. It’s a good distraction from everything. It makes me forget about school and how mediocre I’m doing. My parents want me to study engineering or law in college. I just nod and smile—I don’t want them on my back,” Eddy expressed.

I related to that more than he knew, but I held back on that. I didn’t want him to think I was some damaged soul.

“They disapprove of you doing something else?” I asked.

Eddy deeply sighed.

“Yeah. They almost tore my head off when I told them I didn’t want to be either of those things.

I got a whole lecture that involved a lot of yelling and fighting.

I’m not that type of person, so I calmed them down by telling them I would compromise by going to college no matter what.

What I’ll end up doing, though, is to be determined. ”

“You don’t want to go?” I inquired.

“No. I don’t. I’m not interested in studying anything. If I somehow get a basketball scholarship to play at a community college, I’m out there in a flash. You couldn’t pay me to do anything else,” Eddy explained.

“If you get one, do you still have to go to class and study?”

“Yeah, unfortunately. I don’t know. I guess I’d just have to figure it out,” Eddy sighed.

I remained silent and thought about his situation.

I wanted to give him a thoughtful answer.

I didn’t think any of his friends gave him good advice.

I wasn’t trying to be arrogant, but I had seen the way they interacted with each other.

They usually looked like a group of prehistoric men who had just discovered fire in a cave.

“Well, I don’t know the best thing to suggest in that situation. I guess I should tell you that it’s important to follow what you want to do, Eddy. Your goal should be to make yourself happy, not your parents.”

It’s ironic that I, of all people, gave out this advice.

There I was, telling Eddy to follow what made him happy while my parents decided my happiness.

I was the best person at not following my own advice.

It made me feel like a complete fraud, but I was determined to make a good impression on him, no matter what.

I never would have talked so much with any other guy. The only other person I possibly would have told this to would have been Heather. Her hatred of awkward silence is what drove me to talk. I felt like she would have pried my mouth open and forced me to speak had I chosen to remain mute.

“That’s good advice, Indira. I have to be honest; I didn’t know you talked this much. A couple of weeks ago, I thought you were really quiet. That’s why I didn’t wanna bother you or anything.”

“I’m not quiet with people I feel comfortable with,” I explained.

“I guess that means you’re comfortable with me?”

“Yes,” I replied.

“Cool. We can be chemistry buddies then,” Eddy suggested.

“Yeah, chemistry buddies. I like that.”

“Hey, I have a question,” Eddy added.

My heart thumped in my chest. I had no idea what he was about to ask, but for some reason, I thought it was going to be something romantic.

“When you go away to college, do you think you’ll miss home? I’m still trying to figure that out myself. My parents can be annoying, but this town is still home for me. I don’t know,” Eddy said as he shrugged.

That immediately deflated me. That wasn’t the question I was hoping for. I knew I had my work cut out for me. Eddy wouldn’t fall in love with me in one day. I needed to continue to build on whatever we had that day. As for Eddy’s question, I didn’t even blink.

“When I go away to college, I won’t miss home at all,” I said with certainty.

Eddy curiously looked at me and waited for me to elaborate. I never did. I wanted to leave my parents’ house so badly, I dreamed of moving across the country to a beautiful college campus. Once I left them, I never wanted to talk to them ever again. As far as they'd know, I was as good as dead.