Page 46 of My Rules for Revenge (Twisted YA Mysteries #1)

“I’ll help you clean everything up,” Indira offered.

“Oh, yeah? How about no? I don’t need help from someone as irresponsible as you,” I affirmed. “Let me repeat that so it sinks in: I don’t need you ,” I remarked.

“My father has been cheating on my mother,” Indira blurted out.

“What?” I asked. I was not expecting that to come out of her mouth.

“That’s why I’ve been distracted. He’s been cheating on my mother, and my mother won’t leave him,” Indira said with a pathetic tone of voice.

“Huh?”

“I’ve been having a tough time. I’m being teased and harassed in class. You have no idea what’s been going on. It’s about a boy,” Indira clarified. Her thoughts seemed to be jumbled.

“Oh, Jesus Christ. You did not just say that!” I explained.

“What?”

“You didn’t fulfill your responsibilities because of a stinking guy?” I asked. I couldn’t believe my ears.

“Heather, I want to explain to you what happened, but you’re being very aggressive towards me. You’re scaring me,” Indira said resentfully.

Indira began to cry. I threw my arms in the air and rolled my eyes.

“Gee, I wonder why? Look around you, sweetheart. This is real. You allowed the donations I put away to get stolen, and all my books are messed up. I think I’m allowed to be very aggressive towards you.

You’re making my life hard right now,” I pointed out.

I don’t know how she was expecting me to react to this—like everything was hunky-dory? No! I don’t think so!

“Heather, please. I want to explain,” Indira pathetically pleaded.

“No, get out,” I commanded as I pointed to the door.

“What?” Indira asked, all confused.

“Indira, get the hell out of here, now!”

“Are you sure? I can help clean. I can be useful,” Indira offered again. Her offer fell on my deaf ears.

“Get the hell out of here, right now!” I screamed so hard my vocal cords in my throat felt like they were about to burst. As soon as the words came flying out, Indira was gone in an instant. I knew that I had been a monster.

After that, I felt terrible now and then, but I chose to completely forget about her. After that incident, I never saw her ever again. I thought she was trying her best to avoid me. Later, I found out she had transferred schools. When I heard that, I thought it was all for the best.

“You’re right, Indira. I do remember,” I affirmed. I felt ashamed of that event.

“I know what I did was a huge mistake, a colossal one even, but I don’t think I deserved your wrath.

I thought we were friends. You didn’t care about what had been going on in my life.

My father was cheating on my mother, and Eddy had broken my heart into a thousand pieces. He betrayed me, and so did you.”

“So, that’s what you were trying to tell me last year,” I remarked, finally understanding her situation.

“You never called or texted me after I transferred schools and moved away. It was like you never cared that we had been friends. It was like I had meant nothing to you,” Indira said resentfully.

“I did what I usually do. I held a grudge. I had no sympathy,” I said apologetically.

“It showed,” Indira pointed out.

My expression softened as I looked into her eyes.

They seemed dim and were bloodshot. As I took a better look at her, I saw that she had gone through a great deal.

Her hair was frizzy and unkempt. She was noticeably pale and considerably thinner than a year ago.

Despite what she had done to me, I wasn’t angry. Not anymore.

“I am so sorry for what happened that day, Indira. I get that you were angry and upset, and you wanted revenge. I probably would have done the same thing. I forgive you.”

Indira appeared confused and softly chuckled.

“You forgive me? Really? That doesn’t make any sense. You’re not like this.”

“I do forgive you. I’m serious.”

“So, you’re not going to punch me in the face or pull my hair?”

“I was thinking about it, but I’m trying to be different. I’m not going to hurt you, and I’m not plotting revenge against you. I’m not doing anything to you.”

A long period of silence went by. All we heard were the roaring engines of cars as they sped past us on the road.

I felt there was nothing else I could have said.

I forgave Indira, but I didn’t think it was a good idea to ask if she wanted to be friends again.

I wasn’t sure if that was possible, or if either of us truly wanted that.

“Well, this is awkward,” Indira said, with an embarrassed look on her face.

“Yeah, it kind of is,” I sighed.

“I’m late for class. I’d better get going.”

“It’s Saturday; you have class?”

“I’m taking weekend classes. I fell behind after I transferred schools. I couldn’t focus at all on my studies. You can figure out why,” Indira explained.

“I get it,” I nodded. She was being as studious as she had ever been, I thought.

As she turned to continue walking, she said one last thing to me.

“Truthfully, it didn’t make me feel any better. It felt good at the moment, but not now. I’m not proud of what I did. I am sorry about Eddy. We slept together, and it meant nothing to him. Despite what he has done, maybe you’ll be the one for him. I know I wasn’t.”

I blew out a long sigh of relief as I watched her get farther and farther away. When she was out of view, I slowly trudged over to Vivian’s car. It felt good to forgive her. I felt a certain peace with her that I wouldn’t have felt otherwise.

A tight knot formed in my stomach, however, when Eddy re-entered my thoughts.

I knew that I had done horrible things, but what Eddy did was very upsetting.

As terrible as it sounded, I felt my actions against Indira and Jacob were justified.

On the other hand, Eddy had manipulated Indira to get what he wanted.

I’m not saying I was a better person than Eddy, but he felt he had the right to tell me my actions were wrong, and if that was the case, I felt I had the same right.

I so wanted it to be a big lie so I could have my silver lining. I selfishly wanted there to be a justification—a single reason that cleared his name and made everything right—I liked him that much.

The next day, I texted Eddy to meet with me at the park where he practiced shooting baskets.

There was no one on the playground, and no one was going for a run.

I sat on a moist bench underneath a shelter and waited.

It had rained the day before. The gloomy environment mirrored the way I was feeling.

A few minutes later, he arrived, and we gave each other awkward grins. He then sat down in front of me.

“Hey,” Eddy said with a smile.

“Hey.”

“I heard you talked to Jacob,” Eddy commented.

“I did. We hashed things out,” I replied with a smile.

“Nice. I mean, that’s great. I’m glad you guys worked things out,” Eddy added.

“You were right about stopping our feud. I didn’t realize how destructive I was becoming. I wanted revenge at any cost, and I now know that wasn’t exactly the answer,” I admitted.

“Well, look, I only said those things because I really like you and I care about you.”

“I know,” I nodded.

He softly grabbed my arms, leaned over, and kissed me. I barely reciprocated. He didn’t seem to notice as he sat back down.

“Well, this is good. Jacob made that video, apologized for everything, and cleared my name. I’m glad he’s trying to change,” Eddy commented.

“Yeah, he did clear your name. You were innocent after all, right?” I asked.

“Well, yeah, of course. You know that,” Eddy affirmed.

“Do I know that?” I asked, with a hint of doubt in my voice.

Confusion washed over Eddy’s face as he lightly chuckled.

“Heather, it’s me. You know who I am.”

“Eddy, did you ever hook up with Indira? I find it weird that out of all the girls at school, she was the one who got her pictures leaked.”

“No, never. I barely know who she is.”

“You barely knew her? You told me you guys studied together a few times. Which one is it?”

“Well, yeah. I studied with her like twice, but I didn’t know her that well.”

“Really?” I asked, this time with a tone of disbelief.

“Yes, Heather. What are you getting at?”

“You’re lying. Those texts between you two are real.”

“Heather, no. I swear to you that those texts between us are fake—they’re utterly fake,” Eddy reassured me.

He tried to grasp my hand, but I frowned and pulled away.

“Heather, are you being serious right now?”

“I know you’re freaking lying. I found Indira and talked to her. She told me everything. She was the one who helped Carlos and Manny orchestrate that little exposé in the auditorium.”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, what? Wait a minute. What do you mean you talked to her?”Eddy asked with a very fearful look on his face.

“I found out where she lives and spoke with her. She’s two hours away.”

“Okay, that sounds weird,” Eddy added.

“Not really; I wanted the truth.”

“Look, I have no idea what she told you, but it’s not the truth. She’s a bit unstable. She’s not trustworthy,” Eddy reassured me.

“Oh, wow! So, now she’s unstable. That’s incredible.”

“That wasn’t the best way to put it. You know what I mean,” Eddy blurted out.

“No, I don’t know what you mean. Please explain it to me. I’m tired of you lying. I already know the truth, and I want you to confirm it right now.”

“What the hell did she tell you?” Eddy asked with a hint of personal guilt coming through in his voice.

“That you two slept together,” I remarked.

“What? That’s ridiculous. I’ve never had sex with her.”

I began shaking as my anger and frustration bubbled up to the surface.

“Stop playing dumb, Eddy. I’m starting to question everything that you’ve ever done and said to me. It’s like I have no idea what kind of person you really are. I thought you were a nice, peaceful guy who tried to be honest. Was I wrong about you?”