The classroom burst into movement as the end of school bell rang. To an unsuspecting onlooker, the students would have looked like normal High Schoolers, eager to get home—however, there were subtle differences, and Evelyn knew how to spot them.
She kept her eyes on one girl in particular. Caroline sat near the front. She was a gymnast or something, not that Evelyn cared.
Caroline had a petite fitness about her. To Evelyn, the girl's greatest quality was not only her physique, but the fact her birthday fell on September 7
th
. She had been 18 for a full month before Evelyn's birthday, and she was the ideal shield.
A shield was someone you could count on to draw boy's attention. Sooner or later, you needed someone to deflect the eyes. Caroline was reliable in that regard.
Evelyn had to give the girl credit, she nearly got out the door. At the last second, however, a classmate intercepted her path. His movement was deliberate, akin to a linebacker closing in on a football.
Too slow Caroline.
Evelyn was too far away to hear what her classmates were saying, but she knew the gist of the conversation. As she walked past, Caroline sighed dejectedly.
The corners of Evelyn's mouth twitched upward—she could not quite help herself—such a
dramatic
sigh. Everyone had problems of their own, perhaps Caroline should consider the needs of others.
After all, Caroline had been the one kind enough to point out when Evelyn
needed
to do something about her acne. Because
Caroline
was the expert.
Yes, Caroline certainly did have perfect skin, and she would reap those rewards.
As Evelyn left the classroom, she ducked into one of the less crowded hallways. Sometimes it was like she was invisible. Still, you could never be too careful.
"You were not what I was hoping for, but I guess it doesn't matter."
The voice made her stop short. A senior boy stepped out behind a doorframe. He was lanky, though it did not take much to tower over her.
She balked. This hallway was normally deserted.
Avoiding crowds was normally a blessing, but there was a downside. When trouble came, there was no one around to bail you out.
Time for plan B.
She said nothing, but instead sneezed violently. She waited a moment, then straightened. Mucous bubbled over her lips.
She watched the boy recoil in disgust, but he recovered himself a second later.
"Are you sick?" he asked. "Don't worry, I've got something that might make you feel better."
The boy pressed her back against the lockers, and she felt his hips grind against hers. His posture oozed suggestiveness.
This boy was persistent, and worse
hard
.
Fuck.
Things had become dire. Most guys ignored Evelyn, but there were always exceptions. Some people simply liked having power over her.
There was no other choice. She would have to make a sacrifice.
"Lily Peterson," she said.
The name was meant to elicit a reaction. Infuriatingly, the boy continued to rub against her. Finally, he seemed to take notice of what she said.
"What about her?"
"She hides behind the teacher's desk in the biology room upstairs after school. You can find her there right now."
The rubbing slowed down as the boy began to engage his brain. He was an oaf.
"Are you serious—How do you know?"
It was like he was looking at her for the first time. Behind his eyes something flicked to life,
the spark of imagination
. Lily Peterson was a hot commodity, and Evelyn had just opened up shop.
She picked herself up and smiled.
"I know she's there because I showed her that hiding spot. She's been there all week."
The boy considered her for a moment, then straightened himself.
"In that case, you're off the hook." He reached down and brushed her cheek. "You sure you won't miss me?"
'Fuck off'
. Only she did not say that. Instead, she watched him turn and go. Thanks to her quick thinking, a crisis had been averted. Most people would not push their luck.
"Hold on a second—" The boy stopped. "—You don't want to tell her I told you." He turned back to face her. His smile was crooked.
"And why wouldn't I want to do that?"
Evelyn returned his smile.
"You want to find her next time, don't you?"
Evelyn savored the boy's dumbfounded expression and turned to leave.
She managed the rest of her route without incident. All the way she could not help smiling as she imagined the unsuspecting Lily Peterson. Lily would never know it was Evelyn who had engineered her fate.
She chuckled. There was no point in feeling bad. After all, the price had to be paid by someone.
Evelyn was on her way to meet a new business prospect, Jessie Gartner. From the sound of her texts, she was panicked. Panic was always good for business.
As a little girl, Evelyn had asked her mom if she was pretty like the women on TV. Her mom's response had told her all she needed to know— "
Looks don't matter."
She scoffed at the memory.
Even as a child, she had known her mom was full of shit. As it turned out, looks mattered a lot—Fortunately, it was not in the way she had believed as a child.
The realization had taken awhile, but Evelyn learned she had been blessed. Once upon a time, a girl like Jessie Gartner would have made her jealous. Those days were gone. In this world, Evelyn was queen.
Cute girls like Jessie Gartner were like a leaf in a hurricane. Boys ran her life 24/7
.
The thought gave Evelyn savage pleasure. It served her right.
Not everyone worships you because you are pretty, Jessie.
Once they had both turned 18, the scales had tipped permanently in Evelyn's favor. It was time for Jessie to adjust to the new hierarchy.
As Evelyn approached the bathroom, she composed herself, and donned a sympathetic face.
Jessie looked up the moment Evelyn entered the bathroom. Evelyn took in the other girl's appearance.
