Watching Adrian walk away stirred something in Jennifer, she thought didn't exist anymore. The feeling of danger. Wild crazy sensations. Curiosity. She sat in bed, alert. Jennifer heard the silent engine of the Black Porsche outside, and that was her cue. She slipped into McLaren and followed his vehicle all the way to the beach. There was no way she would be able to hide her car in the deserted parking area overlooking the marina, so she told the driver to park the car at a gas station on Main Street, near the water, and leave while she bolted straight into a convenience store. Its windows faced where Adrian had parked his Porsche. A bell chimed above her head as she entered the deserted store, and faint Indian music greeted her. From a staticky radio. A beautiful girl with long black hair smiled from behind the cash register, her gaze returning to her book. Hiding inside the convenience store allowed her to watch him without being caught. Considering Adrian was no stranger to stalking, many girls stalked him in school. She tried to downplay her actions, internally justifying herself.
Jennifer watched Adrian's large body through the glass door, jogging across the parking lot, as he approached another boy on the edge of the piers at the marina. They slapped each other's backs, talking animatedly before another girl broke the circle. Then they strode up the world famous casino 'Amethyst dome'. Why were they going there? This casino was illegal. Everybody in town knew that. Jennifer did not consider Adrian to be a boy indulged in gambling. He was a nice guy, with friends and he was focused on his schooling. What was he doing here? Was this his big secret he was hiding? That he gambled. Well, he could have told her, every rich household ever has one or more family members indulged in gambling.
Her paternal uncle too gambled often, though when he did, nobody dared to win. After all, he was the real brother of the richest businessman in town. Didn't Darius say that Adrian and Kurt were not at speaking terms. Then why was Adrian going to gamble in the illegal casino that belonged to Kurt's family? Did their rivalry end? Jennifer was not really sure. Though, she had heard that Kurt never made up with a rival. His rivalry ends only when the other person is crushed brutally. So, that they may never dare to look him in the eyes. Ever again.
Jennifer was again inquisitive. She had to follow him. No! This was wrong. Invading his privacy like this. Jennifer stopped a bit when the period cramps kicked in again but nevertheless, she ran towards the casino fast enough that onlookers would have thought she was running a 400m race. Jennifer ran across the skaters' ramp overlooking the marina and crept up the pillar between two giant buildings. One of them belonged to the Woodlands, an family indulged in sponsoring art galleries across Europe for generations. The other belonged to a Saudi tycoon who had a summerhouse in this town but never actually bothered to drop by. It allowed Jennifer a good angle on the boys, who, just as she suspected, stopped in front of Amethyst dome, the casino that belonged to Smith family.
The boy fisted a five-gallon gasoline can while the girl spoke on the phone, her voice inaudible to Jennifer. Adrian produced his cell and looked to be typing up a text. A few moments later, Jennifer's cell vibrated in her pocket. Luckily, she'd silenced it before she got here.
Sorry, won't be able to come home any time soon. Please take care of yourself. Text me if you need anything.
The trio waited at the front door of the casino until James appeared at the top of the stairs leading down from the parking lot to the marina. He wasn't alone. Kurt Smith—gagged, bound by the wrists and sweating like a slut in an STD clinic—was standing next to him. There was a kidney-shaped urine stain over his groin. He didn't struggle, just glared at the ground, weeping silently.
Jennifer, for the first time in life saw Adrian this way. This side of him was unimaginable to her by any extent of creativity, imagination or whatever they call it. She was too baffled to be able to remember her own name. Adrian was in full asshole mode that night. James descended the stairs behind Kurt, pushing him one stair at a time, and handed him over to Adrian, beaming like a groom on his wedding day. The marina was well lit, so it wasn't hard to catch him cracking his neck, his biceps flexing in anticipation.
"Look who's decided to join us." His voice was low, taunting. It sent chills down Jennifer's spine. Jennifer wondered if there was something wrong with her eyes, her brain, or even her entire body. Was she seeing things? Adrian was never like this. He was too scary for a teenager. Too dangerous for someone who grew up in pretentious luxury. Too dead for a living human.
Kurt and Adrian stopped at the last stair, where Adrian pushed him headfirst to fall onto the ground. Kurt winced into the gag in his mouth, coughing. The unknown boy and girl picked him up and tore the cloth from his face.
"Oh, man, your mouth is bleeding. Here, let me help."
James hand reached toward Kurt's face before he swung his arm back, throwing a punch from hell right into his nose. Kurt's head flew backward, landing against Adrian's chest. Adrian clasped Kurt's arms, hissing into his ear almost erotically, "Don't worry, I got you. I won't let them hurt you. I'm planning to do all the hurting myself."
James stepped forward and blocked Jennifer's view with his broad back. All she saw was their backs. Adrian and Kurt were well-hidden behind the other guys. Jennifer heard Kurt crying and whimpering, clomping his feet, begging, wailing, trying to break free. Then the girl stepped aside, allowing her a first glimpse at Kurt's newly designed face.
Bloated.
Bleeding.
Destroyed.
Multiple cuts were visible, even from the distance Jennifer stood at. Deep down, Jennifer knew this has to be something related to their rivalry, as stated by the school-rumors. Jennifer was angry at Adrian for resorting to such vindictive methods, even though they were a means to satisfy their rivalry. A part of Jennifer wanted to believe that whatever she was seeing, whatever Adrian was doing, it had a reason. A very good one, because now she was the one he would be answering to.