Sarah's POV
Sitting on the chilly, hard bench at the football ground, I tried to tune out the world around me. My knees were pulled close to my chest as I curled up with my geography book, frantically making notes for the upcoming quiz. The school was unusually quiet, which was rare and perfect for studying. I needed this moment of peace, away from the prying eyes and snickering comments. Geography wasn't my favorite subject, but I couldn't afford to mess up the quiz, not when everything felt so fragile lately.
The sudden shadow cast over my book made my stomach drop. I looked up to see Liam and Ethan approaching. Liam was grinning, his blue eyes twinkling with mischief, while Ethan's gaze was sharp and intense. I'd seen that look before—nothing good ever followed.
"Hey there, bookworm," Liam teased as he plopped down beside me, much too close for comfort. "What's got you so focused?"
I tried to ignore him, keeping my eyes on my notes. "Just studying for the geography quiz. I really need to focus, so if you don't mind…" I hoped they'd get the hint and leave, but of course, they didn't.
Instead, Ethan snatched the notes right out of my hand before I could react. My heart skipped a beat as I watched him hold them up, just out of my reach, a smirk playing on his lips.
"Give them back!" I protested, standing up quickly and reaching for the papers. But Ethan was taller, faster, and he easily kept them away from me. "I'm serious, Ethan, give them back!"
Liam chuckled, clearly enjoying my frustration. "Not so fast, Sarah. We've been watching you, and honestly, you're always so serious. Don't you think it's time you did something a bit more… exciting?"
I felt my temper flare. "What do you want? Just give me my notes back!" I snapped, but my voice wavered. I hated how small they made me feel, how powerless. They were the kings of the school, and I was just… me.
Ethan finally lowered the papers but didn't hand them over. "We'll give them back, but first, we need you to do something for us. A little challenge. You up for it?"
My heart pounded in my chest. A challenge? This couldn't be good. "What kind of challenge?" I asked, trying to sound braver than I felt.
Liam leaned in closer, his grin widening. "Two tasks, one for each of us. Do them, and not only will you get your notes back, but we'll make sure the whole school stops giving you a hard time. Deal?"
My mind raced. The offer was tempting—too tempting. But there was something off about this. "What tasks?" I asked again, wary.
Liam spoke first, his tone light, as if he were asking for a favor. "First, I want you to mess with Rita's new purse. She's been flaunting it all week, and it's getting on my nerves. Spill something on it, ruin it—whatever you want. Just make sure it's something she'll notice."
I blinked in shock. Rita was ruthless, and messing with her could have serious consequences. But then again, Rita had tormented me for years, and the idea of getting back at her, even just a little, was more than tempting. "Fine," I said slowly. "What's the second task?"
Ethan's smirk turned into a serious expression. "The second one's simple. You're going to go into the boys' locker room and get my gym bag. It's in one of the lockers. Simple, right?"
My stomach churned. The boys' locker room was off-limits, especially for girls. If I got caught… But compared to Liam's task, this one seemed easier. At least I wouldn't have to confront anyone directly. "Alright," I agreed, my voice barely above a whisper. "I'll do it."
Liam clapped me on the back, almost too hard. "That's the spirit! Go on then, tiger."
Ethan handed my notes to Liam, who tucked them into his jacket. "You'll get these back once you've done both tasks. Don't try anything funny, Sarah. We'll know."
I shot them both a glare before turning on my heel and walking away, my mind a whirlwind of emotions. What had I just agreed to? And why had I let them push me into this? But deep down, I knew the answer. I was tired of being the invisible girl, the one everyone overlooked. Maybe this was my chance to prove I wasn't someone to be messed with.
The cafeteria was bustling with noise as I walked in, my heart hammering in my chest. I spotted Rita at her usual table, surrounded by her friends, her new purse displayed prominently on the table beside her lunch tray. It was an ugly thing, really—overly expensive and obnoxious, just like Rita herself.
I took a deep breath and approached the table, trying to steady my nerves. "Hey, Rita," I said, forcing a smile as I got closer.
Rita barely looked up, too engrossed in her conversation. "What do you want, Sarah?" she asked, her tone dripping with boredom.
I hesitated, my mind racing. How could I do this without making it too obvious? Then I noticed a carton of juice precariously balanced on the edge of the table. Without thinking, I pretended to stumble, knocking the carton over with my hand. The juice spilled across the table, right onto Rita's precious purse.
"Oh no!" I gasped, grabbing napkins in a feigned panic. "I'm so sorry, Rita! I didn't see it there!"
Rita's eyes widened in horror as she snatched up the purse, holding it as if it had been doused in acid. "What the hell, Sarah!" she shrieked, her face turning red with fury. "Do you know how much this cost?!"
"I'm really sorry," I said again, trying to sound as sincere as possible while mopping up the mess. "It was an accident, I swear!"
Rita shot to her feet, the purse clutched to her chest like a wounded animal. "You're going to pay for this, you little—"
"Is there a problem here?" Mrs. Smith's voice cut through the cafeteria like a knife,her stern gaze taking in the scene before her. "What's going on?"
My heart leaped into my throat. "It was just an accident, Mrs. Smith," I stammered, hoping to defuse the situation.
Mrs. Smith's sharp eyes narrowed. "Clean this up, Rita, and be more careful with your belongings. Consider yourself lucky it's just juice."
Rita's glare could have burned a hole through me, but she didn't argue. She knew better than to cross Mrs. Smith. Taking this as my cue, I quickly backed away, my pulse racing with both relief and adrenaline.
With the first task out of the way, my next stop was the gym. My stomach twisted with anxiety as I made my way to the boys' locker room. The door loomed ahead of me, a forbidden threshold that I knew I shouldn't cross. But I had no choice. My notes were on the line, and I wasn't about to let Ethan and Liam win.
The hallway was quiet as I approached the door, glancing around to make sure no one was watching. Taking a deep breath, I pushed it open and slipped inside. The air was thick with the scent of sweat and old gym clothes, making my nose wrinkle.
Rows of lockers stretched out before me, each one identical to the next. I had no idea which one was Ethan's, and the thought of opening random lockers filled me with dread. But I couldn't afford to hesitate. I started opening them, one by one, my hands trembling with nerves.
As I rifled through gym bags and sports gear, my anxiety grew. What if I couldn't find it? What if I got caught? Just as I was about to give up, I heard a noise behind me—a heavy footstep that made my blood run cold.
I turned slowly, my heart sinking as I saw Coach Hall standing in the doorway, his arms crossed over his chest, his expression thunderous.
"What are you doing here, Sarah?" His voice was low and dangerous, each word heavy with accusation.
My mouth went dry as I tried to find my voice. "I… I was just… Ethan asked me to get his gym bag," I stammered, the lie tasting bitter on my tongue.
Coach Hall's eyes narrowed to slits. "Ethan asked you to get his gym bag?" he repeated, his tone dripping with skepticism. "Do you even know which locker is his?"
I shook my head, my voice barely above a whisper. "No…"
He took a step closer, towering over me. "That's because Ethan and Liam don't have lockers here. Their gym clothes are brought by their servants when there's practice. Are you lying to me, Sarah?"
I could feel the blood drain from my face. "N-no, I'm not lying," I whispered, but the words felt hollow. I knew I was caught.
Coach Hall's expression hardened. "I know boys sneak girls into this locker room for makeout sessions, but it's not happening on my watch. Follow me."
I had no choice but to obey, my feet dragging as I followed him out of the locker room and down the hallway. I felt like I was walking to my own execution.
When we reached the principal's office, my heart was pounding so hard I thought it might burst. Coach Hall knocked on the door, and we were ushered inside. Principal Davis looked up from his desk, his eyes narrowing in disapproval.
"What's this about, Coach?" he asked, his voice calm but authoritative.
Coach Hall explained the situation, and I stood there, feeling smaller and smaller with every word. When he finished, Principal Davis fixed me with a stern gaze.
"Is this true, Sarah?" he asked, his tone leaving no room for lies.
I nodded, my throat tight. "Yes, sir."
Mrs. Smith entered the room, her expression as stern as ever. "That's the second time you've caused trouble today, Sarah. What do you have to say for yourself?"
"I'm sorry," I whispered, not daring to look at either of them. I felt tears sting my eyes, but I forced them back. I wouldn't cry—not in front of them.
Principal Davis sighed, rubbing his temples as if I was giving him a headache. "Two days of detention," he said finally. "And consider yourself lucky it's not more. You can go now."
I nodded again, muttering another apology before turning to leave. My heart felt like a lead weight in my chest as I walked out of the office, my eyes downcast.
As soon as I stepped into the hallway, I saw Ethan and Liam leaning casually against the wall, waiting for me. Their expressions were unreadable, but I could feel their eyes on me, watching every step I took.
When I reached them, I didn't hold back. "The deed is done, assholes," I snapped, my voice trembling with anger and humiliation. "Now give me my notes back."
Liam, still grinning, pulled my notes from his jacket and handed them over. "Here you go. Nice work, by the way."
I snatched them from his hand and turned to leave, deliberately bumping into Ethan's shoulder as I passed by. He didn't say anything, but I could feel his gaze boring into my back as I stormed down the hallway, my emotions a tangled mess.
Behind me, Ethan and Liam exchanged a look, their expressions shifting from amusement to something more serious.
"Dude, that girl is different," Liam said, shaking his head. "She's tough, I'll give her that. I just hope she didn't take our names in front of Principal Davis. If she did, we'll definitely get expelled."
Ethan's gaze remained fixed on the spot where I had just disappeared. "She didn't take our names," he said quietly. "If she had, we'd be in the principal's office right now. She took it all on herself."
Liam sighed, running a hand through his blonde hair. "Now it's our turn to make it right," he said, his tone more serious than usual.
Ethan nodded, his eyes still distant. "Yeah. We owe her one."