Page 21 of Slaughtered Firefly
“Miss Williams, these men are very busy, I am sure you understand that. I don’t know how long they will be in town,” Principal Moore spoke, his tone showing a clear unspoken ‘but’ and I knew I had him hooked onto this lie, as I faked a disappointing stare at the floor.
I waited for him to address it, like every man they had to make the girl feel powerless, had to hold the keys to the fort. My bright smile disappeared, replaced with a melancholy stare.
“But—” He continued, and I glanced up hopefully. Not too fast, not too slow. A practiced move.
“Yes?” My eagerness to meet these idiot recruiters was all a part of my role, as I batted my eyelashes towards Principal Moore. He licked his lips, and I suppressed a gag, keeping the doe features in place.
“The recruiters are old friends of mine, they might meet you as early as Wednesday, of course it would be outside of school, we have arranged a bit of a reunion. I am sure I can squeeze in an interview beforehand,” He looked at me expectantly as he finished. It was the look of a predator, like he had just made a masterful plan.
“Yes!” I jumped up ecstatic. I’m sure my boobs bounced a bit too much, and the skirt that was already supposed to be dress-coded three months prior had revealed my underwear. I had goosebumps, and my nipples were hard within the blouse. It wasn’t arousal, no, it was from the cold weather that had been moving in, but the skirt remained. A seductive tease of a two-year plan that I would not ruin because I was chilled. He thought I didn’t notice the greedy gaze over my frame, but this was the game I would play, the role assigned to me.
“Great, I will come to collect you after school from the drama club?” Principal Moore asked as if he didn’t already know; it was a lure into false security.
“Yes, Wednesday is drama club, that works fine! Thank you so much for this opportunity!” my voice was grateful, but my mind screamed, and I battled my body’s reaching out and ending his life.
“My pleasure, Miss Williams I’ll let you get back to class,” He gestured towards the door, and I plastered the fake smile back on as I bent over to retrieve my school bag and leave. His eyes tracked the movement with a burning stare on my ass as I walked out of the room.
That Wednesday
“Katie I can’t go homewith you, I have to see Principal Williams about the college recruiters this afternoon,” I fake pouted as we stood to grab our lunch.
“Blow him off Mia, everyone will be there including Jake!” Katie pressed, nudging me in the side, and my face reddened. A practiced response I was proud to have managed so quickly. I forgot which one was Jake, but apparently the dude was my latest fixation. “Or are you dating a college guy?” she nudged me with her elbow, and I actually blushed. I thought Cole dropped me far enough away, but I guess not. “You totally are! I see it on your face,” she giggled.
“He’s my brother,” I lied, shutting down the conversation.
“Maybe you’ll set me up with him,” she winked as we grabbed fruit to go with our salads. I shrugged, with a slight smile on my face. Katie was a dimwit who tried to fuck everyone, but she was a queen bee, so here I was making implied actions while wanting nothing but to stab her eyes out with the metal fork on her tray.
We laughed as we paid the lunch lady and found our table. I slid into the seat next to the giggling group of girls; I was one of the queen bees in this school, and I certainly enjoyed it. I watched over my kingdom as I picked at the salad. God, I wanted a burger so much. My gaze fell on the loner kid as he walked past the table towards his corner table, where he would remain for the rest of the lunch break. He was attractive, and a goalie on the soccer team, but he just didn’t hang with the other players, always keeping to himself.
Someone grabbed my shoulders, and I looked up to see the latest guy vying for my attention. I didn’t date; it drove everyone mad, including Bryce, the captain of the football team. I preferred not dating over being stalked; an unnatural shiver ran through me as I gripped the pendant secured around my throat. Cole freaked out last year when a boy thought he could ask me on a date. Later that week, the boy transferred schools. I didn’t care; it wasn’t that I was meaning to have a normal life, I just played the part, ‘No one touches my firefly.’Cole’s lesson played in my head.
Bryce’s buddies settled around us as he pulled me up and then sat in my chair, a challenge. If I wanted my food, I’d have to sit in his lap or go without. I laughed and flipped my hair, walking away. It was much better to walk it off than go feral over my food…again.
I surveyed the area wondering where my next lunch was going to come from. The band nerds, chess club, and drama club all looked towards me with a tray full and a seat empty, but I smiled as I continued walking towards the exit.
“Funny he thought that would work,” the loner said as I passed by his table. I paused and walked toward him. He looked up at me as if he didn’t give a fuck, and I liked his attitude.
“Mind if I sit?” I gestured to his man-spread. His table, of course the smallest in the lunchroom, held two chairs, one holding his large duffel bag, the other himself.
“Go for it,” He leaned back in the chair, his head relaxed, and I straddled his legs, sitting with my front facing him, gripping his strong biceps.
This was playing with fire, but I had long ached for something entertaining to happen, and the loner kid fit the bill. I ran my hand over his arms, feeling the tension within them. If he didn’t go to the gym, he must get his workout in more extreme forms. I smiled at the thought.
The town was a central location for the fight rings, not that I was surprised that Daddy stuck me close by. Today it was the rings; tomorrow it would be drugs.
“I hope you fight well today,” I whispered as I leaned into him, my fingertips skimming his faded buzz-cut. Lingering on the tattoo at the base of his neck, I didn’t care for the fighting. It was a thrill I could only dream of partaking in.
“You’ll see,” he laughed softly, gripping my head and planting a kiss on my parted lips.
I didn’t blink at the action; it was an automatic response as I deepened the kiss, letting my tongue skim against his lips as he greedily took his time.
It was a foreign language, and yet I craved more than I threaded my fingers through his hair, pulling him closer. Sure, I’d fucked before, but this was a dance, a battle of wills, and I wanted to see if he would cave.
“What the fuck Williams!?” Bryce’s hand gripped roughly on my backside, shoving me off. Anger flashed across my facebefore I could stop it. I saw red and wanted to paint the cafeteria with Bryce.
Katie grabbed my arm, and my features softened. The other girls came around me and began the gossip.
“Damn Mia,” Danielle whispered.
