Cell Mates

09|| Rumor Has It

09

"I thought I might find you here," a voice said from behind me as I was chowing down on the already soggy oats - the only thing this place had for breakfast for their "special guests". I whipped my head around and found myself face to face with Vic. She wore a sardonic grin like she couldn't contain her pleasure any longer, her hip cocked to the side and her hands casually in her pockets like she owned the place. Vic's eyes were bright with the knowledge of my arrest and consequent failure of the dare no doubt. She'd definitely come to rub it in my face.

"Oh," I said slowly raking my gaze from her blonde cut to the red pumps with a less than bored expression. "It's you." I turned back to my breakfast of champs hoping she'd take a hint and get out.

"Don't sound so excited," she said rolling her eyes and plopping down on the stool next to me. I decided late last night the bar would be the ideal place to take my meals from now on. Sure I'd be more isolated in my room and that would reduce my chances of running into Connor exponentially, but there was something about it that I found strangely appealing. It was all old brick and dark teak spanning the whole back wall of the room. Behind it, a full-length shelf held a wide variety of liquor I'd no doubt enjoy sampling when Uncle Jack wasn't around.

I lazily dragged my spoon from one end of the bowl to the other dredging up sunken flakes in the process. Yet I did it like it was the most fascinating thing in the world. "What do you want Vic?" I asked getting straight to the point.

"First, to know why in the hell your breakfast is so shit. Where's the continental?" She waited and when I remained silent she continued in a leisurely manner, "and second since when do you live in a hotel on Sunset and why don't I know about it? You could be throwing some unforgettable parties here and instead you're keeping it all to yourself." Her bottom lip stuck out in a pout yet the undertone of laughter was unmistakable. "So how did our little project work out - "

This time I did interrupt her. "Vicky, please shut the fuck up. I'm trying to enjoy my breakfast in peace if you haven't noticed. Then again you're a self-absorbed bitch so I should know better." I raised an eyebrow challengingly as I took my last bite. Vic had apparently been reduced to a gaping idiot because her mouth was opening and shutting like a fish out of water. I thought I'd make it easier for her to decide on her course of action: "You know your way out."

"Samantha." The temperature in the room had dropped about two degrees in the span of a few minutes. It was all fun and games when she had the upper hand, but if someone else dared to debunk her she had the tendency to go ballistic. I'd bet my left foot this would turn into a full scale argument. "Who've thought you'd be this pathetic about your little mishap?"

"I didn't even want to do the stupid thing to begin with. But you were holding that dare over my head and you couldn't let it go. You got what you came for, so I don't see a reason for you to stick around. Besides how do I know you didn't accidentally run your mouth after you left?"

Her jaw dropped at my accusations. As if I'd ever put something like that past her. She was the queen of ending people's lives. Everyone knew it.

Not waiting for her reply I swiped the bowl off the counter and threw it in the sink behind the bar. The spoon clattered around inside and I cringed hoping nothing was broken. I'd take care of it later. Right now I wanted Vic off my back and for the first time in the eleven years that I'd been attending I was glad I had to get to school.

"Later," I said pushing past her and grabbing my bag off the nearest table.

***

Third day of school loomed ominously ahead of me and I realized I couldn't evade community service any longer. Clark let me slip by the second day, I'm guessing she hadn't been expecting much on the first meeting, but she'd be on my case about it soon enough if she found out I flaked on my "duties" so I mentally prepared myself for seeing Connor and ....ugh...working with him.