An Endless Serenade

Chapter Nine

When I woke up Friday morning, I couldn't have been happier it was the end of the week. As much I as I claimed to Elliot and Aspen and Oliver that the semi-threatening, caustic notes being left here and there for me weren't affecting to me, there was only so much of it I could withstand. Shoulders slumped, I forcibly dragged myself through the day, probably failing the vocab quiz in English class I'd forgotten to study for. I was naturally good with vocabulary, but the week's words had been a little tricky.

"Maybe you should tell someone," Aspen whispered to me.

I turned my head, my cheek pressed to the cool wooden top of my desk. Even though I couldn't see my face, I knew there were dark circles under my eyes. "It's no big deal," I grumbled.

"You look like hell. I thought you said what was on the notes didn't matter to you?"

"They don't," I defended sharply.

She pursed her lips at me, crossing her slender arms over her chest. "I don't think so, Allie. I think you're considering that complete crap that jerk is writing about you."

"I'm not," I protested. "It's just..."

"Just what?"

"It's hard hiding it from my guardian..." Boy was that the truth it. I could care less if my friends knew I was being bullied, but I did not want Paul to figure it out. Or my parents. This wasn't their problem. Somehow I'd figure it out by myself.

"Your guardian doesn't even know?"

"No." Thank God.

Aspen put on her best bitch face. "Allie."

"Look," I interjected before she could go on another one of her you-should-tell-someone rants. "I know who's doing... I just need to catch her in action."

"You mean you think you know."

"No, I'm positive."

Rolling her eyes, she ran a hand through her auburn hair. "So, what? Do you at least have a plan or something?"

"Working on that..."

"I'm worried," she confessed, dropping her voice. "Some of the things some of these kids do... You did hear about the kid who had his arm broken, right?"

Grimacing, I nodded. "Yeah, but I'm not worried about physical attacks... Olivia is obviously a coward."

"Shh!" Aspen shushed me, pressing a finger to her lips. "Lower your voice."

Straightening up in my seat, I squared my shoulders. "Why? I'm not afraid of anyone listening."

"Allie!"

"Girls," a stern voice called from the front of the room. "There are still people taking the quiz."

As expected, a blush dusted Aspen's cheeks as she smiled meekly up at Mr. Tucker. Meanwhile a scowl was still on my face, so when our gazes met, I assumed I appeared to be glaring at him. Which caused him to do a double take, then frown at me. Softening my look, I sighed, pressing my forehead against my desk again. I needed to create a plan. A plan that would catch Olivia red-handed...

"That's it!" I gasped, sitting straight again.

Mr. Tucker stared at me, the corners of his lips twitching. "Yes, Miss Heywood?"