"Say, Shauna," said Dawn in the middle of her impromptu manicure. "Do you know Serena?"
"Which one?" asked Shauna, momentarily stopping her work on Dawn's nails.
"The blonde one. The senior. Always has at least a couple brown-noses around her," Dawn said, checking the hand that was being worked on.
"Oh, yeah. She used to live on the same street as me. So, we kind of grew up together until I moved in middle school," she said, continuing her work. "Why?"
"Because today is her first day back to school from her trip. She's been having a lot to say about me behind my back all year, about time I do something about it," said Dawn. She waited until Shauna was finished with both hands before checking them over. Satisfied, she ordered Shauna to put the nail polish back into her bag. After doing so, Shauna sat on her knees next to Dawn's chair. "Also, you're going to help me."
"What?"
"I said," Dawn uncrossed her legs and sat up, getting close to Shauna and grabbing her by the shoulder. "You're going to help me deal with Serena. I don't care if you're friends, you belong to me. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, ma'am..." said Shauna, her eyes filled with fear.
"Yes, what?" said Dawn. Her face now so close to Shauna's, their noses were almost touching.
"I mean...yes, my queen!" Shauna shouted. Dawn let go, sat back in her chair, and pulled her phone out. After tapping at the screen a few times, she handed it over to Shauna.
"Put your number in."
Once her underclassmen was done with her task, Dawn took her phone back. Sitting back in the chair she closed her eyes. There was still a bit of time before lunch, so she figured she could rest her mind until then.
"Uhm, can I ask something?"
Dawn let her breath out through her nose. "What?"
"What do you...plan on doing to Serena?" Shauna asked meekly.
"Why? You trying to back out now?" said Dawn. Her voice rose with each word. Each time Shauna made herself smaller and smaller.
"No! No...it's just..."
"Just what?"
"Serena and I are friends. I don't want to do anything to hurt her..." Shauna looked to the ground. She could see Dawn's legs shift, then a hand gently place on her chin, and point her head up. Shauna stared up at Dawn, a solace look on the older girl's face. Dawn slowly moved her face to Shauna's until they were inches apart.
"I don't care," Dawn said in an almost whisper. "You belong to me and will do whatever I say. No matter what. Do I make myself clear?"
Shauna could only slowly nod. She was scared to move her eyes away. Scared to try and say anything. Dawn cracking a grin did nothing to soothe her nerves. The senior then placed her other hand on the back of Shauna's head.
"If you ever, ever, piss me off again, I'll give Hilda the green light to share your pictures. Understand?" asked Dawn. Shauna once more only nodded. Dawn removed the hand on Shauna's chin and sat back. With the hand on the back of her head, however, she used it to push Shauna on her hands. She grabbed Shauna's collar, pulling her forward. She then propped her legs on the girl's back.
"You make a great footrest."
Having returned from her out of country trip, Serena was the talk of the school. Her friends bombarded her with questions, acquaintances swarmed her, even people she didn't know would occasionally stop by to listen to her. While she was enjoying the attention, she couldn't help but crave some time to herself. Just enough time to refresh her mind. The chance to slip away she had been wanting came in the form of two freshman boys getting into a fight when lunch started.
Now walking through the school's empty hallways, Serena stopped when she spotted a lone bluenette in front of a staircase. A thought came to her mind and she was quick to march up to the girl.
"Well, if it isn't the démon bleu," said Serena.
"Oh yeah, you're back, huh?" said Dawn.
"I'm sorry, does my presence in school make you feel threatened?"
"As if I could ever be threatened by you," Dawn crossed her arms. "Is there anything specific you want? If not, get out of my way."
"You know, I'm getting sick of your attitude."
"Oh, that's too bad. What are you gonna do about it? Cry to your friends?"
Just as Serena was about to say something, someone on the top of the stairs next to the girls coughed. Serena looked to her left, Dawn to her right, to see Grant Zak, captain of the basketball team and Serena's boyfriend, walking down the steps.
"What's going on?" he asked aloud.
"Oh, Grant!" said Serena, running up to the boy and hugging him. The couple placed their lips together, in full view of Dawn. When they finished their kiss, Serena and Grant placed an arm on each other's backs.
"Is everything alright?" asked Grant.
"It's fine," said Serena. "Dawn and I were just chatting."
Dawn said nothing, only looked at the two in front of her. She excused herself by turning around and walking down the hall. When she knew she was out of sight and earshot of Serena, Dawn pulled her phone out and started calling Shauna.
"Hello?"
"Where are you?"
"Uh...in one of the stairwells...why?"
"Is Calem with you?"
"No, he-"
"Well, find him. Then meet me in the same stairwell as last time."
Dawn hung up before Shauna could respond. Looking to her phone and sighing, Shauna stood up to go look for her promiscuous boyfriend. It took quite a while. By the time she located Calem, lunch was going to end in just under fifteen minutes. Shauna found him with a group of his friends. Only a couple of them she actually knew the names of.
"Oh, Shauna!" said Calem when he noticed her. He reached over and grabbed her hand when she was close and pulled her in. "What's up?"
"Um, can you come with me somewhere?" Shauna asked. She didn't look him in the eyes. Instead, she looked only to his chest. An attempt to hide her emotions.
"Is something wrong?"
"Just...please?"
Shauna looked up to Calem's eyes. But quickly looked away again. Looking into the eyes of the boy she thought she loved. The boy who cheated on her and acted as if nothing happened. The boy who kissed her blackmailer. Had she looked him in the eyes any longer, all her pent up rage and sorrow would be unleashed. Even looking at his shirt brought up good times she had with him. But every good memory became shadowed by the thought of Calem and Dawn in bed.
"Uh, yeah. Okay," Calem said. He stood up and wrapped an arm around Shauna's shoulders. After he said bye to his friends, Shauna walked off towards the building Dawn was in. Waiting for her. Waiting to ruin her life some more.
Calem opened the door to the building, letting Shauna walk in first. Shauna led him into the stairwell they used to hang out at lunch in. It's location was nice to be left alone. In the corner of the building, used hardly by anyone. Even in passing periods. Now, instead of being their spot, it was Shauna's. Her place of solitude.
The two went up the second to last set of stairs. Upon turning the last banister, they came face to face with Dawn, who sat in the same spot as they used to.
"About time!" said Dawn. "We barely have five minutes!"
"Woah, what are you-"
"Shut up, Calem," Dawn said, standing up. "I need you for something."
"Why would I help you?" asked Calem. His voice was slightly raised and his chin was turned up to the girl.
"Oh, don't be like that, Calem," said Dawn. She took a step towards him. "I mean, after everything I've done for you, wouldn't it only be fair for you to help me with one little thing."
"Well...what do you want me to do?"
"Do you know Grant Zak?"
"The basketball player? Yeah, I know of him."
"I want you to jump him. And get me his phone."
"What? Why?"
"Because I said so, that's why. If you do it, I'll pay you and any of your friends a hundred dollars each."
Calem said nothing. He and Shauna just looked at Dawn. Dawn silently waited for a response. After half a minute of staring, Dawn glanced her eyes down to the one shorter than her.
"Sit down."
Shauna nodded and went behind Dawn, sitting on the steps, and looking at the back of Dawn's head.
"I'm not gonna do it," said Calem. He stared down at Dawn, looking right into her eyes. He could tell she was not happy.
"Oh, right. I forgot, you're not one to care for money. I suppose that makes sense for someone who just gets whatever he asks for."
Placing her hands on Calem's shoulders, Dawn turned the boy so their sides were to Shauna. Dawn stepped tiptoe to bring her face closer to Calem's. She was so close she could smell his breath and could tell what he ate for lunch. Ignoring the smell that made her want to push him away, she spoke in a soft, near whisper-like tone.
"How about I give you something else in return then? Something I know you want," Dawn moved her lips close to Calem's. Calem tried to glance at Shauna, but Dawn quickly pulled Calem's head back to look at her, and planted her lips on his. She waited until he closed his eyes before she pulled away. She gave him a small smile, then wrapped her arms around his and stood by his side. She stepped forward, pushing Calem ahead of her to the stairs leading down. Before the first step, Dawn stopped.
"By the way, starting now. You two aren't dating."
While the message was meant for both of them, Shauna was the only one Dawn looked at. Now going down the stairs, Dawn gripped Calem tighter. Leaning her head on his shoulder.
Shauna was left sitting in the stairwell, alone. In her place of solitude.
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~~~Sikoh