Chapter Thirty Three- Ticking Time Bomb

Harley's POV

It had been a few days since the incident at Monica Brass' party and everyone was a lot more wary of me, which I enjoyed.

I had to make a statement.

You couldn't do that shit to me, me of all people and just expect a slap on the wrist or no consequences. I was a moron for believing that bimbo in the first place, but over my dead body would anyone ever be able to fault me in any way for what happened.

Of course I was bitter about it, even after Sarah's pitiful apology. I was made out to be an incompetent little wimp. What would you do?

I stood with my back to my locker, chewing a toothpick skillfully, smirking as everyone that passed kept their heads down and skittered along as fast as they could. Joey bounced on the spot slightly beside me and Frankie stood a few feet away, his eyes scanning the crowded halls.

"So what's the plan today, Harley? Hmm? Who should we's torment today?"

Before I could answer, Eric Matthews and his idiot friend, Jason stepped into view. They were at their lockers not too far away from mine and I couldn't help but grin. Talk about being in the right place at the wrong time. I had been waiting for my chance again.

I glided forward and slammed my fist in the locker beside Eric's causing them both to jump. Frankie and Joey were a few steps behind me.

"Hey fellas. What do you have for me today?"

Jason let out a laugh. "Do you think just because you beat up a 10th grader you're suddenly a macho man who strikes fear in everyone even more? You're a joke, man. Give it up."

Eric seemed surprised but stayed silent, almost as if he was in agreement.

"That so?" I couldn't help but chuckle in return.

Without warning, I spit my toothpick out and grabbed Jason around the neck pinning him up against the locker, laughing as he choked and kicked his feet, trying to get them back onto the ground, grabbing my hand to try and let me release him.

"You're about to find out who the joke really is, pal." I sneered, squeezing harder.

"Harley!"

Before I had time to react, I felt a searing pain shoot through my head and Jason fell out of my grasp, coughing loudly and holding his throat- the skin already reddened.

Hunched over, I slowly straightened back up, holding the back of my head, which was bleeding, and turned around. The halls were seemingly even more crowded before and everyone stared. It took me a second before I found the perpetrator.

It was Sarah and she was holding a thick math book. Eric was quick to grab her and I knew that Frankie and Joey were on alert ready to grab me if need be.

"Seriously Makinley? You're just looking to cause some damage ain't ya?" I wiped the blood on my jeans.

"You know, I used to feel bad for you, Harley. I used to think you were like this because you had deeper issues going on, but clearly, you're just a douchebag because you choose to be one." She broke free from Eric's grasp and stood between him and Jason. "You'll never go anywhere. You'll never be anything. You'll always be stuck here, feeding off the pain and misery you push onto everyone else because you haven't learned anything different. And I think that's the saddest part of it all. Stay away from my friends and we'll stay away from you." She gritted her teeth. "But if you come near any of them again, nothing and I mean nothing will stop me from hurting you again. Except this time it won't be accidental or with a book."

Before I had time to even really process it, she was gone and so were Eric and Jason.

I bit the inside of my cheek and shifted uneasily. I looked around slowly and then glared.

"Shows over. I suggest you all scatter before I squash you like the bugs you are."

Within minutes, the hallways were empty and I was left standing with the two people I actually gave two shits about. I'd never admit it to anyone, even them, but most days I was glad for their company. I stared down the hallway and rolled my eyes when Joey was quick to speak up.

"She don't know nothing. You can't listen to that horse crap, Harley. Right, Frankie?"

Frankie nodded quickly. "For once Joey is right. Don't let it bother you, man." He attempted to put a comforting hand on my shoulder but I quickly brushed it off and held my hands out defensively.

"I know. I'm going for a smoke. You guys can follow or stay. Your call."

And they did follow.

Sarah's POV

I was in a rage.

I couldn't believe that even after everything, Harley still had not learned a damn thing and that his path of destruction had not deterred at all. I had never power walked so fast in my life.

"Sarah!" I wasn't sure who it was and I didn't care. Their voice came again. "Sarah!"

The feeling of someone's hand wrap around my wrist and whirl me around sure stopped me dead in my tracks however. It was Jason and Eric was right behind him.

"What?"

His beautiful brown eyes searched my face for a second and I could tell he wanted to talk about what just happened but also was trying to be cautious about it. "Uh, you never answered my question."

I was confused. "Question about what?"

"Prom." He smirked. Eric looked at him, then at me and then back at him, clearly unsure of how to react to anything that had just happened and what was going on right then.

I couldn't help but let out a small laugh of relief. "Oh, right. Well, sorry, the thousand pound hunk of junk nearly crushing me to death sort of derailed that." I joked.

"I did save your life, so, therefore think you owe me."

"Owe you? I owe nothing to anyone." I frowned. "But thanks anyway."

After attempting to turn and walk away, his grip tightened again. I didn't even notice he hadn't let go. "Easy tiger, I was joking. I just really want you to go with me."

I slowly turned around again. "Why? Can't get a pity date with anyone else?" I smirked.

Jason smirked in return. "Nah, if I was that desperate, I'd just make Eric go with me."

"Whoa, hang on a second," Eric pipped up. "I'll have you know.."

"Yeah, yeah, you're the king stud and any girl would be lucky to go with you, we get it." Jason rolled his eyes and I bit my lip with a smile.

"So what do you say, Makinley?"

I thought about it for a second. My own prom was two years away and I knew I probably would avoid going to it as it was, so a big part of me actually wanted to go, just to see what the fuss was all about. Plus, another part of me was actually sad about the fact that Jason was going off to college Lord only knew where and that our playful and fun banter would soon be at an end or very far in-between. And he was right about one thing; I prided myself on the fact that I didn't owe a single thing to anyone, but he did save my hyde the night of Monica's party and risked his own safety to do so, so in a sense, I did suppose I owed him at least a few hours of my time if that was what he truly wanted. "Fine."

Jason's eyes lit up. "Great. It's still a few months away but we'll go over the details of where and when I'll pick you up and all that when the time gets closer?" He sounded more hopeful than he intended and that was written all over his face; he was like a little kid in a candy store, it was adorable. It wasn't like this was our first date or time together, but he always had a way of making me feel like it was going to be all over again. I loved that about him.

"Sounds good to me."

Jason kept his composure and then bowed out to me as if we were in some corny 80s romance movie. "M'lady." And at that, he was taking off down the hallway excitedly with Eric in hot pursuit, who could do nothing but give me a half-hearted smile to say goodbye.

I shook my head and grinned to myself. He really was a cheese ball.

The day passed by as quickly as it could and before I knew it, I was walking home with Topanga's arm hooked through mine and Cory loyally at her other side.

"So prom, huh? That's pretty exciting." Topanga practically sang out.

I rolled my eyes and chuckled. "It's a dance like any other dance, Pangers."

"Sure, sure."

"It is, it's no different than the one we dressed up for like it was Halloween."

Topanga squeezed my hair. "Whatever you say. Do you know what you're going to wear yet?"

I suddenly felt a knot twist in my stomach. I owned maybe two dresses and they were not anywhere near appropriate for some sort of huge event like the prom. And to ask my aunt to buy me an expensive nice one so I could be Jason's date was out of the question. What was I going to do? However, I just simply shrugged at her and made it seem as if I truly didn't care about going. Deep down, I knew I was more excited than I had been in a really long time.

As we approached my house, there was a figure slumped slightly over, leaning against the large oak tree that proudly sat outside of the baby blue house my aunt had lived in since before I had started to crawl. It took me seconds to realize who it was. And I wasn't sure if the reason my heart started pounding wildly was because I was nervous or just downright angry.

It was Shawn.

And I wasn't about to hesitate to tell him how I felt.