Page 20 of Lightning Angel
“Back off, Melissa.” A new voice joined.
Alexa groaned inwardly as Jude’s icy-blonde spikes appeared behind the girls in front of her.
“Jude! Hey…” Melissa turned, and her voice took on a sugary note, one that Alexa knew always made Jude want to gag.
Jude glared at Melissa, one hand gripping the sling of the bag on his shoulder and the other clenched into a fist at his side. “Leave her alone.”
Alexa opened her mouth to tell him she didn’t need his help; him playing her knight was the last thing she wanted. But Daphne nudged her in the ribs and sent her a meaningful look, as if to say,not now.
“Leaving…” Melissa singsonged and brushed past him, sending Alexa a warning glare behind his back. Her entourage followed as she sauntered away, leaving behind a silenced hallway.
Jude turned to Alexa the moment they were out of earshot. A surge of emotions, a blend of frustration and resentment, rushed through her. All the feelings she had managed to set aside since her encounter with Tristan came flooding back.
“I didn’t need your help.”
Jude’s eyebrows rose. “It didn’t look like that to me.”
The silent storm within her intensified. “I’m not your damsel in distress, and I don’t want you to play my knight in shining armor.”
Jude sighed and rubbed his temples tiredly. “We need to talk.”
“No. We. Don’t.” Alexa gritted through her teeth. “Itold you I don’t want to see you again.”
“We’re in the same school and share classes, so how isthatgoing to happen?” Jude sounded exasperated.
“Just stay out of my way, alright?” Alexa turned from him and shut her locker.
“Lex, please… We have onlookers, thanks to Melissa. Let’s not make a scene.”
“Oh,youbetter wish I don’t punch you in the face and make the scenario worse for you, White.” Daphne snapped, but with a fake smile for the said onlookers. “You’re tempting me.”
Jude recoiled. He took a step back and glanced at Alexa, his eyes pleading with hers. “Lex—”
“I can’t believe you have the audacity to try persuading her after what you did, you snake!” Daphne hissed at him. “If I see you trying again, I won’t hesitate to throw you a punch. It’s only for Alexa’s sake I’m holding off now. Come on, Lex.”
Daphne grabbed Alexa by the arm and turned away from Jude.
But his words stopped her.
“You look amazing by the way, Lex.”
Alexa glanced over her shoulder, meeting his eyes with summoned boldness while keeping any emotion out of her face. “Thanks,” she said and walked away.
The hallway slowly returned to normalcy, with students resuming their activities and conversations, but Alexa was sure without having to look that they were peering at her as she passed by them.
The weight of their attention pressed on her shoulders, along with it, the sense of helplessness and frustration. A pang of empathy for every victim ofMelissa’s bullying went through her. Was this how every victim of Melissa’s bullies felt? It was a sobering realization that, while Alexa hadn’t directly bullied anyone, her silent complicity in Melissa’s cruelty over the years weighed heavily on her conscience.
The realization that she had stood by, laughed, and agreed with Melissa’s cruelty hit her with a force that transcended the immediate confrontation.
The mean girl circle that was once a toxic refuge would no longer confine her. Alexa took a deep breath. She had to redefine her identity and make amends for every instance she had sided with Melissa to hurt others now that she knew what it was like.
There was no doubt Melissa would seek revenge on her for the talkback and quitting, especially for being the reason for Daphne’s decision to quit as well. Until she graduated and left the school for good, Alexa was going to be Melissa’s prime bullying target.
* * *
Alexa woke up to her phone ringing that night. She opened her eyes; it was still dark. Who was calling her at this hour?
She reached for the phone from the nightstand. The glaring light of the screen blinded her as she tried to read the caller ID. She sat up and blinked into the dark until her vision adjusted, before glancing at the screen again.