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672words
It sounded like firecrackers in the alley.
My wild style stunned the thugs.
Mia wailed,
"What're you all waiting for?Help me!What're you paid for?"
The gang pulled us apart.
Mia,clutching her red and swollen face,glared.
"Beat her!Make her kneel and beg,see if she dares bully me again!"
With the thugs sticking up for her,she grew cocky.
But she forgot who controlled them a lifetime ago.
As they closed in,I grabbed a piece of broken glass,pressing it to my neck.
"Anyone want a murder charge?Step closer and try!"
"This is the SAT site—reporters everywhere.Kill me,and you'll be famous nationwide.Courts will hammer you.Think anyone'll be able to save then you?"
The thugs froze,eyeing the crowd outside,hesitating.
I knew exactly what they fear.
Pressing harder,blood trickled down from my neck,it felt chilling when a breeze blew.
"You?"
"Or you?"
They backed off for a few feet,too scared to touch me.
"No,no,girl,just kidding!"
"Exactly,you’re too pretty to die!"
Mia,stunned at my movement,shoved a thug forward.
"Go!What're you scared of?"
But he snapped back,
"You go yourself then!All bark,no bite!"
Desperate,she blocked me.
"You're not leaving!Think you'll escape without talking?"
I waved the bloody glass.
"Wanna try?I said we're done.Stab you,and I won't feel a thing."
Her red face paled,eventually she stepped aside.
I sneered,walking out.
At the alley's entrance,someone blocked me.
Sharp features,smirking.
"You're kinda interesting."
I nearly stabbed him with the glass.
That voice—I'd know it anywhere.
Ethan Bradley.
"You're the one my dad picked?Decent looks,some spark,but...you're too cheap to be my lapdog."
I denied,
"Nope!Wrong guy,bro."
He ignored me,gripping my shoulder.
"Name your price to disappear and die."
He squeezed,my bones creaking.
Classic Ethan.
Wincing,I swung my arm,slapping him hard.
"Love to play tough?Didn't your dad teach you not to hit women?"
I'd held that slap for a lifetime.
If he wasn't so tall,I'd have hit twice.
Ethan,never slapped by anyone before in his life,got mad immediately.
"Mia,you asking for your own death?Think my dad got you to be my wife?"
"You're just a breeding sow—don't get cocky!"
His voice boomed through the alley.
Mia,panicked,ran out.
"Who's cursing me?"
"What idiot curses for no reason?Got a problem?Freak!"
She grabbed my hand.
"Sarah,you're that cruel?Sisters,and you won't tell me Ethan's likes?It'll kill you?"
What a leech.
I flung her to Ethan's feet.
"There's your man—ask him yourself."
She'd studied his photos for a million times.
Looking up,she saw the face of her prince in her dreams.
"Ethan...Ethan!"
"Hi,I'm..."
Ethan kicked her away,annoyed.
"Who're you?We close?Don’t touch me!"
"Mia,that slap—we're not done!"
His eyes blazed at me.
Mia,on the ground,pointed to herself.
"Ethan,it's me!I'm Mia,your fiancée!"
"I'd never hit you—I'm timid,can't even yell..."She pretended to start sobbing
Her act triggered Ethan.He kicked her again.
"What's with your voice?You sound like a mouse in a childish cartoon!"
"You're Mia?Then who's she?"
He pointed at me.
I laughed.
"Nobody.Happened to be here for my SAT"
Mia,terrified I'd steal him,sprang up,cooing to Ethan.
"Ethan,when'd you get back?Why didn’t you tell me?Did you come here just to see me?—I'm shy..."
"Get lost!"
With a loud slap,Ethan sent her stumbling back a few steps,he then ordered the thugs,
"Hold her!Let her go,and I'll break your legs!"
He then walk toward me,towering.
"I said you're interesting.What's your name?I rarely ask anyone,consider this my conpliment."
I quipped,
"I'm Dave Chappelle,believe me?"
He scowled."You think?"
"Then,do I look like a stand-up comedian or a talk show host?"
He shook his head,confused.
"Neither."
"Then why should I consider what you said a compliment?You buying tickets to my show or tipping me?"
"Calling someone interesting on the street—you're the weird one!"
Speechless,he stared.
I turned and left.
This life,I owed him nothing.
Sweet.
So damn sweet.
On the bus,I glanced back at the alley.
Ethan had two thugs lifting Mia.
He was saying,
"Break her legs,let her crawl back to the Russos.See if she still put up that disgusting act and go me."
"You wanna know my type?I like marathon runners.Fifty miles to the Russos—run!"
