Page 25 of The Sweetest Revenge

"You did what?" Journey's voice scraped between her clenched teeth as she followed me through the rows of lockers.

I dropped my towel on the hook. "I punched him in the face." The shower curtain rings screeched against the metal rod. "In front of Mila and Sterling."

"You are playing with fire," Journey warned. I recognized her fear, but I wasn't sure if it was for her or me. "He's going to make that video go viral, and who knows what will happen. You could lose your scholarship." I rolled my eyes but didn't say anything. "What if he has videos of the rest of us, too?”

I glanced over my shoulder and kicked on the water. "He's not going to share that video. It's his only leverage." I stepped toward the shower. "Once it's out there, his power is gone." Steam began to rise. "And his beef is with me. Not you. Not the other girls."

I didn't really want that video to go viral, but there was only so much one person could take before they said 'fuck it' and let him show the video. "He's probably going to share it once he's done with me anyway."

"Let's hope not," she frowned. "I really need this scholarship, and if they shut down the dance team, who knows what will happen."

"They may take away my scholarship, but they have no reason to take away everyone else's."

"We have dance scholarships." Journey twisted her bracelet around her wrist. "If we aren't dancing, there is no scholarship."

I nodded, hoping the cold feeling in my stomach was wrong.

"We need to figure out why he's angry with me and fast."

She nodded. "I'm heading home now, but I'll meet you at the party around ten." I nodded. "We'll come up with a game plan when we get there, but you're going to want to avoid Zaiden if you can."

"I'll stick close to EJ tonight. He won't try anything with the whole team around."

Journey's face darkened. "I think you underestimate him."

She was right. I always did. And I always paid for it.

"Expect everything," she whispered.

"You're right. I'll see you tonight."

She left, and I stripped down and slipped into the shower. The water hitting the tile floor echoed through the silent locker room, and steam filled the space, escaping through the openings in the curtain. I stepped forward, letting the hot water wash away all the stresses of my day for a brief moment before coming up with a game plan for tonight.

I needed a list of everyone who was at the party the night Kacie died, and then we could split up and casually question everyone to see if we could find out why Zaiden thinks I had something to do with her death.

A dark shadow slid under the curtain. I froze. The roar of water seemed distant, muffled by the blood rushing in my ears. A footstep. Then another. Everyone but Mila should be gone by now. The shadow grew larger. Closer.

"Mila?" I called out. No answer.

My heart crowded my throat, making it hard to breathe. Zaiden wouldn't dare come into another team's locker room. It was forbidden.

"Mila?" My voice cracked this time.

The shower curtain ripped open, and I screamed. Not because it was Zaiden, but because it scared me.

"What the fuck, Zaiden?" My arms flew across my chest, a pointless shield. Water dripped between us. "What are you doing in here?"

"I want to know what happens when your Coach calls your name at the end of practice," he said, his tone deep and dark as he reached in and flicked off the water.

"Seriously?"

He moved fast, too fast; he stepped forward, wrapping his large hand around my throat and shoving me into the wall. "Seriously." He pressed into me, dropping his face to mine. His grip tightened around my throat in warning. "I asked nicely. Now I'm telling you I want to know what is happening in that office."

"I don't know."

His grip tightened, and my hands wrapped around his wrist. "I have no problem burying you next to my sister."

"I really don't know," I gasped, and his grip loosened. "My name hasn't been called yet, but if you must know, I imagine it's similar to what is required to make the team."

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