Page 94 of Vicious Games

“Ineverysize?” Anna presses, still smiling.

“Of course,” the woman answers, looking absolutely defeated, the dollar signs that used to be in her eyes long gone now.

As she retreats to the counter, Stella leans toward Anna and whispers something just loud enough for me to hear, “See? Always be the villain. That’s how you get shit done.”

The rest of the weekend passes uneventfully.

At least, it feels that way after being immersed in the chaotic whirlwind that is the Romano clan.

Between Lucky’s unexpected offer of friendship and Stella’s blunt-as-hell, jaded words of wisdom about life, and the role we women are expected to play in it, my mind is a tangled mess.

But one thing has been gnawing at me all weekend and that’s Annamaria.

When she said she didn’t feel like she fit in, it struck a deep chord inside me. Not only that, but I saw how her altruistic view of the world warped slightly after what happened to her. Add that traumatic experience, and her sister urging her to sharpen her edges and embrace being the villain in other people’s stories, and it’s no wonder she’s struggling to recognize herself.

I want to prove to her—and maybe to myself, too—that we don’t have to accept the roles society tries to force on us. That we can be the heroes of our own stories.

That’s why I show up early to Monday morning mass at the school chapel. I want to see every boy in the freshman pew, until I find the culprits that tried to assault someone as kindhearted as Annamaria. And then when Mass is over, I want to walk them straight to Mother Superior and tell her exactly what they tried to do to her.

I know that Annamaria didn’t want to report the incident since, for some unexplained reason, she didn’t want to get her parents involved, but those boys need to learn that harassing women has consequences. I have no doubt that Mother Superior will expel the boys on the spot once I tell her what happened. The school might think that Sister Margaretta is harsh, but I know she stands for justice. She’ll expel them without batting an eye. I’m sure of it. Knowing her, she might even get the authorities involved.

Annamaria won’t like that one bit, since it will end up drawing attention to her, but hopefully, she’ll find it in her heart to forgive me.

After Sister Margaretta is done with them, they’ll think twice before attempting to do something of that nature again. Or at least I hope they will. If not, then at least I’ll sleep better at night knowing that they can’t hurt Anna again, nor will she be reminded of the traumatic event every time she sees their faces in the halls and class at Sacred Heart.

Hopefully the ordeal will teach her that we need to be the heroes in our own lives.

And if we can’t be that for ourselves, then wehaveto be that for our sisters.

But as the pews in the chapel fill up, I don’t see the two boys anywhere.

Cowards.

They probably skipped school today, hoping Anna and I would just let the whole thing go.

Fat chance of that happening.

They’ll have to come to school sooner or later, and when they do, they won’t walk away from what they’ve done scot-free.

As Father Torres steps up to the pulpit, everyone in the chapel falls into silence, waiting for him to begin mass.

“Good morning, students. I’m afraid I must begin today’s mass on a somber note. Two of our freshmen, Alec Parkinson and Tim Gavin, passed away in a freak car accident Saturday night. Their funeral will be held at St. Mary’s Cathedral the day after tomorrow. It is with a heavy heart that I share the news of your classmates’ passing. If any of you are in need of spiritual counsel, please don’t hesitate to see me after the service. It is a tragic day when lives so young are lost, but I urge you all to lean on one another as we navigate this grief together.”

My blood runs cold at Father Torres’s words, while around me, the chapel erupts into shocked whispers, the weight of the news sinking in.

But as I scan the room, I spot three faces that show no surprise at all by the upsetting news.

Annamaria.

Enzo.

Lucky.

Not even a flinch.

Those assholes will never bother my sister—or any girl—again.

Those were Lucky’s exact words to me last Friday night.

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