POV: Dillion Smiley

There are five sure ways of destruction.

• Gossip: chatting with anyone and everyone to find out dirt to use against someone.

• Rumors: a whisper, be it a true or a false one, spread amongst the school population.

• Oppression: using one’s power to intimidate and oppress someone

• Suspicion: raising doubt within inner circles in order to break up friendships.

• Shaming: picking out a characteristic about someone and twisting it up to become something to be ashamed of.

Any one of these is enough to take down someone. I rarely ever use all five. But that, arrogant, gorgeous, cute, shit! Focus, that little snitch really pissed me off yesterday. So I am going to do something I rarely ever do. I am going to give her the royal treatment and pull out all the stops. I am going to annihilate her.

Once I am through with her no one will ever dare challenge me again. I am going to mop the floor with this snitch. Her takedown will be so spectacular that she’ll have to move just to save face.

I already have the rumor wheel spinning thanks to Flynn. We came to an agreement yesterday, if he can get his buddies to say they gang banged Rebel and spread that rumor all throughout the school I promised I would go on another date with him. Plus I said if he can make it past three dates I’ll sleep with him.

Yeah right. In his dreams, but he doesn’t know that. Boys can be really stupid sometimes.

My smiley alliance is already on the oppression front. Those flyers? Gold. I told them to keep it coming, amp it up. I want to stick a fork in this bitch and call her done by the end of the week. They also are on the gossip front as well, trying to find out anything they can about Rebel Reid.

Three down, two to go.

Her friends need to go and that is where my fellow bitches come in.

“Look Alaska I know you are busy but we really need you on this,” I say.

Alaska glances up from her paperwork she was filling out. Something about getting vending machines approved and put in the cafeteria. Her long silky black hair hangs to one side. It’s perfectly straight and shiny. Her dark chocolate colored skin is blemish free and I just want to touch it to see if it’s as soft as it looks. Fuck, she’s so hot. Her brown eyes narrow at me, her plump glossed lips turn downward in a frown. She sets her papers down and rests her perfectly manicured hands on top of them.

“Can’t you handle it alone? That is your specialty after all.” She says.

“I can, but I want to set an example. Clover is on board already. I want to set an example so that no one will ever dare snitch again. We’ve been having too many attempts lately. If we make an example of these losers you can go on the rest of the year in peace.”

“And where is Clover exactly?”

“She’s already looking for a way to take down that gay guy, Scooter I think his name is.”

“And who exactly am I supposed to take down?”

“Haven’t you looked at your alerts? You get Trash bag girl.”

She smirks.

There we go, now I have her attention. I knew trash bag girl would bring her into the fold. After all, it was her first official takedown. You never forget your first.

“Please Alaska. I have a plan. I really need you on this.” I pout and batt my lashes.

She stands up and stretches before eyeing me.

“And what is the plan?”

“Does that mean your in?”

“I guess, it’s been a while, I might be rusty.” She shrugs.

“Well, these losers hardly need you at your full potential. I plan to be done with them by the end of the week. I need you to take down trash bag girl again and make it so she blames Rebel for her epic demise. You have to make her think that none of whatever you got planned would have happened to her if she didn’t associate with Rebel. Can you do that?”

“Easy, for a second I thought this might be an actual challenge.” She smirks in amusement.

“Hardly.” I laugh.

She eyes me up and down, checking me out. I feel the heat rise to my cheeks. Shit! Focus, straight thoughts. Don’t let her catch you.

I quickly turn to leave before she can see my cheeks.

“I’m glad I can count on you for this,” I say before sauntering out of the empty student council room.

Just then the first bell rings for class.

Day two. Now all I have to do is find something peculiar out about Rebel and shame her for it. In order to do that, I have to be a fly on the wall. She can’t know I am watching her. I have to be careful I know she is trying to find something on me too. Let her try, no one has been able to do it this far, what makes her any different?

Step one, blending in. Today I wore jeans and a t-shirt. I haven’t re-dyed my hair yet so it’s just blonde and I have up in a tight ponytail. I wore flats as well, no clacking heels. Now I look just like everyone else.

Also, I am short which gives me an advantage. It makes it easier for me to hide in a crowd. I spot Rebel talking with her friends, she’s at her locker. She pulls out some book before shutting it and turning to head to class. One of the smiley alliance people bump into her and knock all her books to the floor.

They quickly walk off snickering.

Her friends bend down and help her pick up the books. That’s when I see it.

Hello.

As she was bending over to pick up the book her shirt rose up a little. Just enough for me to see the hints of a tattoo on her back.

Bingo.

Now I just got to get a better look at it and figure out what it is. I bet it’s something stupid. I quickly turn and head off to class. I have her in P.E. too, which is perfect. Now I wait.

I wonder who gave her the tattoo? Does that mean she’s 18 already? I don’t even turn 18 until May. Her parents let her get a tattoo? Unless they don’t know about it, which would be even better for me. But maybe her parents don’t care, I mean who names their daughter Rebel? They must have been hippies.

I wonder does she have both her parents like me? Is she an only child? What is her life like? What exactly possessed her to challenge the game? Why does she even care? Like seriously, she didn’t even play. We don’t bother her so why the hell does she want to bother us? I am not going to let her take this from me. I swear this game is like the only thing I look forward to now. No way am I giving it up, she’ll have to pry it out of my cold dead hands.

When P.E. finally roles around the girls all get changed, I can’t help but notice how Rebel changes quickly with her back to the wall. She extra careful, her eyes darting around to make sure I’m not looking. She glances right over me. I guess she can’t see me when I look like this. I’ll have to wait until after P.E. to get a better look.

During P.E. we run the track. I quickly jog and catch up with Rebel.

“How’s life treating you?” I ask.

She jolts at my appearance, she wasn’t expecting me. Her hair is tied back and I can see her silver eyes up close and personal. They are breathtaking. Focus!

“Same old same old.” She rolls her eyes and jogs faster.

“Really? Nothing new?” I match her pace.

“I prefer not to swap pleasantries with my enemy.” She says.

Pleasantries… that’s adorable.

“You know if you stopped trying to ruin the game we wouldn’t have to be enemies. Maybe we could even be friends.”

“I’d never be friends with such a horrible monster like you.” She spat and ran faster.

…

Ouch.

That hurt.

I’m not a horrible person. Am I? It’s nothing personal. Everyone knows that. It’s just a game. What’s the big deal? She doesn’t even know me. She’s just trying to get to me is all and I am not going to let her have the last say.

“Really? Because I think you would Imagine having everyone grovel at your feet. You and I, we would be legends.” I jog to catch up to her.

“You really are sick aren’t you. You live in this twisted world where you are somehow the innocent victim and everyone around you is the bad guy. Here’s a reality check for you, this “game” has made you into a monster. People don’t respect you, they are afraid of you. No one wants to be your friend, and if they do it’s only because they want to be the one that takes your place when you come crashing down. The truth is Dillion, that “power” you have is all an illusion. What do you think will happen to it once you graduate? In ten years when you run into people again, they won’t remember Dillion that cool girl from high school. They will remember Dillion, that monster who ruined people’s lives. Trust me when I say, I have no interest in ever wanting to be your “friend” now please leave me alone.”

I stop running and watch her run off.

What a bitch. What the hell does she know? Fuck her. I will take her down! She is messing with the wrong one. Well, maybe I didn’t want to be her friend to begin with! Maybe I was just trying to take pity on her. Yeah. That’s what it was. She can take her oh mightier than thou attitude and shove it up her ass. She wants me to be the bad guy, then fine! I’ll be the monster she thinks I am; bitch won’t even know what hit her.

“Are you crying?” Clover snorts and jogs over to me.

“It’s called sweat.” I roll my eyes and quickly jog off.

Fuck her, fuck everyone. I don’t need anyone, I can do this all on my own. Just keep on smiling Smiley, don’t ever let them know.

After P.E. we all head back into the changing room. I am sure to seclude myself off in the corner just so Rebel can’t do the same. She eyes me and I pretend not to notice as I change back into my regular clothes, purposely taking my time.

Then with a frown, she huddles close to her locker and pulls her clothes out. A few of the girls change fast and walk away, leaving me and Rebel alone. She eyes me again before rolling her eyes and turning to change. She doesn’t even try to hide it from me.

She lifts her shirt over her head and I see it.

A butterfly. A rainbow butterfly. It makes my heart jump and my insides tingle. It is beautiful. Somehow I feel connected to it on a deeper level. Far too quickly it is gone before I can really admire it. She slips her shirt back on and slams her locker shut. Then with one last glare shot at me, she walks away.

What the hell am I doing? Why am I trying to destroy something so… beautiful? Why can’t we just be friends? Why does she want to ruin the one good thing that I have? Can’t she see that this game is the only thing keeping me sane? Doesn’t she know that without it, I will be nothing? Less than nothing.

What is this feeling inside of me? The deep aching pain. It’s all over. Spreading fast. I’ve never felt it before. At least not this strong. I wish… no. I don’t need anyone. I don’t need her, or friends, or family. I am Dillion Smiley, suck it up, no one likes a whiny bitch. Pull yourself together. You have a butterfly whose wings are in need of clipping.

I quickly change and head off to my next class.

I feel numb.

Numb to everyone and everything around me. I used to look forward to school, now… I just want this takedown to be over with once and for all. Rebel Reid why the hell did you pick now to come into my life? Why are you getting to me? What makes you different from everyone else?

Someone bumps into me and nearly knocks me over.

“Sorry.” She says. Some no name girl.

“Watch it!” I snap at her.

She flinches away and quickly runs off.

If they are afraid of me then let them be afraid. I don’t need them. I don’t need any of them. I will destroy them all if that is what it takes for this game to be left alive. She won’t stop me. I won’t let her.

Did you hear?

 Rebel Reid is bisexual, I saw her watching girls change in the locker room. She is a predator she even let the football team gang bang her. Disgusting.