POV: Dillion Smiley

There is nothing more satisfying to watch than to see a takedown go exactly as planned. Looking on in admiration as everything unfolds perfectly, just the way I planned it. The power of one well-planned whisper.

Did you hear? Miranda Pickle sucks off guys under the bleachers at football games.

Did I know it was true? Not a clue. Did that stop me from spreading the rumor? Please, who do you think I am?

Set the trap and watch them fall in. Miranda panics knowing that once the rumor has circulated back to her that it is far too late to stop it now. This rumor spread faster than expected, she had no time for a counter. Pickle’s sucks pickles, I don’t know who wrote it on her locker, but damn that’s a good one. Going in the memento album for sure.

In her epic demise, she outs herself accusing Tomas Bell of telling everyone at the top of her lungs right in the middle of the hall, just as school lets out for the day. He laughs at her and tells her it wasn’t him. If she wasn’t such a slut this wouldn’t have happened to her. Soon everyone is chasing her out of the school shouting pickle sucker.

A masterpiece.

Ahh, I will never get tired of this.

“Man Dillion, that one was brutal,” Clover says.

“Mess with the best, end up like the rest,” I smirk.

Miranda Pickle should have known better than to challenge me Dillon Smiley at the game. I am the queen and reigning champion three years running after all. No one beats me. My takedowns are legendary and people are so scared of me that they do my bidding for me. Everyone wants to be part of the smiley alliance. Only the best are accepted in.

“Add it to my scoreboard. That was too easy. Next time I want a challenge. Come on I want to get to the mall before pickle sucker realizes it was me.” I saunter off towards the parking lot.

At this school, there is an unspoken game being played. The game of G.R.O.S.S. The girl’s rule of strategic sabotage. It can also stand for Gossip, Rumors, Oppression, Suspicion, and Shaming. There is an app that almost all the girls have on their phone. The app tracks takedowns, and current challenges among many other things such as snitch radar and past winners. No one knows who made it up, just that it’s been being played for years at Sunder High. They used to keep track of score the good old fashion way of book and paper, but that was too easy to get caught. So a few years ago someone made an app. The rest, as they say, is history.

The rules of the game are simple. If you violate girl code you are gross and will be challenged.

Girl code 101:

• No significant other snatching

• No slut shaming

• Ex’s are off limits to friends unless given permission with two witnesses

• Ruin another girls stuff and she has the right to get payback

• No dating of a friend’s family member without permission

• Secret shared between friends stay between friends, violators are gross

• Inside jokes stay inside jokes, no outsiders allowed

• Sisters before Misters

• No boys allowed! If you tell a boy about Gross beware the bitches.

• No snitching

• No accusing anyone of anything without proof

• No false claims, no one likes a whiny bitch

• Dibs, if a girl see’s someone they like they are given a week to get their attention, Dibs perks

• Respect, we are all queens

• Bullies and Haters are nothing but traitors

• Girls always stick together

• Pick each other up, don’t tear anyone down

• Grieve clause, a girl is allowed to grieve after a break-up for two weeks, leaving her ex off limits.

• Above all, always remember when it comes to Gross, it’s not personal.

If someone feels like you have transgressed these rules or sacred values, then you are Gross. You get challenged. A challenge is declared through the app or in person. You must stake the clause violated and then it’s on. The challenger gets the advantage of preparing beforehand because they know they are about to challenge someone. The challengy has a right to fight back and can use whatever means necessary, girl code be damned. Miranda Pickle called me Snatcher since her Ex wanted to hook up with me. I declined of course, but the fact that I was flirting with him and ignoring the grieve clause made me gross. Poor Miranda, I am the champ. No one beats me at Gross.

Snitches get the Bitches. If you or anyone ever threatens to tell someone of the game, be it a boy or an adult, beware the bitches. An alert will be sent out because trust me someone will always rat you out before you have a chance to rat everyone out. If one goes down, we all go down. It’s up to the Bitches to stop them before it’s too late. The bitches are the reigning top three at the time. Usually, I can handle it on my own, but sometimes I let them handle it.

Them being my number two, Clover Baker, aka my right-hand gal.

And number three is student council prez, Alaska Roundoff. We aren’t great friends but we have mutual respect for each other. I don’t mess with her and she doesn’t mess with me. We three make up the Bitches of Sunder High. You snitch and you get the bitch.

Of course, there is a clause where if the snitch is a bitch, then it is a free for all to see who can take her down first.

Despite how brutal this all sounds, it actually does well to keep the peace between the girl population. It forces girls to be civil and make nice if they don’t then what happened to pickle sucker could happen to you. It’s a good motivator to behave your damn self. Seriously our school is known for its friendliness and team spirit. Only because all the fighting is done in secret.

Some boys know, they aren’t stupid. But a boy can only know if he figures it out on his own, no one can tell him. Not even another guy, guys who know are honorary members. They can’t play the game but the rules still apply to them, they snitch, they get the bitch.

The score is tracked by the number of takedowns. A takedown occurs when, well you just know when. Exhibit A. Miranda Pickle. When the sky comes falling down basically. A point can only be added to your score if two witnesses verify. Since all the girls knew I was being challenged by pickle sucker it doesn’t take a genius to realize this was me. In fact, five people have already verified, another point for me.

There is also a rematch clause. The loser has up to two days to challenge to a rematch. If they lose the rematch they drop four points and the winner rises by four. I don’t expect Miranda to go for a rematch, she was dumb enough to challenge me in the first place, a rematch would be overkill.

“That makes 23 takedowns already and football season is not even over,” Clover says as we exit the car.

She has been scrolling through the app and checking in on current challenges and what not. I eye her, was she wearing that all day? I didn’t notice. She has on a skirt way too short for her round ass if she bends over it’s a full moon tonight. She also has on a crop top that shows off her stomach. How is she not freezing her ass off? Her almond brown hair is draped over her shoulder and her dark brown eyes scan over her phone.

“What’s my overall score?” I ask for fun.

She rolls her eyes, she knows I know but I like to rub it in her face.

“174.”

“And how many do you have?” I smirk.

“112.” She rolls her eyes again.

“One day you’ll catch up.” I tease her.

We walk into the mall and head to the bathroom to give ourselves a quick look over. I inspect my platinum blond hair with pink tips, it’s a little frizzed out so I smooth it down with my hand and drape it over my right shoulder. I reapply my pink lip gloss and straighten out my pink dress. Then I look at my blue eyes and wink at myself. Damn, I’m hot.

Clover snorts in amusement at me and together we head into the mall.

“I feel like it’s kind of pointless to challenge me. I mean I am undefeated. You are just asking for it.” I say.

“I don’t know, I mean imagine being known as the girl that took down Dillion Smiley, that alone is worth it to me.” Clover shrugged.

“Face it, it’s impossible. I’m an open book, you can’t take down an open book.”

“You dating Flynn yet?” She asks out of nowhere.

“Huh? No. I’m teasing him a bit, why? You interested?” I raise a finely trimmed brow at her.

“I’m not, but maybe that girl is.” She points.

My eyes scan the food court and I see a girl, she has black hair, long wavy, beautiful black hair. Light grey eyes, small shy smile, and a dimple in her left cheek. She has on jeans and a purple flannel shirt, beat up sneakers and homemade jewelry. Her nails are painted purple, I can see them form over here. They rest on the cover of a book she has set down in front of her. Her laugh makes my insides tingle, it’s cute. Giggly, sweet, and simple. It causes a light blush to form on her pale cheeks. Who is she?

“Hello? Earth to Dillion? Girl code violation 12 o’clock? You totally have dibs. That girl goes to our school, I think her name is Rebel.”

Rebel.

“Oh. Well, I don’t care. She can have him. I wasn’t really interested, I was just teasing him.” I say, my eyes still glued to her.

“You always say that you know I am starting to suspect you might not be straight at all. You never date any of the guys who hit on you.”

My head whips to Clover.

“Don’t be ridiculous. Of course, I’m straight. It’s not that I don’t like Flynn, it’s just that if he was serious about me he wouldn’t be flirting with what’s her face right now. Not worth my time or effort.” I huff before sauntering into the food court.

I slow my pace as I walk by Flynn. He looks at me and I smile at him before my eyes drift to her. Rebel.

“Hey, Smiley.”

“Hey Flynn, who’s this?” I ask.

“Oh uh, um…”

“It’s Rebel.” The girl rolls her eyes in annoyance.

“Right Rebel, I knew that.” He laughs nervously.

“I’m Dillion, Dillon Smiley.”

“Rebel Reid.” She frowns at me.

What is her problem? We just met, she looks like she wants to slap me or something. Is it Flynn? Because she can have him, I really don’t care. He is a player, he was only with Miranda because she sucked his pickle.

“Hey, Flynn,” Clover says behind me.

“Hey Cloves.” He winked at her.

“So Rebel, you go to our school right? I don’t really see you around.” I say.

“Well, I see you.” She grumbles.

No duh, everyone knows who I am. She has a cute pouty face. Wait, shit. Focus, think straight thoughts. No one can find out. Just imagine if it got out that Dillon Smiley is…

“Anyways, um. I got to go.” Rebel got up to leave.

“Right, uh, nice meeting you.” I smile.

She gives me a raised eyebrow look before she smirks at me. What was up with that face? Like she knew something I didn’t. Why have I never seen her before? I thought I knew all the girls at school.

“Man you blew it.” Cricket comes up behind Flynn.

“Shut up.” He hisses before looking at me and smiling.

I roll my eyes. Please, I know he was only talking to her for his own game. Boys will be boys, I bet he just wanted to see how far he could get her to go. Seems like she wasn’t buying whatever he was selling.

“So uh, Smiley wanna go on a date sometime?” Flynn ask.

Typical. Breaks up with pickle sucker, flirts with me, then goes behind my back and flirts with Rebel. What a man whore. He thinks he’s all that. Looks aren’t everything. Just because he's built like a Roman god and looks like an underwear model doesn’t mean he’s getting any of this.

“Don’t hold your breath, Dillion isn’t really into guys,” Clover says.

Wait what the fuck was that? What the actual fuck. Is that a violation? In front of my face! False accusation, hater, respect is just thrown out the window. Bitch!

“Holy shit you’re gay?”

“What!? Of course not, shut the fuck up Clover. Before I was so rudely interrupted I was going to say, yes, I would love to go on a date with you Flynn.”

“Really? Cool, uh so this weekend, you and me, and the movies?”

“Sounds like a plan, text me.” I wink at him.

Then I grab Clover by the arm and drag her away.

“What the fuck?” I let go of her once we are back in the girl's restroom.

“It was just a joke.” She snorts.

“Don’t you dare spread fucking rumors about me, I will destroy you. Just don’t even think about it. One and only warning. That shit wasn’t funny.”

“Maybe it wasn’t funny because it’s true.” She shrugs.

I narrow my eyes at her.

“Sexuality, in general, isn’t a joke. If you think it is, then you really need to grow the fuck up.” I snap at her.

“Touchy.” She smirks.

Ugh, what a fucking slut. I know she just wants to fucking fuck Flynn, well too fucking bad. Bitch, maybe I will challenge her, just to put her in her place. Sometimes number two has to be reminded why she’s number two and why I am number one.

“Relax Dillion. Your secret is safe with me. For now.” She winks.

“Don’t make me challenge you,” I warn.

“I already have what I need to take you down.” She smirks.

“Wanna prove it?” I hiss.

“Challenge me I dare you. I will be known as the girl who took you down.”

She seems pretty confident. She must really think she has something. Fuck, I let my guard down around her, I thought she was my friend. This bitch is just like all the rest. Just trying to get close enough to destroy me. What does she have? How does she know? When did I slip? Fuck.

I have to play this right, I can’t challenge her yet. I’m not ready. She doesn’t want to challenge me because she’s not ready either. Not fully at least, but she is more ready than me.

“You little bitch, you had me going for a second.” I play it off with a laugh and playfully push her.

“Did I?” She raises an eyebrow.

“Relax, I was just joking. Besides, why challenge you when we can do other more fun things instead.” I wiggle my eyebrows at her.

She gives me a puzzled look.

“You really shouldn’t joke about sexuality though. You know what they say, it the ones who deny and shame it that always turn out to be the gay ones. You trying to tell me something?” I tease before walking out of the restroom not waiting for her to follow.

Just as she walks out we both get an alert on our phone. We share a puzzled look before opening up the app.

Snitch alert.

Rebel Reid was overheard talking to Birdie Olsen and Scooter Healy about putting an end to the game. There is a recording attached. I open it up and watch the video.

“She was so smug you should have seen it. I mean it’s disgusting, What a horrible person. She actually takes joy in ruining people lives. We have to stop this once and for all.” Rebel says to Scooter.

“You would have to face the bitches of Sunder high, not a good idea,” Scooter says as he runs a hand through his messy hair.

“She won’t have to do it alone, she has us.” Birdie pats Rebel on the shoulder.

“Maybe we should just tell someone,” Scooter suggests.

“Don’t worry I have a plan.” Rebel says.

The recording ends.

Shit.

“Looks like we have our next challenge,” Clover says.

“This is going to be hard, we don’t know anything about her.” I think out loud.

“When has that ever stopped the great Dillion Smiley?”

“We have to talk to Alaska, we have ourselves a snitch that needs to be silenced.”

“Three daily servings of Bitch coming right up.”

Rebel Reid, you’re going down.