Hearing those words escape CC's lips, I immediately started thinking of the worst-case scenario. "What happened to Betty? Is she okay?"
CC shook her head so fast her hair whipped across her face. Her eyes were wild, restless, like she wanted to crawl out of her own skin. "That fucking creep, Seth. That's what happened."
"What'd he do?" I asked, trying to remain calm.
"That little fucker just tried to walk into the restroom on us!" She spat. "I was in the middle of changing my top. My tits were out and everything."
My blood surged and boiled. "WHAT?!" My words just tore through me. "OH HELL NO!"
The audacity. First stalking Betty, now this. My fists curled so hard my knuckles cracked like gunfire.
"Where is he?" I asked furiously.
"I...I don't know. Probably looking for Betty," CC hesitated.
"And where's Betty?" My heart raced.
"Follow me. I made sure she locked herself in one of the restrooms," CC said.
We guided through the flood of students heading out for lunch, pushing against the crowd to reach Betty. CC's voice raised to fill me in on the situation. She and Betty attempted to push Seth away even further and avoid him by jumping from restroom to restroom. No matter what, he followed them like he was enjoying some twisted game of hide and seek, calling from outside the restrooms, and eventually going inside to look around. If not for a group of girls who chased him out, he would have found them.
Now CC had Betty barricade herself and hide in a single restroom somewhere, and brought me along to keep an eye out for Seth. There's no telling what I would do the moment I see him. All I know is he's pissed me off.
We rounded the corner, and CC froze in place like she had just seen a ghost. "Shit. There he is. He found the restroom."
And there he was. His greedy hands tugging desperately at the locked door, trying to force himself in.
"HEY!" The word ripped out of my chest like a thundering roar.
Seth whipped his head toward me and went pale. He stumbled back in a panic like a thief caught by a spotlight.
I paced toward him, blinded by anger. Every step a promise of violence. Seth scurried for the crowd, attempting to flee.
"Alfie!" CC reached for me mid-charge, her fingers hooked the back of my shirt, and brought me to a halt. Seth vanished among the students congregating in the hallways.
"Let it go, Alfie." CC pleaded. "There's no need to get yourself suspended for fighting."
"That fucker!" I growled, huffing in lungfuls of air to calm myself.
CC knocked on the door with a rhythm, something she knew Betty would recognize. "Betty. Betty, it's me."
There was a moment of silence before the lock made a clicking noise. Betty peeked her head out, looking pale and trembling in fear. "Is he gone?"
"Yeah. For now." CC assured.
"What the actual fuck?!" Betty gasped, emerging from the restroom.
Feeling very protective, I took Betty's hand into mine. They were cold and clammy, shaking uncontrollably. I didn't want to think about what Seth might have attempted or done if we hadn't arrived in time, but I was glad we got to her in time. CC led the way to where Betty's next class was, and I escorted her, just as Link did with the maidens in The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. Only this was no game.
The three of us sat in the hall right outside Betty's next class. We refused to leave Betty alone until the bell rang.
"You think he'll keep this up?" CC asked.
I shrugged. "I don't know. But I think Seth is done."
Betty nodded and barely whispered. "Yeah. He's done."
CC exhaled and shook her head. "This was insane."
"I'll let the guys know," I said.
"No. Don't," Betty's eyes darted at me. "I didn't want to involve anyone else. Not even my parents or the school," Betty whispered.
I didn't understand. Maybe Betty was afraid of what would happen if she spoke up. Perhaps she thought no one would believe her.
DING DING
Betty walked into her class safely. I walked with CC until the halls split, feeling there was more that needed to be done.
"I should at least tell Bear," I suggested.
CC shook her head. "No. Not even Bear."
"Why not?"
She scoffed. "You heard her. She said she didn't want anyone else involved. It's more than enough that we're already in deep."
I sighed. "Fine. You're right."
"I know I am." She smirked and lightened her tone. "We'll talk more later, okay? Remember, not a word."
I nodded and let her go her way. We'd all had a close call. But what now? Betty had hoped for a simple relationship, but ended up in an unwanted situation.
She deserved better and a real chance with someone who wouldn't stalk her through the fucking halls.
It may give Bear the push he needs. I'd promised CC not to tell anyone, especially Bear, about what happened today.
But, she didn't say I couldn't mention Betty's availability.
By the time I was finally off to my French class, I was exhausted from walking to all ends of the school in a wild goose chase. To my surprise, Seth was waiting at the top of the stairs, his eyes fixed on me. He didn't seem aggressive or confrontational, but knew I wasn't happy to see him.
The sight of him made my blood curdle.
"What the hell are you looking at?" I growled, my voice low and dangerous.
Seth raised his hands and took a step back. "Hey, dude, look. I don't want to start anything. I just want to talk."
My hand tightly gripped the strap of my backpack as I glared coldly at him. He may not have wanted to start something right then and there, but I did. I knew he was already scared of me by the way he ran away the last time, but he wasn't running this time.
I stepped up to him to meet face-to-face. "Okay. Talk."
"I'm sorry." He whimpered.
"Don't fuckin' apologize to me!" I barked and jabbed my finger at his chest. "You know who you did wrong to!".
A few students slowed, anticipating a fight. Seth flinched, "I know. I was wrong."
I refrained from punching his nose in with many eyes upon us. We needed to move somewhere else. "Walk with me," I whispered angrily.
Seth followed. He had his hands buried in his pockets and kept his head low. "I was just trying to talk to Betty."
"And you thought forcing yourself into the restroom was the way to do it?"
"Well...No." Seth faltered. "But.. she's avoiding me."
"Because you're freaking her out, that's why!" I shouted. "You follow her around all the time, even to the restroom, you're always outside her class when she steps out, and apparently, all your classes are now near hers. You're being a fuckin' creeper."
Seth stood quietly for a moment, absorbing my words. "Well, can you at least talk to her for me?"
"Fuck no!" I snapped instantly.
"Why not?" he asked in desperation.
"Because she's done talking to you." I stopped, turning to him. My jaw locked, heat blazing through me. "You're done. With Betty. With me. With CC. With everyone. Move the fuck on."
His face twisted, half a scoff, half disbelief. "Seriously?"
"Does it look like I'm fuckin' playing?" I stopped to face him again. My glare could've cut glass. "I want you out of my face before I do something I'll regret."
Seth went silent and distanced himself from me.
I stood there and watched Seth pace down the hallway without looking back. The late bell had rang and I became the only one left in the now vacant hallway. I didn't even care at that moment.
What I really needed now, instead of going to class, was a smoke. Something to burn the rage away.
Throughout the remainder of the day, the confrontation with Seth constantly replayed in my head. I was in disbelief that I actually stepped up the way I did.
Do I dare mention anything about it or keep it as a secret victory?
With so many secrets already going on, what's one more to add to the pile?
Maybe now, after everything, Seth will finally get that it's over. As for Betty, I wasn't sure she'd want to date after him, but I'm still hoping she'd at least give Bear a chance.
Just a chance.