Deadly Silence (complete) Chapter 93

Vivian pushed herself at practice, more to stay busy than to improve. The less time she spent cooling down the fewer opportunities Theo would have to approach her for a conversation.

From the looks of it, he hadn’t so much as attempted to talk to her, instead sticking to his group of friends. A few times she caught him watching her, but Vivian would hastily look away and forcefully remind herself to stop checking on him.

*He doesn’t exist. Pretend he doesn’t exist*, she continuously reminded herself as her feet pounded against the track, sweat stinging her eyes as she gasped for air. *Why did I have to choose track?*

Theo finally made his move at the end of practice when everyone began heading for the locker rooms. “Can we talk?”

Vivian tensed, glancing at him before looking away. “No.” Her answer gave no room for argument as she hurried away. Part of her wanted to look back to check on him, to apologize, but knew she had to be strong. It would hurt for now, but this was all to avoid worse pain in the long run.

The chatter in the locker room was upbeat as the girls discussed the upcoming meet and gossiped. Vivian didn’t partake as she went to her locker and spun the combination. She hadn’t bothered to use the same trick as last time so the bullies would be forced to keep guessing what her next move would be.

Besides, it wasn’t like they’d be able to get in the locker anyway.

Pulling out her school bag, Vivian was startled when the locker door slammed shut the moment she’d gotten her bag out.

A long fingered hand was pressed against it and she followed the arm it was attached to until Adriana’s angry face came into view.

“Can I help you?” Vivian inquired as she turned to face the girl, wondering what this was about. The girl’s fingers were back to their normal colour at this point, and no other cheap trick had been waiting in the shadows.

“Why did Laurent bring you to practice?” Adriana demanded, leaning into Vivian’s personal space and causing her to press her back against the lockers.

“Huh? He offered to drive me,” she replied with a frown. “What does it matter?”

Adriana slammed her hand against the locker a second time, the metal rattling for a couple seconds afterwards. “Why would he offer to drive someone like *you*?”

“Ask him,” Vivian shrugged before trying to step to the side only for someone else to be blocking that path.

Abby had seemingly materialized, her blue eyes narrow and burning with some emotion. Anger? Jealousy? Frustration? It was difficult to tell. “You need to learn your place, Vivian St Peters.”

Every fibre of her being told Vivian to get the hell out of there, but how? The two girls had her cornered, and those on the track team had stopped what they were doing to watch. None attempted to intervene in the situation.

Pursing her lips, Vivian quickly realized her assumption that her teammates weren’t anything more than people on the same team had been on the mark; they wouldn’t stand up for her when it mattered. She was on her own.

*Like always.*

Straightening her spine, Vivian looked at Adriana then Abby. “Let’s clear the air. What is it I’ve done that’s made you hate me so much?”

“You *know* what you’ve done!” Adriana snapped.

“No, I don’t,” Vivian assured them, letting out a small sigh. “My social skills are garbage. I have no idea what I’ve done to piss you off so much.”

Abby rolled her eyes so hard it was a surprise they didn’t fall out of their sockets. “Oh please. First you seduce Theo, and now you’re working on Laurent.”

“I seduced Theo,” Vivian repeated, her voice bland. “And now I’m seducing Laurent?” If only these girls knew they were siblings. She wondered how horrified they’d be to have insinuated one of the guys they were so possessive of practiced incest.

“I’m not about to let some poor, trashy little slut have her way with my guys,” Abby snarled, taking a page from Adriana’s playbook and slamming her hand against the lockers on Vivian’s other side. “You need to back off. Stay in your lane, Vivian. You’re a nobody and need to remember that.”

Vivian opened her mouth to say she had no interest in either boy, but closed it before the words formed. Sure, she had absolutely no interest in Laurent in that way — that was gross — but Theo…? She wasn’t sure how she felt about him, and after what she’d been doing and was going to keep doing he wouldn’t have any interest in her for long. If he had any to begin with.

“Say the words, slut,” Abby continued. “Say you’ll stay away from Theo and Laurent forever. You’ll never talk to them, you’ll never even look in their direction again. Say it!”

Vivian took a deep breath. Saying those words would be a horrible lie, and would only lead to more problems down the line when, or if, Laurent ever offered to give her another lift to practice. And what about them being on the track team? How was she supposed to never so much as look in either of their direction ever again?

Honestly, the entire thing was stupid.

“We’re on the track team, Abby. I can’t promise any of those things.”

A sudden pain pierced Vivian’s skull as Adriana grabbed her hair and pulled. “Say it!”

“I can’t,” Vivian grimaced, dropping her school bag as she reached up to try and free her hair from the other girl’s grip. “I won’t.”

Abby shoved her into the locker. “Fine. We’ll show you what happens to sluts who don’t know their place.”

Jaw tightening, Vivian wondered how far they’d take this. Chances were good they’d keep it superficial and she was more than capable of taken that sort of beating. But why were they chancing this now? Didn’t they know there were cameras in the halls? How were they going to explain Vivian suddenly sporting injuries?

Hands grabbed her shoulders and pressed her against the locker as Abby shoved her hands in Vivian’s pockets. “No cell, must be in her bag,” the blond muttered before taking the school bag and dumping it out on the floor.

Vivian watched as her second phone clattered to the floor. She glanced at Abby, who was focused on the smartphone. “Here it is. Good.” It was only when repacking Vivian’s bag that she noticed the second phone. “What’s this? A second phone?” Abby held it up with a smirk. “How interesting. Is this for your clients, slut?”

Terror filled Vivian. Paul was going to call that phone fourteen hours from now and if she didn’t pick up… “Give me back my phone,” Vivian said, her voice shaking as she thrust her hand towards Abby, who took a step back, laughing.

“So I was right,” she gloated as she flipped the phone open. “Hmm… What a piece of junk. How old *is* this thing anyway? And you only have a single contact? That’s just sad.” Abby dropped the burner phone into Vivian’s school bag before closing it up. “Let’s wrap this up. Adriana.”

The girl’s grin turned malicious as she opened the locker next to Vivian. “Get in,” she hissed, pushing the raven-haired girl into the small space before slamming the door.

“Wha… what are you doing?” Vivian exclaimed as she frantically pushed at the door, her breathing becoming erratic when she realized they used her own combination lock to keep her inside.

She was trapped. It was dark, stuffy, and there wasn’t enough room for her to do anything more than stand. Memories flashed before her eyes as laughter filled the air.

“It’s Monday, so no one will find you until after school practices start,” Abby crooned through the door, but Vivian was barely listening as she fought back panic. “Hope you enjoy your day, Vivian. I know I will.”