Ashley Cooper's Arc

Chapter 20 of 37

Ashley won the cafeteria, but Peggy left with her phone in hand. That night Ashley kept checking her screen for the next attack. She still had to fix things with Mike, who thought standing beside her wasn't worth the mockery. If Peggy struck again, Ashley would lose him for good. She had no idea a new threat was already forming. Peggy went home angry. She texted her best friend Jackie. Jackie was the girl with frizzy red hair and loud, clashing clothes, the one Ashley had ignored for two years. Once Jackie had lied to protect Ashley. Not anymore. Peggy typed fast. "She called me a liar in front of everyone. Let's end her for good." The two girls made a plan. Jackie would sneak into the Cooper house, hide in Ashley's closet, and wait with a knife. They met behind the school to go over it. They didn't see Mike near the lockers. He heard every word. "Tonight," Peggy said. "Her dad works late. Jackie gets in through the back." Mike's stomach dropped. He still loved Ashley, even if he'd hidden it. He couldn't let them hurt her. Mike ran. He called Ashley's phone three times. No answer. He drove to the Cooper house and pounded the door. Ashley opened it, surprised to see him. "You have to listen," he said, breathing hard. "Peggy and Jackie want to kill you. Jackie's coming to hide in your closet. Tonight." Ashley froze. Then she moved. She grabbed Mike's arm with her bone hand and pulled him inside. "My closet," she whispered. They crept upstairs. The closet door stood open a crack. Ashley heard breathing behind her rows of long-sleeve shirts. Jackie was already there. Ashley yanked the door wide. Jackie crouched among the sleeves, a kitchen knife shaking in her freckled hand. "Don't," Jackie said. Her eyes were wet. "Peggy said you deserved it. She said you'd never even look at me." The knife dropped to the carpet. Jackie started crying. "I protected you once. You never said thank you." Ashley knelt in front of her. She didn't yell. She remembered the lie Jackie once told to save her. "You're right," Ashley said. "I ignored you. That was wrong." She pushed the knife away with her bone fingers. "But Peggy sent you here to ruin your whole life. She stayed safe at home." Jackie looked up. The truth landed. Mike called the police from the hall. They came and took Jackie. She told them everything, including Peggy's texts. By morning both girls faced charges. Peggy would not be sending threats again. Ashley walked Mike to his car. "You saved me," she said. Mike looked at her arm, then her face. "I couldn't let anything happen to you," he admitted. "Even after everything." For the first time in weeks, he didn't look away. The threat was gone. But whether Mike would truly come back was still an open question.