When Tommy’s head snaps up suddenly, so does mine.
He is looking at the entrance to the market place. Towards the blonde bitch who is walking purposefully in our direction, a sneer on her mouth, murder in her eyes.
Latest weather forecast : severe storm, lightning, death of a dumb blonde, and heavy rainfall.
Being smart sucks. Sure, most people love the idea of a kid geniusa ten year old that ranks in the 99th percentile of the SATs. But when you’re in fifth grade, labeled as a child prodigy, it’s intimidating.
The other kids don’t want to sit next to a know-it-all. And it turns out, those other kids are the same ones that are going to follow you through middle school and all the way through high school.
It’s safe to say I wasn’t popular in the friend department.
I was always too smart for my own good.
And it sucked.
I found friends in books ; in code ; in knowing things I shouldn’t. And yeah, I bet that sounds pathetic. A little bit lonely. But it worked for me.
Because I had CassieI always had Cassie.
Once, I came home from school to find my sister crying. The boy she liked had asked her out, and the entire week, she had been excited for the date. Writing his name with little hearts in her notebook. Singing Whitney Houston’s I Will Always Love You in the shower. Picking out a pretty outfitdeep red flannel sweater, Converse and ripped mom jeans.
That day, after school, she had waited for him in the parking lot.
He hadn’t shown up.
And later, while she walked home, him and his friends had driven by in a Ford Ram 4×4 and laughed at her.
Fine, I didn’t have friends. But people didn’t mess with mepeople didn’t bully me. It might have been the fact that I had once led a SWAT team to an illegal meth lab in some boy’s basement. Long story.
You know that rule, about not snitching ?
Well, fuck that. If you’re going to be an asshole, then I hope you’re ready to deal with the law. Rules made sense to merules stand for order. You don’t have to agree with mebut you have to understand, when someone is a complete dick to my little sister, I’ll ruin them.
I got the boys arrested. I went digging into their text messages ; I hacked into their computers.
You can probably guess what they had pictures of.
Bonusthey were all under eighteen.
Yeah, they got charged with child pornography. I don’t regret itnot even a little bit. Because if I’m going to snitch, I’m going to do it good. The law doesn’t bow for anyone, and it especially doesn’t bow to horny teenage boys with illegal pictures of their underage girlfriends.
I was smart, and maybe it sucks, but it’s useful.
In a computer science class, I had found one thing I was very, very good at. Hacking. And I weaponized that. For good, onlyalthough maybe the ethics of hacking into someone’s computer and phone are a little skewed.
I made a promise to myself : I would only ever hack for good reasons.
Like when one of my neighbours got beat so badly in the street he couldn’t walk for a week. I hacked into the police database, found the details on the cop, and I posted them anonymously on every single justice website I could find until he was arrested.
The law is there for a reason. Sometimes it just needs a little help.
But this.
Sometimes there’s no greater good.
Sometimes, you just have to a slap a bitch.
That’s Emilie, Tommy says under his breath.
Who ?
When she arrives at our table, she pauses meaningfully. Like we are supposed to know who she is.
Who’s this ? Emilie asks Tommy, like somehow I am not there.
Nothing upsets me faster than someone pretending I’m incapable of hearing what they’re saying when I’m right there.
My name is Kaya, I say calmly. Because you have to have manners to strangers. Social rules are just as important as governmental ones.
I want that slut gone, Emilie hisses.
Excuse me ?
Excuse me, I say politely. Did you just call me a slut ?
Are you deaf ?
Well, besides the fact that I am clearly not deaf, slutshaming is stupid. Women have the right to do with their bodies whatever they want. Slut shouldn’t even be used in the context of something negative, so maybe you should try checking out that internal misogyny.
Tommy groans. Listen, people, seriously, there’s no need to
No, Tommy, I say pleasantly. I’m curious now. I turn to the girl. Why do you have a stick shoved up your ass ? Did I offend you in some way ? In that case, I’m sorry and I’ll be sure to hire an electrician as payment. Clearly, something’s got you worked up.
Why would I need an electrician ? she snarls.
Well, you know that old joke. How many blondes does it take to change a li
Kaya, shut up, Tommy says under his breath.
Right. Bad mood.
Sorry, I say. That was kind of rude. I
Get out of my face, slut !
Okay, now I’m mad. I was polite, then I apologized, and then she still called me a slut even after I explained to her why that’s a ridiculous word.
What’s your problem ?
My problem is that you come in here, flirt with my boyfriend, and then pretend like you’re some good girl in front of everybody !
I don’t even know who your boyfriend is ! And rest assured, if he’s of the XY chromosome combination, I wouldn’t even bother ! Flirting with him, that is !
Then why did I see you slipping your number to him ?
I don’t know who you saw, but it wasn’t me !
She comes too close to be comfortable. Her teeth are bared now, her electric blue eyes lined thickly with dark, smudged eyeshadow. Don’t lie, little girl.
Why am I a little girl ? I bite out. Just because I’m five foot and a quarter
Someone slides into the booth opposite from me, next to Tommy. A glimpse of deep brown, shoulder length hair, and piercing grey eyes.