Chapter 20: Scheming Scarlet


No, I am not okay. Everything that has happened has been unfair and fucked up. Sure what I did to Carson was pretty messed up, but did it really deserve all this? No. I won't let this go. If it can happen to me, it can happen to any girl Bryson dates.


Any poor non-straight couple who is just trying to live their best life.


If I'm going down anyway, then I might as well go out with a bang. That way no one will forget the legend that will be Kathleen Ricki Hanson. And I have just the plan.


I quickly went to this dating app I know Bryson likes to use. He brags about all the babes he's getting on the app to all his buddies daily. Some people need to be taught a lesson on privacy and self-respect.


It doesn't take me long to find his page.


And god it's just like I thought it would be.


How did I ever date this guy?


I make a fake account and use a generic picture to dive deeper. In his camera reel is a picture with and a new girl, just recently added. His status says taken but always open for options.


"Asshole," I mutter under my breath before taking a screenshot of it and saving it to my computer.


Then I do a little digging on the girl. It doesn't take me long to find her. She doesn't go to our school, but she is pretty popular. She has a social media presence. She creates lots of funny videos and has a lot of fans. Even I admit she's funny. Who wouldn't go for a girl like her? Funny, hot, and if her profile is any indicator quite a sports star.


In one of her recent videos, she introduces people to her new boyfriend and guess who's in the video. I roll my eyes when I read all the congratulatory comments. Then I slide into her Dm's.


I type,


Hello, you don't know me, but I really need to talk to you. Your new boyfriend Bryson is not who you think he is. He's actually an awful guy and I have proof. I of all people should know, I'm his ex. Before you ignore me and block me, hear me out, please. I'm just here for girl talk, honest.


After that, I wait.


While waiting for her to respond I actually start doing my homework. Not that it will matter once I get expelled, but I need a distraction anyway.


My computer notifies me of a new message, but it's not from her. It's from Josie. Sage must have told her I'm using the messaging app again. What can I say? Desperate times call for desperate measures.


I open the new message.


'Hey, you okay? Sage told me you're going through a rough time.'


'I thought you hated me now.' I respond.


'When have I ever hated you?'


'There is a first for everything I guess.'


'I watched the video again, and you're right. It's been edited. Sorry I freaked out on you.'


'To be honest I probably would have freaked out too if it were the other way around.'


'So... are we okay now?'


'You tell me.'


I stare at the screen as three little dots blink telling me she is typing. Maybe she's staring at her screen looking at my three little dots. That makes me feel connected to her in some way, to know that we are both doing the same thing at the same time.


'I love you.' she finally replies.


It makes me feel all weird inside again.


I smile at the screen and type, 'I really like you too.'


'Come on you can say the l word.' She teases.


'lesbians? I lesbians you.'


She sends back laughing emojis.


I smile.


'I lesbians you too.' She sends.


'It's official then, we are in lesbians.'


'I fucking hate you.' she sends with another laughing emoji.


"Okay, serious talk now. I...'


'Yes?'


'Love...'


"Emm hmm, go on.'


'You.'


The three dots again.


My heart feels like it's going to beat out of my chest.


'I just died of adorableness. You are so fucking cute sometimes.' She finally replies.


I sigh in relief.


'Don't scare me like that, you took so long to respond I thought I broke you.'


She sends more laughing emojis.


'Anyway, I'm going to do something stupid tonight, want to help?'


'Depends what it is.'


'Forget about the l word, I want to focus on the r-word. Revenge!'


'I'm listening.'


'I'm working on getting revenge on Bryson but this is more than just Bryson I want to get revenge on the whole fucking school. I want revenge on Principal Bernard.'


'Now you're talking.'


'I'll need Sage and Sophie's help too. Meet me at the school tonight, wear clothes you won't mind getting dirty. It's gonna be an all-nighter.'


'Sounds fun, I'm in.'


'I'm just glad you're not mad at me anymore. I told my parents I lesbians you and they flipped out.'


'Parents are stupid, what would they know about being in lesbians?'


'Right!'


'You okay?'


'I was crying it out, but I'm done crying. I'm pissed now. I want revenge!'


'That's my girl.'


'On a side note, my parents say I am forbidden from ever seeing you again. At least until this "Phase" of my life has passed.'


'Fuck that.'


'Exactly, I told them they couldn't stop me from seeing you. They just got madder and started making fun of me.'


'We'll see who has the last laugh.'


'Thanks, Josie. I knew I could count on you.'


'Anytime, and anywhere.' She sends with a winking emoji.


I feel my cheeks heat up.


A new notification pops up on my computer, it's her.


'got to go, I'll be back in a bit. I lesbians you.'


'kk, I lesbians you too.'


I smile before clicking on the new message.


'Bryson told me all about you. He said you are a crazy bitch. Why should I trust you?'


Is what she replied.


Ha! Me a crazy bitch? Please.


He doesn't know the half. He wants to see crazy; I'll show him crazy.


'He says that about every girl that dumps him, and the girls he dumps he says were easy lays. Trust me, he's not who think. He's a bully, and if anyone's crazy it's him. He's been stalking me and recording me. He's harassing me all because I broke up with him. I have proof. I'm trying to warn you. Not to mention he's a hypocrite. He spread this awful video of me he recorded and edited to make me look worse than it was by the way. I was on a date with my boyfriend and he recorded me kissing my secret girlfriend. Yes, admittedly I shouldn't have been cheating, but he had no right to record me and spread it around like he did. Not when this is his dating status.'


I attach the screenshot I took earlier.


It doesn't take her long to respond.


'Wtf!? Are you serious right now?'


'Please listen, he's always at school bragging about all the girls he's banging. Not that I would take his word for it, trust me. He's lacking in what he's packing if you get what I'm saying. He's been trying to get back with me, and some sick fantasy in his head tells him harassing me is the best way to go. Not that I would ever get back with that prick. The point is, I was in the closet about my sexuality and trying to come to terms with myself. I had a talk with my boyfriend before Bryson shared that video. Bryson outed me to the world as a joke to make me look bad and feel bad. If he could do it to me, he can do it to you too. Please, you seem like an amazing person. I know it's hard to believe anything I say but I'm telling the truth. I would send you screenshots of what he text me but my parents took my phone. They are homophobes. And since he outed me...' I send.


'That's awful. I'm so sorry to hear that.'


'I just want to warn you. Get out while you still can, trust me when I say he has a high body count for a reason. He's an asshole, a douchebag, a prick. I can't believe I ever fell for a guy like him. We didn't even date that long because he was getting way too obsessive and trying to control everything I did. He texted me 24/7. Lucky for me my friends slapped some sense into me and had my back.'


'Why are you telling me this?'


'Honestly, I was going to ask for your help.'


'Help?'


'I want to get revenge. I told the school about Bryson harassing me and they took his side because my school principal is a homophobic jerk. He even suspended me for kissing a girl. Even though I have proof Bryson followed and recorded me without my knowledge they don't care. I was handling my shit, I broke up with my boyfriend and was trying to come to terms with my homosexuality until Bryson fucked everything up. Now my ex thinks I was only dating him as some kind of joke or consolation prize, which isn't true. He's a really sweet and nice guy and I feel really bad for making him feel like I betrayed him. Like I was laughing at him. When I wasn't. Bryson didn't have to do what he did, if it was about bro code or whatever, he could have just told my ex one on one that I was cheating on him. He didn't have to embarrass me, and my ex by extension. What he did was cruel so now I want revenge.'


'To be honest this sounds like a lot of inner drama I don't need right now. But! I found his dating profile and it's exactly like you said. And! I just made a fake account and messaged him right now, he told me we could fool around and his gf would never know. asshole!'


'Wow, told you. He's not a prize, trust me. Get out while you still can. Before he starts calling you his crazy ex. He's only using you for clout.'


'Thanks for the warning. As for your revenge, I'm in.'


I smirk.


This will be even better than I ever thought it could be. 

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