Pranking The Prankster

Chapter 16

Song
Fifth Harmony ft. Meghan Trainor — Brave Honest Beautiful

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Days later, I'm hurrying to school with Charlie, checking my wristwatch regularly. It's nine-thirty now. I can't believe I turned down Tony's offer to take us in his car. I know he's just trying to be nice, but I don't really want to accept him as my step dad. I'd told him that Charlie and I would be fine walking to school, no big deal. And now I'm late for school. Fudge.

Charlie chatters at my side as we walk, skipping in the sidewalk. I take his arm and walk quickly across the street. I glance up,then do a double take. A few yards away is Josh Miller, engrossed in his chat with a curvy brunette who probably sidetracked him on his way to school. He's leaning against his brand new car and he looks so good. He's wearing a letterman jacket and stonewashed jeans, his hair styled messily. My heart sinks. He probably won't even notice me with her around.

But he does. He glances up when I pass him by, then grins crookedly. "Hey."

"Hi," I reply, my cheeks heating up. Charlie looks up at me curiously as we walk on. "Who's that man?" He demands.

"Oh, that's just Josh," I say vaguely. "We were at his house a few days ago, remember?"

"Oh. Why have you gone red?"

"Oh God, have I?"

"Yes, ever so. Do you like him?"

"No!"

Yes yes yes yes!

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I get a tardy slip when I get to school, of course. Note to self: Never decline free rides from Tony ever again. I'm perusing my for my stuff inside my locker when someone suddenly shoves me hard.

What the.....?

I end falling into my locker. It swings shut, locking me in. There's a flash of blonde hair and the smell of sickly sweet perfume as someone breezes by, heels clacking on linoleum floor.

"Hey!" I yell, pounding my fists on my locker door. "Let me out of here!"

Unfortunately for me, the bell rings and drowns out my yells. People hurry past too engrossed in getting to their glasses to hear me. I slump against the back wall, cursing my bad luck. This is bad, so very bad. I need to be in Biology right this instant! What kind of idiot locked me in here, anyway?

I start feeling dizzy and queasy. I hate the dark, and it's pitch black in here. I think I'm going to be sick.... I keep checking my watch from time to time, wondering when someone will let me out of here. An hour passes, then two. I don't know how long I can keep this up. I'm claustrophobic; I hate tight spaces.

Loud footsteps suddenly cut through my wheezing as someone strides past my locker. In bang my head in my hurry to draw their attention, then curse loudly. The footsteps pause.

Through the small vents in the door, I see a startled boy freeze in his tracks. Then he slowly approaches my locker and stares at it with a perplexed look on his face. Oh, God! It's Jax!

"Is anyone in there?"

"Yes," I gasp. "Get me out of here!"