Harper
I spend Sunday sans horsemen. As soon as I wake up, I close the screen on my laptop and leave my room. Technically, they didn’t say I needed to be on today. I get a few texts on the group chat, but I ignore them.
If they want to punish me on Monday, so be it. I’m just a sick form of entertainment for them. Fuck them.
I work on homework and get started on my paper for English class. When I work on my laptop, I flip the little cover over my camera and mute it. So if they are on, they can’t see me. I doubt they’ll be on. They have lives too.
I need a day away from them.
A day to clear my head and reaffirm my determination to get out of this devil’s bargain I’ve made with them.
It shouldn’t be that hard, but the problem is this isn’t like contract negotiations where someone can easily renegotiate by adding something to sweeten the pot. This is hostage negotiations, where I’m the hostage.
I don’t have a lot of bargaining power in my current position. I have one thing they want, but they’ve already decided I’ll give it to them.
I need to remember the sheer evilness of the horsemen. The fact they want to embody War, Pestilence, Famine, and Death. These are not mere boys looking for a good time. They want utter and complete control and will do anything to keep it.
Not only am I hostage, but part of me doesn’t want to escape them. That’s the part I need to talk sense into. Their attention just makes me want more. It’s not healthy.
In the evening, I call Kenz to see if she can come over to talk, but she’s sick. Which doesn’t bode well for school on Monday. We chat a little, but her throat hurts to talk. That’s the problem with having only one best friend.
“You ready to go to Crusty’s Pizzeria?” Mom stands in my doorway as I put the finishing touches on my statistics homework.
“In just one…minute.” I press the final key to submit my homework. “Now I’m good.”
I don’t bother putting on makeup. I’m wearing dark skinny jeans that fit like a second skin and I pair them with a flowing peasant top. Not trying to be hot. Not trying to get attention. Just being me.
The me I could have been if it weren’t for the horsemen. It feels good to own who I am. To not hide. I feel good after a day without the constant pull of the horsemen. Refreshed even.
My hair is a little wavy from the braids, but I leave it down. We make it to the pizzeria in record time.
After ordering at the counter, we take a seat at a four-top since the two-tops are all taken. I recognize some kids from school having dinner and some working in the kitchen. I really don’t expect anyone to interact with me, since the guys have said I’m off-limits. Besides, they never interacted with me before.
So I’m relaxed and enjoying Mom time. Mom talks about work, and her schedule this week is the same as last week. Mornings. I talk about classes. I’m not worried about any ofthem yet, but we’ll see how the semester goes…and how big of a distraction the horsemen will be.
Our pizza is delivered. We sometimes get the barbeque chicken pizza, but tonight we went with a classic pepperoni and sausage pizza.
“So we haven’t discussed boys yet,” Mom prods as she takes a bite.
“Not much to say. They exist. I exist. We all go to school together. Maybe some of them want to get in my pants. Maybe I want to get into some of their pants. But right now, I’m happy to just go along my own way and let them figure out my pants are on permanent lockdown.”
“Ouch. Hopefully not permanent.” Wincing, Mom drinks some of her soda.
“Permanently to high school boys,” I clarify. “They aren’t mature enough to deal with the consequences of their actions.”
“If I didn’t know better, I’d think you’re bitter from unrequited love.” Mom laughs.
“Yeah, not going to happen. No love lost here.” Definitely not. I would never be stupid enough to give my heart to any of the horsemen. Could you imagine? They would chew it up and spit it back in my face.
I barely feel the electricity in the air, but I definitely feel something shift in the pizzeria. The hairs stand on the back of my neck and I raise my gaze to meet Caden’s green eyes at the counter.
Fuck. My. Life.
Seriously, can’t I get a break from the prick brigade for one day? Also, will he dare to come over to talk to me with my mom here? Oh, shit, Mom…
“Mom, if someone comes to our table, I’m grounded, okay?”
“What?” She looks around the restaurant, apparently not affected by the horsemen’s gravitational pull. “What do you mean?”
