“I could’ve sworn I left more gas in the tank.”

My dad shot a sarcastic comment my way as he pulled up in front of Ravenvale High the next morning. He had picked me up at the police station last night after the officers were done with their questions about Janet’s suicide attempt.

“Oh, wait, that’s right. One of my daughters went on a fast and furious chase through the city last night,” he said, looking at me out the corner of his eye.

“Dad, I said I was sorry. Can you drop it? Please?”

“Alright, you won’t hear about it from me again. But your mom’s a different story. You scared her half to death, you know?”

He was right. My mom also came to the station last night, but unlike my dad, she was in tears. I knew she was angry with me, but that frustration was overshadowed by fear and sadness. She was afraid of losing me to the unknown again, and I honestly couldn’t blame her for feeling that way.

If only there was a way to be a superhero to the world, and a daughter to my parents.

“I won’t do it again, I promise,” I assured him. “But speaking of Mom, isn’t it a little weird she let Mya stay home from school today?”

“Well, she did use one of your infamous excuses.”

“Yeah, the one that never works. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say she’s the favorite in the house.”

“Maybe she is,” he said with a smirk before shaking his head. “I’m joking, sweetie. Now go on inside before you’re late.”

“One more thing,” my eyes wandered everywhere as I contemplated voicing my thoughts, “have you been staying at work late ‘cause you’re not happy at home? You know, ‘cause Noel is gone?”

He froze before letting out a heap of air. “Aliyah, no. Not at all. I’m always happy to be home with the family.” He hugged me before continuing. “Yes, Noel’s death has been really hard on me, but I use it as motivation to help people who are struggling. There are so many problems in this world, Aliyah, so many issues that people go through. If me working overtime prevents someone from going on a mass shooting spree, you’re damn right I’m gonna work my ass off and counsel that person until they understand that’s not the answer. Bigger plans are in our motion at the office, and I can’t wait to share them with you. So don’t worry about me. I’m just trying to make the world a better place, like I’m sure you are in your own way.”

I responded with a fake laugh at that last part. “Sure, Dad. And thanks for always being here.” I smiled, though wondering if he knew about my abilities.

After exiting the car and walking to the entrance of the school, I turned back around at the sudden beep of a car horn. “Hey, I forgot to ask,” my dad started, “are you sure your hand is alright?”

I raised my bandaged left hand for him to see. “This? Yeah, it’s all good.”

“How did that happen again?”

I had forgotten the lie I told my parents last night and had to think fast. “Uh, curling iron?”

He tittered. “I expected a better lie than that. I’ll see you at home, sweetie.”

Uh-oh. Were my lying skills beginning to fade? The thought crossed my mind upon entering the school until I saw a large group of students circled together in the hallway. They fought for a better position with their cell phones in hand to record whatever was going on.

Peering through the crowd, I saw Bruce and Jerome holding down a brown-skinned boy on the floor and forcing a pink dress over his head. The agony and humiliation of the moment was written all over his face.

“What the hell are you two doing? Let him go,” I ordered, making my way to the center of the scene. My eyes landed on Candice, who stood next to Bruce and Jerome, laughing at the boy’s embarrassment.

“Is this boy your friend or something?” Candice asked in an arrogant tone. “Or is that your ugly dress and you came to take it back?”

“That’s funny. You sure it didn’t come from the tasteless wardrobe you wear to slut around?” I shifted my glare to Bruce and Jerome. “I said let him go. Are you two her lapdogs or something?”

“Now hold on a minute,” Jerome started, “this kid’s been starting trouble with us all year.”

“For some reason, I doubt that’s the truth.”

“No, he’s right,” Bruce jumped in, standing the boy up for the amusement of the entire school. “This sophomore’s been looking at us the wrong way for months, so we’re showing him we’re the bosses around here.”

“Boys, you don’t have to explain anything to her,” Candice said. “She’s nobody. She’s probably bitter because her boyfriend is gonna dump her soon.”

I approached her with vicious intent, ready to knock her ass out for the pleasure of the entire school. “What did you just say?”

More students gathered around us. A fight was definitely gonna go down.

“Let me make it clearer for you,” she began, “You’re nothing. After your boyfriend becomes famous, he’s going to leave you. You’ll feel all sad and cry about how your life is so miserable, and then you’ll try killing yourself just like your friend. That’s the summary of your life. Judging by your hand, the misery has already started. Hashtag Candice Forever.”

“Kill her.”

I launched myself on top of Candice, digging my nails into her throat with gritted teeth. I wasn’t sure if it was her insults or the words of the demon that sprung me out of control, but at that point, all I wanted to do was cause pain. Even death, perhaps.

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“Fight, fight, fight,” the students chanted in sync as they watched the two of us claw at one another. She kicked me off her and stood up to deliver a slap across my face, which only fed my adrenaline. I swung a hard hook with my uninjured hand that connected with her face and sent her glasses flying. She stepped backwards in a daze, my rage pushing me forward to take another shot that knocked her stuck-up ass to the floor.

Someone’s arm wrapped around my waist and pulled me back. I turned to see it was Tyler, who appeared frustrated by what was unfolding.

“What the hell is wrong with you two?” he yelled at Bruce and Jerome. “Why didn’t you stop it?”

“Not my problem, bro,” Jerome said with a sly grin.

“Yeah, dude. We were just having fun,” Bruce said with a smug expression.

Multiple security guards marched to the scene. “Everyone, get to your classes,” one of them demanded, making the throng of students scurry away. Candice spit in my direction as a guard pulled her to the side.

Another guard pointed to me, Bruce, Jerome, Candice, and the bullied boy. “You five. To the office, right now.”

Candice barked every foul name in the Spanish language as security escorted us to the principal’s office. This was not how I envisioned the start of my day.

***

I was fortunate enough to avoid detention after explaining to the principal what had happened. Afterward, the school day went by pretty quickly, and I was happy to see Lucas standing outside the door of my science class.

“Hey, Ali. I got your text about what happened earlier. I’m sorry I wasn’t there. You know all my classes are on the other side of the school.”

“It’s fine. I just hate Candice, and what Bruce and Jerome did was not cool at all.”

He held my uninjured hand and kissed my forehead. “I know. I spoke to them about it. They apologized, but Tyler’s still pissed. He can get really heated over stuff like this.”

We began walking down the stairwell to the bottom floor with our fingers entwined and our bodies close together. “You know, maybe you should kick their ass,” I jokingly proposed. “Knock some sense into their heads. Do it for me.”

“I can’t ruin this face just yet, you know?” He smiled. “Wait until we’re rich, then I’ll kick their ass and make them work for us.”

We both laughed as we neared the music room. Other students stopped us on the way there to converse and take photos with Lucas. He was really getting popular.

“So, how’s your new friend?” he asked, the two of us now standing outside our destination. “Janet, was her name?”

“Yeah. She’s not in school today ‘cause of what happened last night. You know, what I called you about at three in the morning?”

“Yeah, that sounded insane. I’m glad you’re alright.” He kissed my cheek.

“I hope Janet’s gonna be okay. She’s being examined today and may be put on suicide watch. As for the math assignment, I managed to get a new packet from Ms. Walters, but now I’m without anyone who knows the answers.”

“Damn. I’m paired with a guy who has no idea what he’s doing, so I share your pain. But speaking of pain, how’s your hand?”

“It’s not that bad, actually.”

Okay, that was a lie. Truth be told, an agonizing sting could still be felt in my left palm, but at least Lucas’s question reminded me of the lie I told my parents: a stray cat bit my hand when I tried to pick it up. Terrible, I know.

We stood outside the music room and chatted with other students. I even joined in one of their dance videos for social media, but when the fun ended and the hallway started to empty, I caught a glimpse of the bullied boy from earlier.

“That was James” Lucas said, realizing who I saw. “The sophomore Bruce and Jerome put the dress on.” He took out his cell phone and scrolled through it. “Look here. Seven people from the school posted a video of him wearing the dress.”

I shook my head in disgust. “That’s so messed up. It’s like no one’s satisfied unless the world sees what they see. They don’t even care how the person in the video feels.”

“I hear you,” he agreed. “It’s going viral, too. My dad even saw it, oddly enough, and texted me about it this morning. Surprised he wasn’t passed out on the couch.”

“It’s that bad, huh?” I squeezed his hand in comfort.

“Yeah, I can’t wait to get my own place. But anyway, I want you to come in the music room and watch us practice for a bit. I’ll drive you home in an hour or two, I swear.”

Mom would kill me if I wasn’t home right after school, especially after what happened last night, but damn was it hard to resist his invitation.

“Fine, fine. I’m coming. But aren’t Bruce and Jerome in detention?”

“They should be, but I got a text from Bruce saying they’re not going. You know those two don’t care about the rules.”

We entered the music room to a foul stench filling our nostrils. My face twisted in repugnance at the smell as I closed the door behind me. Bruce and Jerome were already inside.

“Dude, you two really rolling up in here?” Lucas asked Bruce, who was facing the wall in a corner of the room.

Jerome chuckled as he held a small paper wrapped around narcotics. “Yeah, bro. Bruce needed this to cool down.”

“You trying to get us expelled?” Lucas retorted, swiping away the smoke that had already clouded the room. He then grabbed the drugs out of their hands. Bruce grumbled and started setting up his equipment.

“Ali, can you take my guitar out while I open the window?” Lucas asked. “I wanna get some of this smoke out of here.”

I removed his guitar from its case and saw my reflection gleam in the black and white aesthetic. The memory of being there with him when his mother gave him the instrument played in my mind. Reminiscing on the moment made me smile.

A few minutes had gone by before the door of the room opened. Tyler walked in carrying a box of donuts, much to the delight of everyone inside except me. Why? Because she was right behind him, stepping into the room with a scowl.

“Where’s Lucas?” Robyn questioned. “He texted me not to come. Why would he do that?”

I approached her with my brow raised and arms crossed. “You’re not a part of this band anymore. Sorry, but your basic services are no longer needed.”

“I should’ve known something wasn’t right,” she hissed. “What, you’re here to replace me or something?”

“No, but here’s a question: heard any good lyrics lately? You know, ones that aren’t stolen?”

“I don’t know what you mean. Are you implying that I stole someone’s music? Even if I did, how would you know? A bunch of demons knocked your ass out for a month.”

“Funny. With all that devil worshiping you were doing in those lyrics you stole, I’m surprised the demons haven’t come after your satanic ass yet.”

Bruce and Jerome looked on in confusion as the two of us stared each other down. Robyn snickered and sucked her teeth before asking, “Are you angry because I made this band relevant? Let’s be honest, sweetheart, this group was going nowhere until I joined. If you don’t like the style, that’s your opinion. You can be cute and take your generic criticisms elsewhere.”

“Generic? How many indie artists did you steal from to come up with half of the material I’ve heard from this band so far? Like, are you so delusional that you don’t realize you’re nothing more than a useless co-singer?”

“Well, the voice in my head tells me I’m doing just fine, as well as the audience. Did the band ever reach eighty-thousand views online before I started singing?”

“Stop it.”

Everyone in the room turned their attention to Lucas after his shout. “Why are you here, Robyn? I told you not to come.”

“And why the hell not? Because of her? My appointment is today, Lucas. You have to be there, remember?”

What the hell was she talking about?

“Uh, what?” I asked, stepping in front of Lucas. A gut-wrenching pain in my stomach formed as I watched his eyes avoid mine. “Lucas, tell me what she’s talking about right now.”

“Ali, I didn’t want you to find out like this. It’s just… I—”

“Can you please stop with the dramatics,” Robyn exclaimed with her hands in the air theatrically. “Just tell the girl already. We’ve been through this charade enough.”

My throat tightened from the fear and disbelief of the answer that awaited me. Lucas separated his lips to speak, but it was Robyn who sealed my fate.

“I’m pregnant.”