Locked In

October 2, 3030 1:53 P.M.         "You’re breaking up with me?" I practically shout. "I didn’t do anything!"         "You always say that Penelope, but you have," Bennett says, agitated. "I don't want to be with you anymore."          I can’t believe we’re having this discussion in the middle of a busy hallway. It’s embarrassing, people walking by us and trying to ignore our business. I cross my arms over my chest, glaring at him. No one ever dares to break up with me.          "This is because of that Scarlett girl, isn't it? I finally got Chloe to tell me what was going on with you two."         "Nothing's going on with us, Penelope. We're just friends."         I scoff. "Not according to Chloe. She told me about the way you look at her. That girl is a slut--"         "You don't know anything about her!"         "Look at you, defending her." I shake my head. "Just like you did the other day at lunch."         "That's because I can see right through you. I knew you were up to something, Penelope. And sure enough, you were gonna tell her parents that she hit you." Bennett shakes his head. "Scarlett did nothing to you, and you need to stay away from her."         I eye him curiously. "Why do you care about her so much?"         "I just do!" Bennett pinches the bridge of his nose. "We're done, okay? I don't want anything to do with you anymore."         I scowl at him. "You're gonna regret this."         "I'm not scared of you, Penelope, and nor will I ever be." And with that, Bennett Hall walks away from me. ********* 2:10 P.M.         "I hate Scarlett Anderson," I rant. "She just thinks she's sooo perfect! Please, she’ll never be even close! She's such a disappointment, even her parents say so!"         "I knew I shouldn't have told you about Bennett and Scarlett," Chloe mutters.         "Oh, no, I'm glad you told me." I give her a smirk. "Because now I have an excuse to go after this girl." I pull out my phone. "It's time to make a call."         Chloe rolls her eyes, putting up the library books on their shelves. "Right, time to call Daddy. Your father works for the government, right?"         I find myself smiling, loving the feeling of revenge. "Exactly. No one steals my boyfriend and gets away with it."  ********* 2:28 P.M.         "Scarlett!" I call out, plastering my best smile, and catch up to her in the hallway.          I try not to grimace when I see the navy hoodie and black leggings she’s wearing. "Can I talk to you?"          "Uh. . ." Scarlett scans the area, making sure I'm talking to her. "Sure?"         I smile as I stop in front of her. "Great!" I step closer, noticing slight fear flashing in her eyes. "You and Bennett are friends, right?"         Scarlett furrows her brows, obviously confused by my question. "Yeah. I mean, we worked out our friendship Friday night before the party."         A mocked chuckle escapes my lips. "The same night he started to hate me."         "What makes you think he hates you?"         "He broke up with me." I take a step towards her, causing her to take a step back in fright. "You're the reason why we broke up. Whatever you told him Friday night got into his head."         "I didn't tell him anything." At least come up with a more convincing lie, Scarlett.         I grab Scarlett by her shoulders and push her back against the wall, causing her to gasp in surprise. "Don't play dumb with me, you little bitch! What did you tell Bennett that night?"         "Nothing!" Scarlett attempts to shove me away from her, but I don't budge. "Get off me!"         "You're a bitch, you know that?" I push her again before I step back, giving her a warning glare. "You have no idea what’s coming to you." I bring my face close to hers, my teeth set. "And I, for one, can't wait to watch you suffer."         "Penelope!" Bennett steps in, pulling me away from Scarlett. "What are you doing?"         I point a warning finger at him. "I told you, you're gonna regret breaking up with me."         Bennett doesn't back down and stands tall. "And I told you, I'm not scared of you. Now, leave Scarlett out of this. She has nothing to do with us."         I cross my arms. "That's where you're wrong, Bennett Hall. I know Scarlett has everything to do with this."         Bennett shakes his head. "I don't know how many times I have to tell you to get it through your head, but I decided on my own that I don't want to be with you. It was no one’s decision but mine."         I huff in frustration, storming away from the pair. ********* 9:00 P.M.         I sigh in relief as I finally get home after a long day. Cheerleading practice seemed to last forever.          "Daddy, I'm home!" I set my house key into the bowl beside the door on the table, walking further into my house. "Dad?"         "In here!" my dad calls from the living room. I find him sitting on the couch with a glass of scotch in his hand, going through paperwork. "How was practice?"         "Too long." I sit down next to him. "How was work?"         Dad rolls his eyes. "Same as always. . . exhausting. Never become president, Penelope."         I chuckle under my breath. "I need to ask you a question, Daddy."         "What is it, honey?" He sets down his paperwork and turns to me.          "First, promise me you’ll tell me the truth."         "Of course. I would never lie to my daughter."         I smile at my father's honesty. "Good." I clear my throat. "Now, can you tell me when it's gonna start?"         Dad looks away for a moment, glancing at the unsigned paperwork. Finishing off his scotch, he places the glass on the table and turns to me with a smirk.         I mimic the grin, waiting patiently for his answer.         "Tomorrow night," he finally replies. "Tomorrow night, this city will die."