Karyn slid off the wall and started to head home and I followed suit. As I landed on the pavement, however, a pair of strong hands grabbed me and spun me around.
“Hey there, hot stuff.”
As I regained my balance, I blinked and immediately recognized the person standing in front of me. It was Athena DeVries, one of Zoe’s friends and a year below me. I had heard rumors that she had a thing for me, and apparently she was now acting on it.
She wasn’t alone either. She had two of her friends with her as well: Sabrina Meadows and Brooke McMillan. Worried that something was going to happen—I had heard stories of boys being raped before—I turned to call for Karyn.
“Hey! Don’t turn away from me, bitch!” Athena shouted angrily as she slapped me. Fortunately, Karyn must have seen what was going on, because a few moments later, she was standing beside me, hands on her hips.
“What are you doing, Athena?” she asked menacingly. Athena just smiled as she began to caress my cheek, sending a cold shiver down my spine.
“Just making Jonni-boy here mine.” Sabrina and Brooke laughed.
“Well, Jon doesn’t want to be with you,” Karyn replied, defending me.
“I’m sure that Jonni-boy can make up his own mind, and besides, he doesn’t really have much of a choice. I want him.”
“You bitch!” Karyn cried as she readied to punch Athena. Athena, however, saw it coming and dodged it.
“Girls,” she said calmly, addressing Sabrina and Brooke. “Teach this bitch a lesson while I deal with Jonni here.”
I watched helplessly as Sabrina and Brooke moved in on Karyn. Alone, she might have been able to take on either of them, but Karyn was no match for the two bullies. They were on the football team, after all.
“Now...” Athena said softly, turning her attention back to me. “Where were we? Oh yes.” She smiled before placing both hands on my face and smothering my lips with hers. All I could see was her makeup; most girls didn’t wear this much makeup, but Athena and her friends did.
After what seemed like forever, Athena finally broke off the kiss and when she did, I quickly looked around for Karyn. She was lying on the floor, bruised and winded.
“That was amazing,” Athena commented, licking her lips and savoring the taste from my lipstick. “Exactly how I imagined it.” Too dazed to respond, I just stood there as she took something out of her backpack.
It was a black choker necklace. Without warning, she slipped her arms around my neck and fastened it on.
“That’s so that everybody knows that you’re mine,” Athena told me. “Oh, one more thing. When I call you, you answer, Jonathyn Lauren. I don't care where you are or what you are doing." She gave me a little kiss. “I’ll see you around, babe.”
Athena spun around on the spot and stormed off, receiving high fives from her friends as they walked away. I waited until they had disappeared before I knelt down beside Karyn, laying a hand on her shoulder.
“That…bitch,” she managed to breathe.
