f o u r

We have some unfinished business left. Meet me in the girls room on fourth floor at 11.

-Rita

Wendy's gut twisted into a knot as she reread the text she had been sent the day before. She threw the wall clock yet another glance and chewed on her bottom lip. 10 : 42 read the digital clock.

Should she go? or she should not?

Her mind kept oscillating between the possibilities and her insides were restless. Was she again going to be bait of her ruthless schemes to degrade her? She would only find out if she confronted her. But what could be left between them?

A volley of loud bangs had her falling back in surprise. She stared at the panting girls in front of her and raised her eyebrows in confusion.

Grace and Ella stood there leaning against the row of lockers and gulped large amounts of air. Ella chucked a white can towards Wendy which she barely managed to catch.

"What's this?" Wendy asked as she rolled the cylinder in her hands and looked down at it.

"Pepper spray, Ella got it from Victoria's bag. She always keeps one handy," she said and straightened up, "Smart girl I tell you"

"Pepper Spray? for what?" Wendy asked looking between her friends and waving the can before her.

"For your defense, dumbass" chided Ella once she had regained her breath, "Did you seriously think of meeting her without being prepared?"

Wendy sighed leaning back against her locker. "I'm not going to war you guys"

Ella groaned and cupped her forehead, "Please knock some sense in her!" She said throwing Grace a look.

"But babe you have to be prepared if she decides to go Jackie Chan on you again," She explained to her slowly. "Remind me why are you going again to meet that bitch?!"

Wendy winced and her fingers began tracing the hem of her shirt.

"Just because," she replied and brought out her phone. She secretly hoped that he would tell her about what Rita was wishing to settle between them so she could be prepared what she was going to deal with. But would he?

Probably no.

"I swear you were born with half a brain," Ella muttered, clearly frustrated with Wendy. Wendy gave her a look and pushed herself forward.

"I gotta go now," she said turning away from both of them and began walking.

"Don't forget the pepper spray if things go wrong," Grace yelled.

Wendy fiddled with the strap of her backpack and trudge her way up the stairs. Her brain was filled with a messy thoughts and doubts. When she reached the fourth floor, her stomach suddenly became warm and her forehead started sweating. She brought a purple kerchief to dab on her skin.

I'm so screwed.

With that thought she pushed open the doors to the girls room. Surprisingly it was completely silent without anyone in sight. She hesitantly walked further until she was in the middle of the room. Her eyes raked over in all directions and when she was convinced no one was hiding behind the tall racks storing sports equipment, she let out a heavy breath.

She was about to remove her phone to check the time when suddenly the doors flew open and in walked Rita with head held high and eyes filled a magical determination. She definitely had that stance which could make anyone shiver in fear.

She walked haughtily around Wendy to the opposite corner of the room. Wendy couldn't help but watch her each step. The sway of her hips, the way her hands and face were in sync to convey the exact message she wanted to say.

Wendy snapped her gaze away when Rita turned around to face Wendy. Rita's eyes were capable of shooting fire arrows. Wendy looked into her steely eyes only to realize the lack of fire in her own eyes.

No one broke the eye contact and when Rita was sure Wendy wasn't going to run away from her, she slowly studied her. Wendy's oversized shirt, the way her hair was pinned at the back and the solid grip she had on the strap of her backpack. Wendy became a little too self conscious and shifted her weight from one feet to another.

"Relax, this won't end like our last meeting" Rita broke the ice.

Suddenly, Rita's shoulders weren't rigid anymore. Her eyes softened and her face lost the rawness it always showed, her head fell back and a loud sigh filled the room

Wendy stood there wondering if her battery just died out.

"Look, I'm sorry for what happened between us two weeks earlier" The words rushed out of Rita's mouth fast. "It was a big misunderstanding"

"Sure. But last I checked in the mirror, my face hardly looks similar to a punching bag, so tell me what was the misunderstanding?" Wendy managed to ask in a strong voice.

"You have all the right to be angry but hear me out." Rita requested looking her in the eye.

Wendy crossed her hands across her chest trying to be more intimidating.

"Its all because of that jerk Emmett," Rita groaned into her hands.

"Like any stupid girl, I had a thing for him. One night, at Ryan's party, he approached me tried to make out. I pushed him away saying he was dating you," Rita looked over at Wendy and quickly averted her gaze. "He told me it was a rumor and he was fed up of it. He also said that you guys were just friends and he was tired of people trying to get them together."

"Oh my god," Wendy couldn't believe it. "We had been dating for four months then"

Rita gave her a sympathetic smile.

"I turned him down that time," Rita explained. "There after he approached me a lot. One day he started pouring his heart out with a few tears and I believed him"

A look of pure guilt washed over Rita's face.

"What did he say?" Wendy asked in a calm voice.

"He said you were blackmailing him to be with you. He told me that you were threatening to harm yourself and then blame it all on him if he didn't do as you said. That's why he was sticking around you in public and I believed him, I'm sorry"

Rita looked up to see her reaction but Wendy's face hadn't frowned a bit. She listened to everything like it was someone elses story.

"After you caught us, he told me he was afraid you might do something reckless to get him back. After that you were unseen for a week, he convinced me you were plotting something huge which wou-"

"So basically he portrayed me as an obsessed cunning girl?" Wendy interrupted shooting a question.

Rita didn't answer that.

"I was angry that someone could be this desperate. So I removed it all on you"

Wendy didn't know what to react. Emmett really was a good story teller.

"I'm really sorry, Wendy" Rita said.

Wendy laughed. She literally threw her head back and laughed, no malice or sadness whatsoever.

"And I was crying over that asshole" she shook her head, smiling.

"So what do you think about a revenge for the dick who made two girls cry and fight?" Rita asked, a smiliar smile creeping upon her face.

"I haven't forgiven you though," Wendy stated and began to turn around. A hand looped around her shoulder and she saw Rita grinning at her.

"You already forgave me, Wendy, otherwise you wouldn't have come here," Rita said. "I know you're a sweetheart"

Wendy chuckled, "And who told you that?"

"Someone," Rita winked at her.

[Thoughts on the girl squad?]