Operation: Payback

(Jayden)

I thanked my mom as I got out of the car. She had been off ever since dad had that chat with her a couple days back. They both were so interested about the new bank that was just finished, but I didn't understand why. It was like a fifty minute drive. I decided to forget about it, I had more important things to get to. I knocked on Sydney's door and waited.

Sydney opened the door, "Get in here." She pulled me inside and plopped me down on her sofa.

"So, Bianca said that you guys wanted me to tell Rachelle now." I said.

Sydney's jaw dropped.

"Um, is something wrong."

"She did, and you came!" Sydney said in awe.

"Yeah, I didn't want to be rude." I said.

I heard somebody knock on the door.

Sydney trotted over to the door. "Hi Bianca."

I turned my head.

Bianca came in holding a tennis racket. "Sorry, I came from tennis practice." She said.

"That's ok." Sydney said.

Another knock.

I knew exactly who it was. "Rachelle." I said aloud.

Sydney opened the door and Rachelle came in.

Worst of all, Chloe also stepped into the room.

"So, what's this all about?" Rachelle asked.

I saw Sydney's older brother Sean walk into the room. "Oh, this is a nice gathering, Jay, if you want, you can join me for a round of C.O.D later." He said.

"Oh, that sounds great." I said.

Sean gave me a thumbs up and left the room.

"Ok, so Rachelle, Jay has something to say."

I gulped, I was so worried.

"Jay?" Sydney asked.

"Um, I don't really want to," I paused, was this a good idea. I was questioning what I should do. "I don't feel like we should go out." I gulped as I waited for her reaction.

"You what!" Chloe gasped.

Rachelle gave me a look of anger.

"You little piece of-"

"Chloe, calm down." Sydney told her.

"Calm down, excuse me Sydney, who's side are you on?" Chloe asked.

"Well, Jay has the right to cancel." Bianca said.

"He never should have said if he wanted to cancel in the first place." Chloe snapped.

Good point, I thought.

"Well, maybe he was nervous and didn't have time to react." Sydney said.

Another good point, I thought to myself.

"Jay, you make me sick." Chloe said.

"Ok, let's just calm down." I said.

"No, you don't get to tell me to calm down." Chloe frowned.

Rachelle nodded.

I looked to Bianca for help. But she just shrugged.

Chloe and Rachelle stormed out of the room. I snuck into the kitchen. "Sean, I'm ready."

Sean peeked out from behind a cabinet. "Great!" Sean smiled. "So, how was your meeting?"

"It wasn't that great, Chloe freaked out at me." I sighed.

"Yeah, I heard, she's like that though, um do you want a wireless or wired controller?"

"Wired's fine," I said. "But I don't understand, I tried to be nice."

"Jay listen, from what Sydney told me, you're a great kid." Sean patted me on the back reassuringly.

"She did?" I asked. "Wow."

"Just, don't let them get to you." Sean smiled. "Come on, let's play."

I took the controller and sat down on the couch. "Thanks for the advice."

"No problem, if you want, just give me a call anytime you want." Sean said, handing me a sheet of paper.

"Thanks man, I will."

(Chloe)

I couldn't believe it. Jay had actually canceled on Rachelle. What a jerk.

Rachelle deserved more than that, she was so beautiful and hot.

Jay was an idiot to turn her down.

I thought to myself how to get back at Jay.

We sat on Rachelle's bed, just minding our own business.

I could tell Rachelle was thinking about the same things.

"So, are you thinking about how to get back at Jay?" I asked.

"You bet, he's an dick."

"Yeah, I agree, how could he do this to you." I responded.

���He should know better." Rachelle said.

"Boys are such a simple gender, they don't understand anything." I frowned.

"I know right." Rachelle scoffed. "Girls are the superior sex, we're so much better."

"And I can't believe Sydney sided with them." I said.

"Me neither, we're her best friends." Rachelle said.

I sighed, Sydney and I were so close, and she just betrayed us. How could she. Jay and Bianca were jerks and didn't know anything about feelings.

Jay was so self-centered. He never cared about anybody else, just how things affected him.

Bianca would just side with Jay even if somebody else was right. She didn't listen to anybody else, just herself.

"I have an idea, let's confront him at choir, then maybe we can make him so embarrassed." Rachelle recommended.

"Yes, that's a great idea." I agreed.

It was settled, we made plans about what we would say to him and how we would say it to him. We thought of how to tell him that he was a jerk and how we would end him. We planned to tell everyone and get them to gang up on him. Hopefully, we could convince Sydney and Bianca to join us and crush Jay. But that was wishful thinking. We needed a better plan. There was no way everyone would go against Jay, he was too shy.

"Goddamnit, how come everyone has to be so sympathetic." I said aloud.

Rachelle's mother walked into the room holding a tray of fancy looking cat cupcakes.

"Thank you Ms. Turner." I said.

"I heard you guys screaming about how boys are idiots and I agree, they don't deserve to be on this earth."

"What about dad?" Rachelle asked.

"He's one of the rare ones." Rachelle's mother winked.

"Oh I get it." I laughed.

"Lunch will be ready in ten minutes girls, have fun ruining that kid's life."

"We will mother." Rachelle called.

"Ok, so what's your plan?" I asked.

"Let's do this later, I want to show you my book." Rachelle handed me a notebook.

I read through it.

"A.N woke up to the tune happy birthday being blared over the speakers in the ceiling"

I automatically noticed her writing style was very similar to Jay's. I had read his book Black Mist and it had been an ok book.

"This is pretty good so far."

"You're the only person I've shown it to so far." Rachelle smiled.

Can I keep reading?" I asked.

"Sure thing." Rachelle said.

"They all knew that they had never bothered to check the 'dead general's' vitals." I read aloud. This story was so interesting, I didn't want to stop reading. It made Jay's writing look like garbage.

"Jay's characters are so bad, Silvia McCoy, what kind of name is that." I laughed.

"And his backstory for her, so unoriginal, it's basically my back story." Rachelle laughed.

"I noticed, he copied you, what an idiot." I smirked.

I took my phone and called my mom who owned one of the biggest publishing companies. "Let me tell my mom something, I'm going to see if I can get your book published before Jay does."

"That sounds great, then if he tries to publish his book, we can say that he copied us." Rachelle grinned.

I smiled. We had a plan to get back at Jay. Now his story could never get published.

(Bianca)

"Grandma, I thought you said to not worry." I said.

"I also said to prepare for the worst."

"But, Grandma-"

"Bianca listen, you need to stop worrying and why do you worry about him so much?" my grandma asked,

"It's in my nature I guess." I sighed.

"There's obviously more to it than that."

There was no keeping things from my grandma. I handed her a note I was planning to give to Rachelle.

"Hmmm, interesting, that explains a lot."

I gulped. This note was really important to me and I didn't really want anybody to read it.

"Ok, that's enough." I snatched the note from my grandma.

"Bianca, I know that feeling." She had obviously read enough to know what was going on.

"You do?" I said nervously.

"There was this girl once who bullied your grandfather, I defended him and he was so overjoyed that he took me for lunch." My grandmother said.

"Woah, so this is like deja vu for you." I said.

"I guess you could say that."

"I better get some rest, I'll see you tomorrow." I slowly walked up the stairs. I was thinking about what I should do. Should I keep defending Jay or should I just ditch him and think about my own life. I was conflicted and didn't know what to think. I got into bed and took my copy of Crystal's Journey. "Wow Jay, I can't believe you did it." I said softly. I started reading his story, it was amazing how he depicted so many scenes. "Crystal paced back and forth in front of the nurse Madame Sapphire's office." I read aloud.

Talia groaned. "What time is it?"

I ignored her, still staring into the book.

"Bianca, what are you doing?" Talia asked.

I ignored her still.

Talia walked sleepily over to me and sat down on my bed. "Crystal's Journey, you're reading Jay's book?"

"It's really good." I said.

"I've heard that Rachelle's book is pretty good." Talia said, yawning.

"What book?" I asked.

"The Book of Magic, she sent me a copy a couple hours ago." Talia said.

"Cool." I said sarcastically.

"You should look at it." Talia said holding up a stack of papers. "It's close to Jay's style of writing."

"Um, sure." I put down my book and took the stack of papers.

They had been stapled together and the writing was smudging onto each page.

"She said A.N was based on her and Jay made K.M."

"Mhmm." I thought to myself. I quickly read through the first chapter which only was a page long.

"When her turn arrived at last, A.N. called her best friend K.M. up to the front. K.M. had been the first friend which A.N. met at the training camp." I read. Wait, is this a love story between Rachelle and Jay, oh gross. I thought. That would be so awkward. If Rachelle was in love with Jay and he ignored her, then I guess it would make sense to write a fantasy about that. I continued to read this piece of garbage.

Rachelle had always wanted to join Jay in the writing train, but she didn't really know that Jay actually put time and effort into his stories, he didn't just write, he would plan and ask friends to read it over for him. He would design characters and do all that stuff before actually starting.

"This is decent." I said.

"Bianca, I can tell you don't like it." Talia said.

"But haven't you read Jay's Black Mist, Silvia and A.N have the same past." I said.

"I see where you're coming from, but Jay better publish Black Mist soon cause Chloe's mom is considering publishing Rachelle's book."

"What!" I gasped.

"Yeah, Chloe told me." Talia said. "It's part of their scheme to ruin Jay's life."

"Oh you've got to be kidding me." I groaned.

Chloe was the scheming type. She always stood by her friends even if they were in the wrong.

"It can't be that bad, it's just a book." Talia said.

"Just a book, this will crush Jay, he's been working on Black Mist for so long now, if they get it out first, it'll kill him."

"I think you're overreacting." Talia said.

"I'm not, she-"

"Girls, what are you two doing up so late?" My mom asked, interrupting me.

"Nothing." I laughed nervously.

"Well you should go to sleep, it's late." she closed leaving us alone.

Well that was interesting. I thought to myself.

(Rachelle)

I sat in my dimly lit room contemplating what to do. Jay had been my inspiration for everything and now, he was my enemy. I wanted to get back at him so badly but part of me still loved him. I thought to myself on what to do and one thing came to me, write.

I immediately grabbed my notebook. "A.N took K.M by the hand, K.M looked at her with longing eyes. A.N let go of K.M and he fell, but he didn't hit the ground, he fell down the cliff. Down and down he went until he landed." I smiled evilly. "O.F gasped and slid down the hill to see if K.M was still alive. H.Z gave A.N a look of disgust."

I was rather satisfied with my book. I decided to end the book there cause it was already twenty chapters long. "Finally, A.N and her friends had fulfilled their duties, they were free." I placed my notebook down and went to bed. I tucked myself into bed and sighed.

As I woke up, I saw the light burst through my window. I yawned and crawled out of bed. I felt like the day before was just a nightmare. But then I remembered, it was real. I was hit with the realization that Jay had betrayed me. I flopped back onto my bed and just waited. I wanted the feelings to go away. It was like I was in a movie.

I watched as more and more sunlight filled the room. I heard a knock on my bedroom door. I was too lazy to go and open the door.

"Rachelle, are you in there?"

I opened my mouth to speak but couldn't.

"I'm coming in."

I sighed and grunted.

The door opened and Chloe's face appeared. "Guess what, you've got an interview with a professional editor."

I gasped. "Really." I hopped out of my bed and jumped up and down.

"Come on, it starts in thirty minutes." Chloe said.

"I'm coming."

We hurried down the stairs where Chloe's mother was waiting. "Do you have the book?"

I nodded gesturing to my notebook.

"Good, let's get moving."

We drove through the beautiful city. It was really nice. Chloe and I chatted about my story, and Chloe's mom talked to me about the whole publishing thing. I was interested to hear that they were also going to ask some professional writers to take a look at it and write it into a proper book.

We reached a large building that looked a bit worn down but that was just the outside. The inside was filled with beautiful couches and a red carpet.

"It's beautiful." I said in awe.

"It's pretty great." Chloe's mother laughed.

"Thank you for letting me do this Mrs. Levington." I said.

"Your welcome, oh Penelope this is Miss Rachelle Turner."

"Oh hi." Penelope said. She looked like one of those nerds from school. Glasses hair in a ponytail, that stuff.

"Penelope is one of my mom's interns." Chloe said.

"I'll take you to Mr. Mitchel." Penelope said.

I was dragged off with my notebook in hand. I thought of how Jay would feel after this meeting.

"Mr Mitchel?" Penelope knocked on the door.

"Do you have an appointment?" Somebody grumbled.

"It's about Miss Turner, she's here to see you."

"Oh yes the child, bring her in."

I was pushed into the room.

The door slammed shut immediately.

"So you're our little writer, I'm here to look over your story." Mr Mitchel was a bald man who looked no older than sixty. He had tons of wrinkles and large eyebrows that made him look mad all the time. "Well, hand it over."

I reluctantly handed my notebook over to him.

He snatched and opened it.

I gulped as I watched his eyes scan my work. With every turn of the page, with every noise that came out of his mouth I trembled even more.

"Interesting, I see what you're trying to do here." Mr. Mitchel said to himself.

I was wishing in my head that he would be nice to me. I glanced nervously at his bookshelf. What I saw made my heart sink.

He had a picture of a boy who looked familiar. The boy was holding a plaque that read "Young Writer of the Year." The boy looked so familiar but I couldn't put my finger on it.

"I see you've spotted my picture."

"Yes, do you know him?"

"I help edit his first book, such talent, your style is very close to his."

That sentence was the hint I needed, it was Jay.

"Well, I can tell you that your grammar needs some work and you have a poor storyline overall." Mr. Mitchel smiled.

"What do you mean poor storyline?" I asked.

"Take a look at this, A.N and K.M are not good names, people will get confused on who is who." Mr. Mitchel said, pointing to the notebook.

"I think it makes sense." I crossed my arms.

"That's exactly what Jay said the first time I met him." Mr. Mitchel laughed. "You see Rachelle, the writer will know who is who because they made them, but the readers didn't spend a lot of time with your characters."

This guy was crazy, what did he know about my story?

"Second, you want to be careful about your backstory, it's very vague on how she lost her memory, just be aware of that."

"Ok, thank you."

"I'll try to see if I can re-write it, because that's my job, but I want you to try, ok?" Mr. Mitchel placed his hand on my shoulder.

"I understand." I said. I closed the door behind me and slowly walked to the main entrance.

"So how was it?" Chloe asked.

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Are you sure, because I can help you with anything." Chloe said.

He told me I wasn't good enough!" I shouted.

Chloe paused, "He did what?"

"He was telling me how my story was horrible and that my grammar is absolutely hideous." I cried.

"That idiot, he sounds like a jerk." Chloe said.

I nodded and thought on what to do. He did say to re-write it on my own so that I could learn or something, but his job was to write it for me, wasn't it?

(Sydney)

I sat on my couch waiting for my mom to come home. What was taking her so long?

I saw Sean enter the room with Jay following closely behind him.

Jay and Sean seemed to talk more often now. They always hung out together twenty four seven. It was insane at times though. They were really loud and it drove me nuts to the point where I actually messed up on my drawing.

Jay was coming over after school everyday and my brother said that he could come at eight in the morning every weekend.

I was usually asleep at that time but they didn't care.

My mom was at work at six so she couldn't do anything about it.

One day, Jay and Sean were playing Speed, as in the card game if you didn't know what that was.

Jay was amazing at that, his hands moved so fast that I couldn't react.

Sean was losing by a long shot, it was great to watch them play, even though I had some heart breaking news.

Jay's father was arrested for robbing a bank and his mother was also arrested for helping.

I tapped Jay on the back to get his attention, no response. "Jay, it's important."

"Hold on, I've got one last card." Jay placed his three on top of Sean's four and slammed the table. "Speed!"

Sean raised his hands in defeat.

"My hands are on fire right now, let's go!!!!" Jay called.

"Jay!" I put my hands on my hips.

"Ok, chill." Jay smirked.

"I have good news and bad news." I said trying to keep him from freaking out.

"Ok?" Jay seemed rather confused.

Sean was shaking his head rapidly obviously he knew what I was going to say.

"The good news is that you don't have to go back to your house tonight." I smiled.

"Sydney, stop." Sean mouthed.

"That's not so bad." Jay smiled then noticed Sean's face. "Is something wrong?"

Sean placed his face on the table.

"Your parent's have been arrested." I said.

Jay's mouth dropped, "Wait what?"

"I'm sorry Jay." I said trying to keep my tears in. It was heartbreaking seeing Jay like this.

Jay was in shock, he didn't say or do anything. But I didn't blame him. The people who raised him were arrested for breaking the law. Jay wouldn't expect this from his parents.

"This is why I tried to avoid watching the news." Sean groaned

"My mom has offered to take you in." I told him.

Jay ran up to Sean's room crying. He was obviously upset, but I had to tell him.

"Mom is at Jay's house getting his things, be ready to help bring a truck load of things in." I said.

"Where is he sleeping?" Sean asked.

"Your room for now, then once we get the basement cleaned up, he'll move down there." I answered.

"Ok, got it." Sean said and walked up the stairs to go and get Jay.

I just hope he's all right. I thought to myself. It killed me to watch him cry like this.

He deserved better than this, first Rachelle and now this. It was going to be a horrible week for him.

My mom returned with a moving van following behind her.

"What's in there?" I asked.

"Just help me." My mom demanded.

I help bring out clothes, a computer, a bunch of stuffed animals. There was just so much stuff. It was insane.

"I told Jay that we would start bringing things downstairs."

He smiled, tears still slowly coming down his eyes.

"Jay come here." I reached for him with outstretched arms.

"No thank you." Jay walked away slowly.

This just made a turn for the worse. I knew that school was going to be hard but my mom already filled out the paperwork to transfer him to my school. He was also in my class which was great. I was also worried that the kids would bully him or avoid him so having a friend there would help a lot.

I helped Sean and mom bring Jay's belongings down to the basement.

"Shouldn't Jay help?" I asked.

"He's upset, just let him have his moment, he'll be fine."

"I sure hope so." I sighed.

We placed boxes upon boxes down on the floor.

Jay had a lot of things so it took all afternoon.

That night I sat in bed wondering how life would be now.

Would Jay resent Bianca for making his life miserable, would he get really mad at Rachelle for also making his life miserable or maybe both.

Only time would tell, I had school tomorrow so hopefully things would go well. I was worried that the other kids would treat Jay poorly and he wouldn't get along with anyone. But I didn't want to think about that. I wanted him to enjoy life, not despise it. Hopefully I could help him with that.