Destroying the Wrong by Evelyne Stone Page A

please leave,” she said in a sweet yet slightly intimidating tone. My mouth dropped open as I watched the girls’ expressions change from mean to shock. They didn't say anything else as they turned around and exited the store.
    Mary looked like she had tears in her eyes. “Thank you everyone. I'm really sorry you had to step in. I should probably go.” She turned around to leave.
    My sales lady stopped Mary before I could. “I know the perfect dress for you. Why don't you sit down and I'll bring it right out.”
    Kat patted the chair next to hers and Mary sat down while the saleslady went through the velvet curtain that led to the stock room.
    “People suck,” Kat said with a straight face. I laughed while my adrenaline flow eased up throughout my body. Mary just smiled and relaxed into the chair.
    “People do suck, but this dress does not and I must have it.” I winked at them both and went back into my dressing room to change back into my clothes. I took a picture in the mirror and sent it to Matt.
    Matt replied, “You. Are. So. Gorgeous.” Yep, this is definitely the dress. Too bad Scott can’t see me right now. I wonder if he would like it too? Stop it, Alissa!
    ~ *~
    Junior year was finally over. Kat stayed under everyone's radar and I didn't have to kick anyone's ass. Boys were still trying to ask her out, but she got really good at ignoring them all. Matt graduated and decided to go to tech school in Rochester for some sort of program that had to do with computer systems.
    We celebrated the last day of school by having dinner with my parents. Even though the weather was warming up for the summer, the nights were still chilly enough for the warm water, so we sat in the hot tub after dessert.
    “I’m really sorry about prom,” Matt said. He got the stomach flu the day before and we didn’t end up going.
    “Don’t be sorry! I feel really bad since it was your senior prom. I would have enjoyed seeing Kelly and her hoard getting kicked out because they started acting crazy.” We both laughed. “Someone posted a picture of one of the D.A.’s knocking over the punch bowl. I guess that’s what happens when you’re high as a kite!”
    Matt’s smiled faded. “I’m mad I didn’t get to see you in that dress.”
    “I can put it on later,” I joked. He still looked sad so I decided to change the subject.
    “How's it going working out with Scott?” I tried not to ask about Scott because I was afraid I would sound too enthusiastic. I hadn't told anyone, not even Kat, but I was having dreams about him even though the only things I knew about him were what I learned hearing him talk at the meetings.
    “Good. He's been working with me on upper body strength so I don't re-injure my knee. The dude has some serious skills defending himself.”
    “So, what exactly is he mentoring you on?” I started rubbing his thigh with my foot.
    “Right now it's mainly physical defense.”
    “I thought the whole point of the meetings was to teach you to be mentally prepared so if you are bullied, you can have the strength to walk away and report what happened.”
    “Ideally that is what you're supposed to do, but Scott wants to prepare me if a situation ever gets out of hand.” He brought his arm up out of the water and flexed, showing off his muscles.
    “Kat wants to come to the meeting this Friday. You should introduce her to someone. Maybe a single guy?”
    “Walt is single. Maybe we should hook them up?” he asked with a huge smile.
    “Umm, no. I think he gives her the creeps.” I pushed off the step I was sitting on across from Matt and moved right in front him. His arms wrapped around me and I ran my hands up and down his biceps, feeling his muscles. He pulled me in closer so I straddled his lap. Kissing him wouldn't be satisfying enough right now so I let my hands wander across his chest and around to his lower back. I closed my eyes and ran my nose along his jaw line, inhaling his scent but it was