Popcorn falls into my lap from the right. I glance over and Mike winks at me. I smile and wink back as I toss the popcorn in my mouth.
“Do you want anything from concessions?” Jason asks me.
“Wait!” Mom interjects. “We got you food and drinks. The Victoria thing distracted us. Sorry.” She hands us hot dogs and Dad passes us sodas.
All thought of Victoria is gone while we scream and cheer for Damian.
At halftime, everyone around us goes to concessions or the restroom. We stay in our seats chatting with each other.
“You bitch!” a voice screeches.
We look towards the track as a collective. Victoria marches over, arms akimbo. Dad, Felix, Jason, and Hunter jump to their feet. Mom digs her cell phone out of her purse and punches numbers with her thumb.
I stand and press into Jason as I snake my arm around his already tight body. “Don’t engage her,” I whisper.
He dips his head with his jaw set. “No promises. Not after what happened last time.”
“Victoria,” Andrew says in an even tone, “you should rejoin your cheerleader friends.”
She looks him up and down. “Who the hell are you to tell me what to do?”
“If you ever paid attention when you were living with your parents, I’m Mr. Jericho. Arissa’s dad. And now Sara’s.”
I smirk at Dad’s reply. Victoria doesn’t deserve the familiarity of his first name.
Victoria eyes blaze with fury as they meet mine. “I hope you’re happy! You tear our family apart and get yourself a new one!”
“I have parents who truly love me, support me, and would never hurt me. Yep. I’m happy now,” I say, a smug smile dominating my face.
She lets out a girlish roar that sounds something between a battle cry and a shriek. She clenches her fists, stomps her foot, and starts for me.
“Stop!” Mom yells, jumping up with her palm facing out. “Don’t come any closer, Victoria. You already violated the restraining order and the police are on their way.”
Victoria glares at Mom. Her cheerleader friends drag her away as she focuses on me and glowers. “You’ll pay for this!”
Jason clamps his hand over my mouth as I open it to respond. “You said not to engage her.”
I peel his hand off. “I told you not to engage her.”
“Mom and I are going to wait for the officers at the entrance,” Andrew informs us.
Everyone keeps asking if I’m all right, despite my assurances.
“I’m good. I got to tell my sister off without getting hit.”
“Your sister is a piece of work,” Mike declares.
“Multiply that by a thousand and you have my mother.” I laugh as the adults stare at me. “Levity, you guys. You saw Tibby at her trial.”
They laugh.
The deputies arrive and talk to Mom and Dad at the entrance for a few minutes. It doesn’t take them long to find Victoria and escort her to their car in handcuffs. My heart skips a few beats with joy.
“That ought to straighten her up,” Shelly states, watching Victoria and the deputies.
“Yes, it should.” I agree. “But I doubt it.” I know Victoria is capable of holding a grudge just as well as Tibby.
CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE
I walk in the house with Arissa and Jason after school on Monday to find Shannon Marshall sitting in the front room with Mom and Dad. I halt, then give Shannon a curt nod. “Hello, Shannon.”
“Hi, Sara,” she returns, her saccharine smile on full display.
I tense and shift my weight around uneasily then drop my backpack at my feet. “I’ll meet you guys in the TV room for homework,” I tell Jason and Arissa, keeping my wary eyes on Shannon.
“Have a seat.” Shannon gestures to the sofa.
“No, thanks,” I respond, folding my arms across my chest. “I’m good right here.”
Her fake smile disappears and she appeals to Mom and Dad with a pleading look.
“They don’t control me, Shannon. I’m perfectly capable of making my own choices. So, if you want to talk to me, get to the point.”
“Very well,” she says, pursing her lips. “Victoria says you were belittling her Friday night at a football game.”
“She lies to get what she wants. She came after me. I simply answered her question about being happy. I can’t help that she didn’t like my answer that I’m happier without her, Simon, or Tibby in my life.”
“Sara saw her before the game started and stayed out of Victoria’s sight. We were on the opposite end of the bleachers from her. She’s the one who spotted Sara and tried to come