I Died, She Took My Life / Chapter 3: Turning the Spotlight
I Died, She Took My Life

I Died, She Took My Life

Author: Annette Baxter

Chapter 3: Turning the Spotlight

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Lucky me, I got a do-over. This time, I was determined to make her pay for what she'd done! No more playing nice.

"Harper, why aren't you saying anything?"

"The way they're looking at me is so creepy, like they want to eat me alive."

Next to me, Savannah was still putting on her shy act, but she was trembling with excitement. I sneered inside—if she loved being watched so much, I might as well help her out. Why not?

So I grabbed a guy by the arm and raised my voice:

"You guys are ridiculous! Haven't you ever seen a girl before?"

"Savannah just accidentally lifted her skirt and showed her thong, that's all."

"If you love staring so much, maybe you should just tape your eyes open and stare all you want!"

The moment I said that, what had only been known to a few was now public knowledge. Every guy in the area turned to stare at Savannah's skirt. Well, there you go, Savannah—enjoy the spotlight.

Under all those eyes, Savannah actually blushed, covering her face with one hand:

"Stop it, everyone! Don't look! Turn away!"

But with her other hand, she couldn't help pulling her skirt up even more, soaking in the attention. She just couldn’t help herself.

The guys' curiosity quickly turned into disgust. The girls in our class looked down on her even more for her act. I almost felt bad. Almost.

He tore into the distracted guys and made them hold a squat in the sun for half an hour. When he saw Savannah in a miniskirt, his face darkened:

"Savannah, this is school, not your bedroom. Can you show a little self-respect?"

"And who let you wear a skirt during ROTC?"

"Everyone else is in uniform—why are you the only exception? Go stand out there in the sun for half an hour. That’s your punishment."

Savannah lowered her skirt, shot me a glare, and reluctantly went to stand under the blazing sun. She couldn't take the heat and fainted after just fifteen minutes. She went down and, yeah, nothing was left to the imagination.

The whole incident became the talk of campus. Everyone was gossiping about what color thong Savannah had on. People just wouldn’t shut up about it.

When Savannah woke up, she'd already been sent back to the dorm. Realizing how badly she'd embarrassed herself, she shot up from her bed and started ranting at me, jabbing a finger in my face:

"Harper, why did you embarrass me on purpose during ROTC?"

"Is it just because the guys like me more than you, so you're jealous?"

"Now everyone's talking about me behind my back—are you happy now?"

Hearing her familiar lines, I couldn't help rolling my eyes, but I still forced myself to explain patiently:

"Savannah, you've got it all wrong."

"You were the one who said the guys were staring at you. I was just trying to help."

"I had no idea you'd be so popular. Everyone just couldn't help looking."

"The fact that they're talking about you just proves how attractive you are, right?"

Savannah pouted, her expression finally softening a bit, though she still tested me:

"But don't you think it's humiliating, having people gossip about something so private?"

I put on my best innocent face, all shock:

"Savannah, how could you think that?"

"There’s nothing wrong with showing off if you’ve got it."

"If I had your body, I'd be begging everyone to stare at me—I wouldn't care if they saw everything!"

Savannah blushed, gripping my hand like she'd found a soulmate:

"Really? Harper, you really get me!"

"I've always felt that way, too. Sometimes I just can't help showing off on purpose."

"You don't think I'm crazy or weird, do you?"

I sneered inside—so she knows she's got issues. But this time, I wasn't about to talk her out of it. I shook my head and, forcing myself, squeezed her hand back:

"Not weird at all. I think you're brave."

"Besides, we were all born naked—what's so wrong with being seen?"

"Be confident. You're not doing anything wrong!"

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