The blood must have drained from my cheeks, splinters of iciness stabbed my cheeks. "Maya...I need you to do something for me."

"You look sick...if you throw up I swear..."

"MAYA! Just listen to me, okay. I need you to go distract Lex, I'll explain later."

She glosses her lips. "My pleasure, I don't care what it's about you don't gotta tell me." Maya tighten he bra strap and pull her v neck down. Her fingers go to her white blonde hair, shaking it out.

"Thanks." I saw awkwardly as she struts off. A few seconds later I hit the hall, my backpack and phone handy. I double check for my pepper spray. I thought of having a gun but school and a gun doesn't mix. No telling what this fucker was gonna do. I need to leave in case he has a gun. Incase he uses it on students. I'm not having that on my conscious. Who do I call to confirm that he's after me??? Oh...oh of course. I know who. Jim! Even though I treated him like shit. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'll call him. Catching an uber, I call his cell. To my surprise he picks up fast. Before the second ring.

"Amanda, where have you been?!"

"I got fired...it's a long story I'll tell you later. Sorry, I've been distracted and handling some shit. We can meet up in the parking garage. I need to ask you something."

"Okay."

"Later." I hang up, my mind racing to wild accusations, Mr. Pierce sent his son to silence me? He had to. Fuck.

At the parking garage of Strive Treat, I locate Jim. His hands in his pockets and his eyes locked on mine. It was awkward...like fighting badly with a friends then seeing them afterwards. I did like him...not romantically like he liked me, but as a friend. We shared uber rides from work for the past year. Gossiping about our boss of course. "Hey."

"Hey, I'm sorry about before."

"It's okay, you look anxious...what's wrong?"

"Has Mr. Pierce's son been back up at the office? Has he said something about me?"

"Nooooo..." His voice trails. "Can you explain why you are asking me these questions?" I rub my shoulders for warmth even though it was eighty degrees outside. Jim takes off his jacket and drapes it over me. "You're acting weird."

"Mr. Pierce is another candidate for the metoo movement, he came onto me and it's been sound recorded. I called corporate but he's protected...and now I think his son is out to get me." I take a deep breath.

"Ummm...wow...okay, really??" Jim gives a crooked smile...thinking I'm fooling around.

"Yeah, dude, that's why I treated you like that before I was fired...it was just before everyone arrived to work." My cracking voice brings realization to him. Like a hound, Jim charges towards the door leading back inside, his fists balled...his eyes looking coal black." No, no stop." I block the door and grab at his hands which grip the knob. "Stop." I demand as if he's s dog.

"Get out of the way!"

"What the fuck is violence gonna solve? Huh? Nothing, it's gonna make it worse." He jerks at the knob, the door opens, I slam my body, a sum of 110 pounds, slamming it shut. "You'll end up in jail because he's protected, stop!!" I scream at him. "We're going...okay, come on." I give him a hard look, managing strong eye contact, squinting. "Let's go to your place."