Contradiction by Easy Ash (beach books txt) 📕

 The next week came in brutal. I had two five page essays due and The psychology comprehensive examination, on top of it. I studied the guideline worksheet I managed to get from the teacher. "Abnormal behavior, including intervention, behavioral neuropsychology. Drugs & behavior cognitive community. Developmental, infancy, childhood, adolescence, adult, and aging diversity of gender. Industrial and organizational personality. Pseudopsychology. Social, including sexual behavior; modification for sustainability. And lastly, the psychology of violence." I manage to define each one after an hour. A tap from behind makes me super annoyed. Jim at the dorm room's door. I pause and turn my head.

"Any calls from the police department?"

"No." Hmm...so he came all this way to my dorm, to ask something he could've texted?? 

"I really hope we can get this asshole, him and his son." 

"Umm...about his son-"

I hear giggling as my roommates return to the dorm. The first one to check Jim out head to toe is, of course, Maya. Yasmin and Kristin size him up to but not as eagerly. I stand, feeling the role of introducing him playing out as my act right now. "This is Jim my friend from work." I  said that a bit to harshly, but I was stressed and really needed to study and get homework done. 

"Hey." The three say in unison, I wonder if they practiced that. 

"Hey, nice to meet y'all." He gives a slight grin. 

"I actually gotta start back on my work, I'll text you later about it." 

"Wait but he's-" Kristin covers Maya's mouth.

"Cool." He nods. "Later then."

I quickly turn back to my work. Putting in headphones so I wouldn't be bothered by chatter. I play a Spotify playlist called piano meditation while I get down to business. At 9pm, I save my two papers, which are about the art of psychology and famous English pioneers. Shower. Just as I climb in bed, a text hits my line. The contact has no name and a weird number...no past existing texts back and forth. 

Text: I'm gonna do it my way.

My mind, being beat, and confused by the text, ignores it as I go to sleep with heavy eyes. 

..........

In the morning, I shoot straight up, checking my texts...seeing and understanding it now. It was Lex. I dial his number, at the same time I get a text from Jim: wanna talk about it? Ugh...one irritating guy at a time. Lex picks up. "Why are you calling me?"

"That isn't your decision to make, its mine, back the FUCK off." I hang up, letting out a long huff.

 I took a day away from everything, from school, friends, guys, all of it. My feet found themselves walking miles to end up at a Japanese Garden. This trip wasn't planned I just stopped there, oddly, and mostly because I was tired. My legs burned. I sat on a bench and massaged my temples. Alright. What am I doing about Mr. Pierce? Should I let Lex do it his way since the police are shielding the fucker? No. Yes. Maybe. No because it is my battle to fight. Yes, because I'm gonna need help. Maybe...because...well just maybe. The last option would work the quickest. No court dates or contracts. No settling out of court. 

My ears detected my phone ringing. Ugh. Ignore it. I roll my eyes. Can I have one goddamn moment?! What if it's important or an emergency? A voice in my heads says with much anxiety. Nervous nelly. I huff and unzip my bag to see that it's my grandmother. Odd. I answer, scared. "Hey grams, what's up?" 

"I'm just calling to check on you, your grandad says hi."

I smirk. My eyes watering. Does she have fucking radar? "Oh, I'm okay, just getting some air, thinking about exams." I lie. I mean I can tell her, but then her little old heart would break and she'll have grandad drive an hour so she could just hug me. This has happened plenty of times. It was sweet and brought me down to earth and reminded me even if I'm an orphan, people love me. Family loves me. "How are you guys?"

"Oh, we have a cruise planned, right now we're packing, keep her company dear, we need another suitcase."

"What, are you guys taking the whole house?!" I crack.

There's shuffling then the deep voice of grandad sounds through the speaker. "This lady wants to take damn near everything with her, maybe you can talk her out of it."

My phone buzzes. "No way, she's just as stubborn as I am. Where are you guys going?" I read a text. Jim: you seem off, everything ok? 

"Hawaii, the bingo house had a raffle." A loud banging crossed over from the other line. "Honey?"

"I'm okay!!"

"That suitcase is too heavy, let me help you! Gotta go sweetheart." 

"Alright, I'll call back later tonight, love you." I hang up and lock my phone. Eyeing the pretty landscape of vibrate green grass, bushes and flowers of numerous colors which resemble a rainbow. Sniffing in the scent of earthy nature. Closing my eyes and letting the sun cook my face. 

I guess it his way...until I can make it my way.

 LEX P.O.V 

I don't get this girl, first she says fuck off, now she's texting me to meet up at the gym at midnight. WTH. What made this sour patch have a change of heart? And what made her want to meet at midnight hours? I can't tell if she wants my help or wants to treat my ass like shit. I've dealt with self righteous, stuck up girls like her, usually a three day stay, a rinse and repeat. Her type wanted to feel bigger than a man, to exceed further and prove  feminist strength. I can pay for myself. This is my choice. As if she knows how long Ive wanted to can the asshole. I park my car, realizing I was becoming distracted. Pulling into an empty lot, I wait. 

A text hits my line from a nameless number: I'm inside

Me: Did you break you...you do know I'm a manager here?

Text: Oh hush, come in. 

I use my spare key to unlock the back door. Shaking my head, and eyeing my surroundings. This girl. "YOO!" I yell once the door snaps close. I hear noise, heavy breathing, and follow the direction. Amanda is shirtless, in a sports bra, on a mat, exercising...well doing a move that makes her look like she's..."Are you humping the air?"

"60." She stops counting and stands. "Glute bridges....you took forever." 

"Working on that ass huh." I smirk.

She gives me a hard, if I had a gun, kind of glare. "Now, let's figure this out your way...for now."

"For now?"I purposely cross my arms, bulging them together, my dark tank top hugged me in all the right places. Her, being a strong woman, of course she fought the urge to look. Instead, she slides into a purple t shirt, baggy, that shows no cleavage. I bet she wants to show some. 

"Until I change it to my way. So what's your plan again?"

"Expose him. I still have the folders, we can even call up the other victims and have them do the same. With how Strive Treat is thriving, he'll have to step down."

"Or the company goes under..." She squints as she adds.

"No. My mom made him promise to add me as a owner, the company will stay with the family name." 

"Well, if that's the case, just take the company now, what's the deal? Blackmail him with an ultimatum of him having to step out or get exposed." 

I took a moment to think. That is a smart idea, but he's smart enough to trace my call and do some hitman hire shit to shut me down. I would tell her this, but she wouldn't believe it. "That's a possibility." 

She nods with much eagerness. "You're welcome." 

"Oh, and you arch your back a little too much with the bridges." 

"Thanks for the advice." Sensing that our meet up was over, I head to the door. "Oh, and thank you for wanting to help me." Her voice softened, sending chills down my chest. I look back and nod, before continuing on. She wants me.

 AMANDA P.O.V

"Hey..." Maya shook me awake. 

I sit-up in bed, peering into darkness. "What?"

"I heard something outside..." 

I clicked on my lamp and looked to the window. Listening, staring hard. "It's probably a bird or something."

"At midnight?" She said harshly. I look at her, at messy blonde hair and alarmed eyes. "I don't have the number for school security, do you? I sounded like footsteps in the grass right below our window." 

I check my phone, clicking it on and seeing three texts from Jim five minutes ago:

I can't sleep wanna talk.

I got snacks.

Look out the window.

I get up and open the window, about to lean my head out, but Maya jerked me away. "Nooo, stop!" 

"It's okay, it's Jim. Go back to sleep." I stick my head out, seeing him sitting in the grass, a white bag next to him. Gas station junk. I grab onto a branch before me and climb down slowly. It's only two stories down to him. When my feet land, I lose a bit of my balance.