I believe in karma so I don’t really go for revenge, except once. I was sixteen, and my first boyfriend, Shawn, had just broken up with me. I was a mess, especially since he spent the next two months treating me like garbage. I still don’t know what caused his personality change, but he went from loving to abusive real quick. I was a pathetic puppy and we had mutual friends so I just sat and took it.

Until he moved on. To his best friend, Brent’s, recent ex girlfriend. Brent and his girlfriend were THE couple. They both lived in a nearby town but even everyone in my school knew they were the couple that would last, (it was a very small southern town) and they were trying to ‘work things out.’ At this point I don’t think Shawn and the ex had moved beyond the flirtation phase or a few dinners ‘as friends,’ but that still wasn’t cool. Of course Brent didn’t know any of this.

Then one night Brent and I happened to be at the same party. Maybe it was jealousy, or Shawn had finally pushed me over the edge. He had said a few unpleasant things to me earlier that day in front of a large portion of the student body. Either way I saw an opportunity and I took it.

I approached Brent and we started talking. Even though he and Shawn were close, we didn’t know each other well. But we had met a few times post breakup and he was still kind to me so, I didn’t think he would blow me off. We actually talked for a while before there was a pause in conversation. As someone with Asperger’s, I can be an awesome, or terrible actress depending how much I’ve studied the present interaction. Despite my temper, I had spent months being a victim and had no problem appearing vulnerable.

I curved my lips in a self deprecating smile, looked at him, and said, “I’m so jealous of you.”

“Why?”

“Because it doesn’t bother you that Shawn and [what’s her name] are together.” That’s it. Soon after the boys broke up. If that had been the end of it I would have been content, but my ex decided to confront me. I guess he thought my personality change after we broke up was permanent, or he had forgotten who I really was, because he confronted me in front of all our friends.

He accused me of lying, manipulation, and making his best friend hate him. He called me several unflattering names. I was a stalker, even though I never stayed at a gathering long after he showed up. The room was uncomfortable as he vented and people had started to edge away from us. I let him fume then slowly stood up. I have never forgotten this moment.

“Did you think you could mess with people’s feelings and not get screwed? You’re so arrogant you didn’t even think you would get caught. Idiot, there are only three restaurants in this town. Your responsible for this situation. I just took the opportunity when it came, to point out how much of a dick you are.”

Slowly (very dramatically) I walked away and prayed I wouldn’t cry angry tears or throw up.

Now for those of you wondering about the only true victim in this, Brent, well he and I met at a football game two weeks later. When he came up to me I knew he was going to let into me, but he just said hey. We didn’t talk about it, but the fact he was nice to me proved he didn’t blame me. Now, life at school hadn’t been very comfortable for me since the ‘incident.’

As with any war, people took sides, even those who didn’t know Shawn or I. Then there were those people who knew Brent and thought I was a right bitch for hurting him. Shawn was an upper class-man and more well known, so his supporters were a little more numerous than mine. Which was a blow to my pride as I believed he was more wrong than I was. But now Brent was standing in front of me and I realized we could help each other get a little bit of our pride back. So before I lost my courage I asked if he wanted to make out a little in front of everyone.

He was a much better kisser than Shawn.