Your main character is doing something they shouldn’t. Practice using the fool by writing about how they try to get him or her to stop.
“What are you doing?” Debbie asked.
I shook the can of spray paint to show her. “What does it look like I’m doing?” Surely it was obvious.
“It looks like you’re about to do something stupid.”
“No, I’m about to give Ben’s car a makeover. What’s stupid about that?
“Well, the fact that it will be classed as criminal damage.”
Why was Debbie against this? This was something I thought Debbie would have agreed to. Debbie was always doing something whacky and unexpected. Hell, when her high school boyfriend told her he wanted to see other people and she didn’t, she had a bonfire in front of her house and ceremoniously burned all the things he had ever given her, including his precious football shirt.
“Listen to me. This isn’t you, is it?”
“Of course it’s not, but that’s supposed to be the point. Apparently I’m boring. Perhaps it’s time I livened things up a bit.”
“Liven things up doesn’t mean a criminal act that will end up with you in court.” Debbie grabbed my shoulders with both hands. “Come on, Meg, re-consider this. You are supposed the be the thinker, the reasonable one. I’m irrational. I’m the emotional one.
“Don’t you think he deserves it?”
“Of course. The lying cheat deserves everything he gets.”
“Then why are you trying to stop me?”
“Because you’ll regret it. Yeah, he screwed half the cheerleading squad. Yeah, he posted pictures of himself on Instagram while he made out with more than one of them.” Debbie waved her hand back and forth with each point she made. “Yeah, it’s embarrassing, but stand up and take it like the superior intellectual that you are. He’s a dick and you know it. You are better than this.” Debbie gestured to the paint can.
I thought a moment then shook my head. “Are you telling me that you wouldn’t want revenge after being made to look a fool?”
“Of course I’d want revenge. I’d shred his clothes and throw them out the window. But that’s me, not you.” Debbie shrugged, “Plus, I’d get away with it. You won’t.”
That was true. Debbie, no matter how ludicrously she behaved, always managed to get away with it. I, on the other hand, always got caught. Debbie streaked across the beach and everyone cheered her on. I tried skinny dipping once with Ben and the whole neighbourhood turned up for a last minute pool party.
“Yeah, think about that for a while,” Debbie said. A moment later she continued, “If you really want revenge you need to be subtle. This needs devious planning, and fortunately, I know just the person for the job.”
