“Okay, fine.” I roll my eyes. “I can’t let your sorry ass get an F. Come by my house Saturday afternoon and we can brainstorm together.”
“You’re a lifesaver.” Kate beams.
“Yeah, yeah. The both of you should come too. We can make it a movie night and gorge on pizza.”
“Unfortunately, I can’t,” Lucy gripes. “I’m working until closing.”
“And I have a hot date,” Jamal says dreamily.
“Ooh la la,” I purr. “I’m all ears.”
“I’m sworn to secrecy.”
“Umm, excuse me?” I cross my arms, not at all pleased about being left in the dark. “Per the besties handbook you’re obligated to tell us.”
“He’s still in the closet and I promised to keep my mouth shut.”
“All right. I can respect that.”
“Hopefully one day soon I can introduce you guys to him.”
“Maverick’s giving you the death glare, again,” Kate says.
I look back, and sure enough, he’s shooting daggers me. It’s the strangest thing.
He avoids looking at me in class but stares at me during the entire lunch period every day. I never know what to expect from him and it’s giving me anxiety. On Monday, I prepared for Armageddon, but nada. He ignored me. The same for yesterday and today.
I felt a spark between us at the homecoming dance. I can’t explain it, but it felt right being in his arms. I’m obviously out of my freaking mind. I finger the scab on my right cheek. The ointment I’ve been using has helped speed up the healing. I got a taste of his psycho, but Jake had a front-row seat.
Maverick has a boatload of issues. After the football game Lucy asked him to pose for a photo with his dad and he flat out refused. The poor man turned tomato red. It seems Maverick’s a super asshole to him too. I wonder what caused the father-son drama.
“What’s his problem with you?” Lucy asks.
“You have to ask him that.”
Suddenly, chimes echo throughout the cafeteria and the chatter increases.
“What?” I glance around. “Did aliens land on the White House lawn?”
Jamal glances at his cell phone lying next to his tray. “It’s a text message.”
“Something big must’ve happened,” Kate states.
I was running late this morning and forgot my phone at home. The third one for the year. Thank goodness for insurance. I lost the first one on a roller coaster at Disneyland and the second met a violent end, thanks to Maverick.
“Don’t keep me in suspense,” I say, itching to know what the clamor is all about.
“Hold on. I’m clicking on the link now.” His eyes bulge. “Oh my God.”
Lucy and Kate gape at their phones in shock too.
“What is it?” Jamal hands me his mobile.
Bile rises in my throat. It’s a clip of me showering in the locker room. Fat, dirty whore, and mutt are superimposed on the video. Stink lines and a rotting fish are positioned near my vagina. Pig, cow, and monkey sounds create a chorus in the background.
Rebecca did this. She was acting weird the other day. Now I know why; she’d been recording me.
I leap to my feet and bound towards Rebecca. She juts out her chin, but the widening of her eyes contradicts her false bravado. I take ahold of her hair and yank her to the floor.
