“Gina!” I yelled. “Gina! Gina! Gina!” I sprinted over to Gina, tapping on her shoulder, and tugging lightly on her thick, black, dutch braids. “Ouch!” Gina yelped. “What is going on? You’re acting crazy,” She explained. “Girl, you will never believe what I just heard from Jess,” I exclaimed anxiously.

Jess was the girl that you got all the tea from. She was the only girl you could rely on for 100% true and delicious rumours. I had conversations with her on occasion, but sometimes I tried to run into her on purpose. I’d ask her questions, and Jess couldn’t help but spill whatever new intel she’d been let in on. Today I searched for her at the mall, we had lunch, and I asked about the dating rumours with Daniel and Farrah.

“So Gina,” I started. “You know how we’ve been wondering if Daniel and Farrah were dating, or even if they’d had a casual fling? I asked Jess about it today at the mall. You’ll never believe what I found out…” “Whoa, I need to hear this,” She said with curiosity. “So, Jess told me that in February, Daniel and Farrah kissed at the carnival. Farrah was super into him, but he saw it as a casual thing. So, he stated to date Liana, and Farrah kind of waited for him to come around. When Farrah told Liana that her and Daniel kissed, Liana broke up with him in March. Daniel was mad at first, but then decided he was into Farrah. So Farrah and him went out a few times, but then her parents caught them kissing in her room. They forbade her from seeing him.” “Oh no, poor Farrah,” Gina said. “But it doesn’t end there,” I continued. “Farrah kept dating him in secret, which meant they were often only seeing each other at school or at parties and stuff. It was a tight situation. Then, on June 10th, they were caught hooking up in the library at school after hours!” Gina gasped. “Oh my god! What happened next?” “Well, they got in huge trouble from the school, and Farrah’s parents got so upset that they transferred her to Woodman.”

We both took a second and paused. You could tell there was some tension because Gina felt bad about Farrah, and that made me feel bad for gossiping. Then, Gina’s expression changed. “I want to hear more,” She chuckled. “Okay. Yesterday, November 16th, Jess visited Farrah at Woodman. When Farrah saw Jess, she turned around and ran away. Jess went to her house, knocked on the door, and her Dad answered. He let her in, and when she saw Farrah walking from the kitchen…” I paused. I got super nervous all of the sudden. “When she saw Farrah walking from the kitchen… she was pregnant!” “Pregnant?!” Gina yelled in disbelief. “Pregnant,” I nodded. “Is Jess sure? I mean maybe she was mistaken. “Gina, Farrah is a twig, you would be able to tell if she was 5 months pregnant,” I explained. “Does Daniel know?” “Yes. But Farrah’s parents don’t want him anywhere near the baby,” I said. “So his family is suing them for custody of the baby.” “What?!” Gina exclaimed. “Gina,” I said. “We have to help Farrah.”

Home Room, West Park High School “Does anyone know where’s Shelby?” “Maybe she’s sick or something cause she never skips?” “I bet she overslept after closing up work the night before.”

AP English, West Park High School “Is Shelby out sick?” “I heard she fighting with mom and she never came home.” “She probably just crashed at her boyfriend’s house. He has his own apartment I think.”

Frankie’s Shakes “What the hell! Did Shelby call in?” “I think she skipped town with some guy. She told me she’d been talking to this guy and it was kind of serious.” “Yeah I noticed she was acting different you know happy and nervous. Shelby always said Cranston was too small for her and she wanted to go.”

Schmitz’s Residence “It’s me mrs. Jansen sorry to call so late, Hannah, but I’m going out of my mind. Her dad and brother Have you seen Shelby? Have you heard anything?”

Dame Cynthia Kathryne St Claire swept into the teahouse. The double doors swung shut behind the vibrant lilac silks that swirled around her. A waiter hurried to draw up a chair at the small table loaded with sandwiches, tiny cakes, and a tea set with about four too many floral designs. Lord Tybalt Montcroix paused, teacup in hand, smiling as Dame Cynthia smoothed out her dress and helped herself to a lavender scone. "Darling you look delicious. That is De Floranci's Spring of Eleven is it not?" "Early Summer of Eleven, actually." The score sliced easily under her flurry of strokes, far less composed than usual. "Of course, I remember. The Corantine War delayed silk shipments. De Floranci was inconsolable. Although it meant we got a lovely blend of Spring silks with Summers Hats." Lord Montcroix raised the teacup back to his mouth and then paused again. "Don't ever let this leave this room but I've never cared for De Floranci's Spring hats. Always was the weakest part of any of his collections. Do you remember Spring of Seven? Those hats almost ended the poor man's career." He finally took a delicate sip of tea. "Oh, I agree, darling." A mountain black currant jam found its way onto Dame Cynthia's scone. "But I don't have time to discuss such frivolities." Lord Montcroix almost spat out his tea. The teahouse rang with the noises of his spluttering and coughing has hurriedly tried to swallow it down. "How could you say such a horrid thing! You! Why, Cynthia, you spent the entire Sunset Gala arguing with Lady Procipine Ashfield about whether De Floranci's Winter of Four or Giles Whiteley's Autumn of Eigutilisedr utalised the woodland animal theme." Dame Cynthia St Claire's face flashed at the mention of Lady Ashfield, a mixture of anger, gleeful vengeance, and sadness. "Why, you spent the entire duration of Lord Mayor Kirkland's speech talking about the hat pins alone. What on earth has gotten into you that would make you say such a vile thing, Clair Bear." "Tybbie dear, there is nothing I love more than discussing De Floranci. But in light of what I have just seen even his genius pales. Why poor Alastair Ashfield is about to be caught in a hideous scandal." More spluttering filled the room as Lord Montcroix chose the wrong moment to take another sip. "Lord Ashfield? The man's purer than my poodle. What on earth has he gotten himself into?" "Oh no, dear. He's not to blame in the slightest. He's just the poor soul who will be caught in the crossfire ." "And what is this horrible scandal you know so much about but I have heard not a whisper?" Dame Cynthia Kathrynne St Clairs eyes flashed again with the same mixture of sadness for poor Lord Ashfield and the gleeful vengeance of putting Lady Ashfield in her rightful place. She paused as she raised her scone to her lips. "Well, it appears Lady Procipine Ashfield's obsession with Giles Whiteley extends further than his fashion genius." "You don't mean...?" "Caught canoodling closer than curtesy concedes." Scarlet black currant jam slid to the edge of her mouth. Dame Cynthia dabbed it away, leaving her lips stained red, a vampiric look combined with her pale complexion and deep scarlet robes. "I have seen my fair share of canoodling and those two were rather. He was kissing her like a cat at a cutlet." The teacup fell back to the saucer. "You saw it?" "Why of course, Tybbie. Would I spread around such a vicious rumour if it was just hearsay?" "How on earth did it happen?" "I had just entered one of my favourite spa's and there they were. The steam was not as thick as they thought." The other half of the scone disappeared. "The steam from the hot rocks that is. The steaminess come of them could have powered an ocean liner." Lord Montcroix chuckled. "I wonder how long it's been going on?" "Oh, at least a couple of months. They were not new at it, let me tell you." Lord Montcroix raised the teacup to his lips, his eyes glinting with an idea. "You remember when she excused herself at the Sunset Gala? Was gone for more than half an hour. Do you think...?" "Almost certainly. Seven months. My, my." "Poor Alastair. Do you think he knows?" "The man is no genius but compared to Porcupine he's Jackson Bainbridge-Darcy himself. He's bound to have figured something out." "Yes. Remember her excuse at the Sunset Gala?" Lord Montcroix's voice changed to a high falsetto. "Oh, I must go and congratulate the Lord Mayor on his speech." "That does not take forty-five minutes." "And she walked off in the other direction." A delicate tinkle flowed from Dame Cynthia St Claire's lips. One that did not match her deep scarlet robes and the look of anger and glee on her face. "If she's been coming up with excuses like that for seven months she's bound to have let something slip." The double doors of the tea house flew open as two people walked in. Giles Whiteley strode in, calm and composed with only the flash of terrifying anger behind his eyes. His yellow spring of nice pantsuit was slightly ruffled, the vest a little askew and the buttons hurriedly done. His hair was still wet. Lady Procipine Ashfield flew in, her blue satin swirling like a storm around her. Her boiling red face, from the mixture of steam and anger, showed none of the composure of Giles'. Dame Cynthia Kathrynne St Claire rose, her red silks crackling like fire. Her stained lips smiled without lighting up her pale face. "Porcupine. Care for a cherry?"

Lena lowered her menu and leaned over the table. I followed her gesture and our eyes met, “Babe…isn’t that Dean’s old roommate?”

I spun around awkwardly, first left then right. My eyes scanned across the busy restaurant for who she was looking at. I found per said person a few tables behind us to my right, “Dude in the back over there? One who’s sitting with his Mom?”

“Yeah him, Jesus Julian! Obvious much?” she replied through gritted teeth.

I shrugged my shoulders as my eyes widened, "Shit was I that obvious?"

Lena held back a laugh and nodded her head, waving her hands to forget the matter. "What was that guy's name? It started with a C."

I snapped my fingers, struggling to remember his name, "I want to say it was Corey...Craig?

Lena shook her head, "No, you're right that it started with the letter C. But it was something a bit more vague than that. One of those names you don't hear very often."

"Cal...Calvin!"

Lena nodded her head, "Yes! Calvin! There you go! Good job babe!"

I smiled and made a very stupid bowing gesture. I peered over my shoulder at Cal, a smile as bright as the sun was spread across his face. I recalled him as a man who didn't smile much, but he looked to be the happiest person in the room.

“Kind of a weird restaurant to come to with your Mom,” I whispered. My brain began to scramble for the kind of person Cal was. “Didn’t Dean not like him too much because he was a womanizer? Like he was constantly bringing women over and it made Dean uncomfortable?”

Lena put a fork full of salad in her mouth and nodded her head, “Ummm. Yeah, he complained about it all the time. Said he had issues sleeping because of his...guests. Also said he didn't much care for Cal because he flaunted them.”

"Oh that's right," I said with a nod. "Now I remember him. Never really cared for the guy now that I think about it, he always came off as douchey," I shrugged my shoulders. "But hey...props to him for taking his mom out to an absurdly fancy restaurant right?"

Lena's eyes widened as soon as the words left my lips, and a smile that signified embarrassment spread across her cheeks, "I don't think that's his mom."

I went to turn around but Lena stopped me, freezing me in my tracks.

"No! Don't turn around. You'll make it obvious. He legit just kissed her hand, then fed her some of whatever he's eating. They're on a date."

“Honestly, I don’t think he’d remember us,” I said through a chuckle. “But that’s gnarly. I didn't think he’d be into women that were twice his age...I wonder what she looks like." I tried to peer over my shoulder, but I couldn't get a clear view of them.

Lena continued to pick at her salad. Eyes darting from the salad to me, then to Cal and his date. I could see the gears rotating in her head.

"I can see those gears grinding babe. What's on your mind?"

Lena shook her head and took a mouse bite of her salad, eyes narrowing in Cal's direction. "She looks familiar. Like I can't see her very clearly from where we're sitting but I’ve seen her before. That hairstyle, the way she dresses."

I peered over my shoulder but my timing was just awful. A couple walked by from my left, then a waiter came in from my right. I could see glimpses of Cal and that room-brightening smile of his, but his date was almost entirely out of my vantage point.

"Oh my god! Julian! I know who that is!! That's Dean's mom!!" Lena shrieked. Her sudden burst of excitement and bewilderment drew stifled glances from the surrounding tables.

"Wait what?!"

"Dean's mom! That woman is Dean's mom! I'm sure of it!!"

My face contorted with confusion, I turned around just in time to see Cal and his date lean forward, and through the crowd of the busy restaurant, I saw her. My good friend's Mom as she locked lips with his old roommate. I felt my mouth go dry, as my stomach did backflips with ease. It was a kiss fueled by passion, they had no regard for the fact that they were in a public restaurant.

"Oh my god...they are really into one another," Lena said, hand over her mouth with shock.

I nodded my head, still infatuated with the site before me. I fumbled my phone from my pocket and opened up the camera...

*FLASH...

Two best friends are spending their Friday night embedded deep into the couch with a supply of snacks and a tv remote. It has been a long week for both of them and this chill out session was well earned. Now it was about getting some needed screen time to catch up on their favorite shows.

“Hey.”

“Yeah?”

“It’s almost the commercials. Can you grab the remote and hit the skip button?”

“The what?”

“It should be right there, I saw it four episodes of Vigilant Shadows ago. We had just finished the one with the talking plants.”

“Oh yeah, that one was pretty good. The plants talked.”

“So do you see it?”

“Uh, that’s a big zero on that one.”

“Well, now we have to sit through the commercials.”

An ad plays for “Stray” cologne, the world’s only scent designed to be worn by both men and shelter animals. It is quite artsy and abstract, but likely just unintelligible. Nobody in the Couch Zone seemed interested in paying a premium price to smell like a very adoptable pet with a backstory.

“You know, if we had the remote by now, we wouldn’t have to sit through these ads or this news break. Hey, look at that! I was just there today. That donut shop is right next to my bagel store!”

The news break begins to describe how a local lawn chair industry leader was seen at a local circularly shaped frosting-covered cake distributor, secretly meeting with his noted nemesis. She ran a successful set of Saskatchewanian-style sushi shops.

“Yeah so that’s the guy. I guess they were smooching up a storm, but we’ve always thought they despised each other. But no, it’s like a forbidden love or something.”

“That’s wild.”

“Now I didn’t see this all happen in person. My buddy Craisin, you know that dude that loves socks? Yeah he saw it and said it was way weird. Their families have been locked in a decades long feud over some primo property spot.”

“Craisin is pretty chill. Good dude.”

“He totally is. But these people, they like have been secretly dating or racing their solid gold helicopters for a few years. Like, they’ve come up with a solution.”

“I bet it’s good.”

“Yeah, they’re going to build a sushi restaurant with its own gift shop. It’ll be an ideal one stop solution for people who have two specific plans for the day, eat some sushi and compare reclining angles on a deck chair. It’s gonna be great.”

“Cool.”

“Levi, have you heard the crazy stories about this new guy around town?” asked Jacob quizzically. “I saw this man, I think he was from Nazareth, sometime back when I was over there on a mount near Lake Galilee. There I was just taking a nap and minding my own business,” Jacob continued without waiting for a response from Levi, “and this dude just starts preaching about this and that, I don’t know exactly, it was some holier than thou stuff, a full on sermon,” Jacob continued, “there were thousands of people there, some say five thousand, I think it was more like twenty-five hundred,” he said defiantly. “Well this guy was a long-winded fellow and his story went on for about 3 days, I’m not exaggerating, 3 days this guy spoke,” Jacob said, his eyes widening. “The crowd grew by the hour and they were hanging on his every word but they weren’t expecting this guy to ramble on for 3 darn days! People were starting to grumble about being tired, thirsty and hungry. Next thing I know, this ‘prophet’ asks for some food donations he can have shared and distributed with the masses,” Jacob paused for a moment. “Next thing I saw blew my mind, Levi! Preacher man collected some food, they say it was something like 5 loaves of bread and a few small fishes, well, you know me, I’m not one to pass up a meal, but I’m thinking ‘some good that’s gonna do! I have thirteen brothers, this kinda spread wouldn’t make it through half of us!’” As Jacob continued he was still confounded about what happened next, “there I was, near the back of the crowd and the gal next to me is handing me a basket of food and asking me to pass it down. Not only did everybody eat, but there were plenty of leftovers!” Jacob exclaimed, “I know I’ve spun a few yarns in my day but I swear, I saw this with my own eyes!” Levi looked at Jacob in disbelief. “I know you don’t believe me Levi,” Jacob said, “but that’s not even the juiciest part of the story! Turns out preacher man has other magical powers. They say he’s been known to make wine from water, been seen walking on the open seas, and some have even claimed he’s raised the dead! Brought people back to life, Levi!” Jacob shook his head at the absurdity of his own words. “Anyways, Levi, you didn’t hear this from me, but some are even saying that this guy is the son of God. Apparently King Herod is looking for him, I think he’s called Jesus.”

I was so exited to tell Lexi the drama! I couldn’t hold it in much longer. As soon as my roommate lexi got home I said “LEXI! You gotta hear this!” She ran to the couch I was sitting on. “So you know Jake my boyfriend” I said as she nodded her head, “Well dawn told him that I was going to break up with him, which isn’t true we’ve only been together for two weeks. Plus I don’t see the point ending it.” She rolled her eyes as I paused to drink water. “Just spill it!” She said. I put up my pointer finger to show “one second” and I set down my blue water bottle. “And so he started crying in the bathroom!” I said “In my opinion this is to early to be crying in our relationship. So being me I didn’t know anything was wrong. When i saw him at the Coffee shop near our college I waved to him and he gave me the death stare.” Lexi’s face got mad, “And he didn’t say anything about it?” I looked at her with frustration “No!” I explained “Well not yet. I walked up to him and asked if everything was okay. And he said you know what’s wrong. So I was confused and told him I didn’t! But he said where did I go wrong? So I said that he didn’t do anything wrong. Then he said that’s what they all say!” Lexi’s jaw dropped. He hadn’t asked anything! He was just assuming. “So I said what happened.” I continued. “Then he comes out saying he was going to date dawn now and wouldn’t be contacting me anymore.” Lexi realized what was happening . “Dawn set him up! Set you up! She wanted him all to herself. Anyways go on.” “I asked why he was leaving me and he told me dawn told him everything, then I told him to tell me because I don’t even talk to her! The he was confused. And told me what she told him! So I said that wasn’t going to happen. Then he calls dawn and she comes clean. I ended up leaving and I looked at my phone and I was still fallowing him on instagram! He had already deleted the photos of us! I hadn’t even told anyone except you.” Lexi looked as if she was drooling from the drama. She had me stop to get Popcorn too! “Keep going!” She asked. I cleared my throat to continue, of course with the popcorn popping on the background. “I went on insta again in the morning, and he had put them back!” I was into the excitement of my story. “So in the morning I go on a normal day and then he’s the class we have together waiting for me! He had the urge to call me baby. I told him we were over. And he started asking why! I told him I wasn’t going to date someone who was going to leave me like that.” I said as I snapped. “And then a guy walks over and says he wasn’t ok he was crying! In the middle of our conversation. Then Jake starts to stutter, so I just walked away. Plus I made the mistake of not blocking he as soon as possible! He started asking me to take him back. And that’s when I deleted and blocked him.” By now lexi was done with the popcorn and I need more water from talking. Lexi’s mouth still opens she said “Wow! Just wow. Well I think that’s enough drama for the night she said grabbing her coat. And that was my Thursday and Friday!

Petra blinked out of her daze as fingers snapped in front of her eyes. “Are you even listening?” Her friend asked, pulling her hand back and frowning. “Yeah, yeah I’m sorry. My bad Lilly.” She said, shifting in her seat and looking at her friend. Lilly rolled her eyes good naturedly with a small smile on her lips. “As I was saying, I heard Max telling his soccer buddies that he saw Bella at the movies with Jasper.” She said lowering her voice slightly. Petra’s eyes widened, and her heart dropped to her stomach. “Really? Isn’t he going out with someone else though?” She asked, hoping to keep it subtle. Lilly shrugged. “Not sure. You know that Jasper doesn’t ever really have a public relationship. But it’s looking likely that he’s talking to Bella and like two other girls.” She said. “Oh. Wow.” Petra said numbly. Her hand drifted to her wrist, tugging at the bracelet there. Lilly looked at her and her brows furrowed slightly in concern. “You okay?” She said, her head tilting slightly. Petra nodded. “Yep, all good. Just think I had a little too much to eat.” She said, letting out a slightly choked laugh. Lilly’s eyes narrowed slightly. She opened her mouth to speak but Petra stood up, saying a small be right back as she left the table. She gripped the bracelet, pulling at it until it broke off from around her wrist. She walked over to the trash can, her hand gripping the bracelet hard before she dropped it in. She stood there for a moment, having to wipe at her eyes to stop the tears as she saw Jaspers name carved onto the underneath of the silver metal.

A:You know that guy Anthony ? M:Yeah Anthony B right. A:Yeah Anthony B! Have you heard the story? M: The one about him in the 5th building bathroom yesterday. A: Yeah that Story. M: Um I heard a little bit, but I don’t know the story in full detail? A: I was there! M: Start talking I want to know everything A: Well it all started when I saw him and his ex girlfriend Madison walking in to the bathroom on the top floor of the 5th building and immediately I know there was going to be some scandal when I saw them both walking into the bathroom. M: Yeah nothing good ever happens in the 4th floor bathroom since it has no security. I stay clear of it at all times,I think I would rather pee myself than go to that bathroom. I’m absolutely scared from all the crazy insane stories I’ve heard. A: Yeah I usually never go since you have to climb a lot of staircases to go up there. But since I was skipping class my best option was to stay up there. Anyways at first I didn’t think anything of it I just thought they were going to make out or something. That was until I saw Christian going Into the bathroom. M: Wait which Christian. Madison’s boyfriend Christian!! A: Yeah that Christian! As soon as I saw the look of anger and frustration on Christians face I knew Anthony and Madison weren’t going to get much making out done. It was evident a fight was going to happen. M: No way! Did you see it? A: Well yeah once I connected the dots and I saw what was going to happen Curiosity go the better of me and so I walked into the girls bathroom and through the tiny hidden peep whole looked into the boys bathroom. M: What did you see? A: Well first thing that caught my attention was Madison sitting in the floor crying heart shattered M: Why was she crying? A: That’s the next thing that caught my attention but it all became very clear when I saw Anthony right next to her on the floor getting punched repeatedly by Christian. He had a shattered face . A black eye and blood dripping down his face. M: Dam Christian must be strong! How did he manage to make that much of an impact on such little time A: I have no idea plus Anthony is A muscular tall guy and Christian isn’t all that strong. the only thing I can think of is that maybe Christian is stronger than he looks. Either that or he is a superhero! M: HAHAHA A: Immediately after though I got scared because I heard security guard keys in the hallway and I walked out of the bathroom. I got a small glimpse of security calling the nurse but that’s about it. M: Honestly I probably would have done the same and just walked out. A: I heard afterwards in dismissal that some people saw Anthony getting taken in a wheelchair by the nurse but I can’t confirm or deny that since I didn’t see it. M: Yeah I heard the same thing apparently Christian beat him up so bad he went blind! A: No it can’t be that has to a rumor he was beat up bad but I don’t think that bad! M: I have Christian in my 3rd period and he wasn’t here today A: Yeah apparently I heard he got expelled! M: I guess we will see when everything calms down in about a week or so what really happens M: I kind of feel bad for Both Christian and Anthony. Like yeah I understand where Christian came from but Did Anthony really deserve it.

The truth is she was on the verge of exploding. It had been almost 24 hours since seeing them, and she had managed not to tell anyone. The news was just too juicy. How could she be expected to keep it in? What are best friends for? Could she keep a secret? Would anyone even believe her?