Chapter 19

Bad friends could ruin your whole life. Be wise when it comes to choosing your friends. You set your standard…..Robin Jones Gunn

~~~~~~

Rumors are like wild fires. It doesn't matter where they start or who started it, it covers the entire area damaging everything on its wake. One of the things that make high school unbearable are the constant rumors if you are the victim. If you are a spectator, it's not bad at all. Besides, who cares if it's true or not. Our need to know what's going on in other peoples life pushes us to believe whatever is said about them. As a lower class student, not a lot of rumors talked about me, not that I know if they did, but students don't care about the people at the bottom of the pyramid. But for the popular kids, it's a whole different thing. We all are starved for a cramp of information we could get about them.

Today is different though. The rumor about Justin is not fake and the allegations are serious. The school is buzzing with whispers about the post. No one knows who did it, but it will scar Justin's reputation. I glanced at my phone a thousand times. Many students from and outside this school are mocking Justin. It was posted this morning but there were many memes and videos already made. Most of them concentrate on his slap that happened a few days ago.

"He is here," Penny whispered in my ear. And there he was, the target for this week rumor cycle. Justin Black.

---

4 girls in a week and Justin Black had no luck with any girls. After a few days of being slapped in front of the whole school, he lost his chance with 3 girls. It's not looking good for Justin after his breakup with Georgina at the beginning of this year. His attempts with girls are looking desperate. It's true what they say, the higher the pedestal the harder the fall. Are we witnessing the fall of the great Justin Black?

---

He looks ferial. His eyes swept across the hallway, searching for someone. Who? I don't know. There were bags under his eyes and he looked exhausted. Everyone was silent when he passed them by. They were like prays trying to keep quiet not to alert the predator.

"Loser." someone whispered under their hands. It was meant for Justin to hear. Justin's eyes were drawn to the direction the voice was heard, but there were many students for him to identify who the whisper belonged to.

"If you want to say something, say it to my face." Justin shouted. "Don't be a coward. SAY IT TO MY FACE." he was growling and daring everyone. No one was courageous or stupid enough to take responsibility. After a few seconds of agonizing silence, Justin continued. "Go to your class, the show is over." All the students from freshman to senior scrambled to their respective classes creating caseous on the hallway. After a few students cleared out, I saw Adriana and Sandra in the corner, smirking evilly at retreating Justin. They both made their way to where we were.

"Thanks," Adriana said to Sam, squeezing her arms affectionately.

"Ya thank you. If you guys haven't told us, we were doomed." Scarlet signed. Adriana shuddered. Me and Isa moved back a little to avoid the spotlight. Penny was smiling widely, probably thinking she brought the enemies back together. I smiled at the thought. May be what we were doing was not so bad at all

"Adriana." Scarlet said, facing her completely. Her face was filled with hostility now. "Just because we did this together, doesn't mean I forgave you". Adriana laughed at her, glaring at Scarlets short form,

"Oh Scarlet! I am not a classless girl. I won't forgive you even if you kneel your fat leg in front of me." Adriana snared. Scarlet gasped at Adriana's insult.

"How dare you,'' she jabbed her fingers at Adriana's chest.

"Stay away from me." Adrian lien in, using her height to intimidate her partner in crime a few minutes ago, and now her enemy. Scarlet didn't look frightened. Her face had defiance itched to it.

"We were never friends." Scarlet spat.

"And we would never be." With that they both went their separate ways. Well that didn't go as planned at all.

Day 9

"Would they even say yes?" Sam asked, her voice muffled by the sandwich she was munching. We were reviewing the list of 3 girls Justin would most likely date, and he didn't make any move on any of them. It was alarming. Alexa Fox, Brooke Rose and Angelina Shaw.

"Oh they will say yes," Isa answered, swallowing her salad.

"But don't you think we pushed it too far. What if Justin decides he doesn't want a girlfriend this year?" I can't even eat. The whole thing is worrying me. Isa smirked at my question

"Cassi, It's Justin we are talking about. Of course he will date especially with the rumer still going around. He wants to prove to everyone that he still have it, and still is their favorite player." Isa shoved the avocados in her mouse. I grimaced. How can someone eat avocados? The rumor is still circulating around the school and everyone knows who started it and why.

"What's wrong Penny?" I asked. She has been silent since this morning and it's so unlike her

"Nothing." she said, attempting to give me a smile and failed miserably. I wanted to ask more, but I didn't want to pressure her so I squeezed her hands from across the table.

On my way home, I saw Justin smiling at someone, resting his face against a locker. More specifically that someone was a girl with shoulder length hair brown hair and short dress. She was so short, like 5'1''.He had to crank his neck to listen to her. I wanted to see her face so I rounded the corner and came face to face with Justin's back side, which was covering her entirely. I would have thought he stood alone if I saw him from this direction first. I took a few steps and opened my phone to use it as a shield for her not to see me and to take her pictures. I was surprised that it was Tiana Julie. A former cheerleader and a good friend of Georgina. What was she doing here flirting with her friends' ex? She occasionally touched his chest, punching it playfully. I heard she was sick and that's why Isa got a cheerleading position. Penny told me Tiana was mad at Vanessa for doing that and they fought really badly. Nevertheless that didn't give her the right to bypass the universal rule, Not dating your friends' exes.

After I discreetly took several pictures and was satisfied with my job, I left the scene before I caused one. I texted Isa what I saw and she called an emergency meeting in the morning.

Day 10

I was in the passenger seat of Isa's car. We left our houses really early. I didn't get the chance to drink coffee, let alone grab a breakfast. It was dusk, the sun just rising from her sleep. Penny was reading a book at the back. Her mood is still cranky from yesterday. That makes two of us. I am yet to ask her what was wrong.

"What's up?" Sam said, getting in the back seat.

"Hello to you too." Isa greeted her with enthusiasm. Sam huffed in response.

"Why did you deprive us of sleep, Isa?" Sam asked. Everyone was grumpy except Isa.

"I imagine Cassi told you what she saw yesterday." Both Penny and Sam nodded.

"If we do something to sabotage the relationship, Justin will get that someone is purposely messing with him so here is what we will do." Penny rested her book down on her lap, which I noticed was a historical romance featuring a shirtless guy and a fragile looking white woman in its cover. "We will let them be for a few days. But I need to push her away from him without her causing a scene so we will blackmail her."

"How?" I asked. I think I am getting numb to all the bad and crazy things we are doing and starting to actually enjoy it.

"We need to shift our focus to her. Everyone has secrets. We need to find hers in 3 days". We all nodded in agreement, determination hardening our faces. When she leaves him, Justin will grow desperate and then you will come into play." My stomach flipped in anticipation.

"Why can't any of you drive?'' Isa asked out of nowhere. We all looked at each other. I have a license and car in the garage, but I never brought myself to do it. "It would have made everything easier," Isa groaned. I didn't want to tell her I can drive because she will pressure me to do so, and I don't want that. I am not ready yet. I warned Penny to keep her mouse shut with my fingers. Isa didn't see us since she had her eyes closed. She snapped out of it and brought a box out of the car compartment. I don't know what else might be there. Another lingerie? Penny and Sam scooted close to see what she have.

"We need to raid the school." Isa said.