Day Eleven: Thursday
As Alisha arrived at school, she could still feel a mild hangover from what she had drank the night before. Thankfully, this time around the impact was much less severe than the week before. She instinctively walked into one of the washrooms to change into some of her more revealing clothes. As she was in the middle of changing, she heard the door to the washroom open, with several sets of footsteps accompanying it.
"So tell me what you know!" said one of the girl's voices.
"Ok, so you know that girl Toni? The one at our youth group?" said a second voice.
"Yea," the first voice said. "She got sent home last week right?"
"Yes," said the first voice.
"What the heck?"
thought Alisha.
"What is going on?"
"Let's stay quiet and find out,"
said Vicky.
"So anyway," the first voice continued. "I heard from Michael late last night, who said he heard from one of his friends that Toni is in a porn video online."
"Oh no! No no no!"
Alisha thought.
"It got posted!"
"Oh shit!"
added Vicky.
"Are you serious?" said a third voice. "Was whoever this was sure it was her?"
"Yes," the first voice said. "He said his friend was positive."
"Oh my god!" said the second voice. "What's going to happen with her now?"
"Well I just found out she's on a suspension," said the first voice. "And she's not back at school until next week. I didn't find out why though."
"What's Pastor Jake gonna say if he finds out?" said the third voice.
"I don't know," the first voice said. "But there's no way this is gonna stay quiet for long."
The girls were interrupted by the sound of the five minute warning bell.
"We should get to our classes," the second voice said.
"Just don't tell anyone," the first voice said.
"I don't think it'll matter," the third voice said. "Something like this won't stay a secret for long."
Alisha heard the washroom door shut as the three girls left the washroom.
"Oh shit,"
thought Alisha.
"Toni is so screwed."
"She already was, Lish. And shit? Damn girl, you're opening up now!"
Alisha felt like her stomach was doing flips. Having finished changing, she quietly left the washroom and made her way to English class. When she entered, she saw Tyler seated in his usual spot, not paying much attention around him. On the way to her seat, she stopped by his spot.
"Tyler!" Alisha whispered in a serious tone. "You posted it?"
"You heard? From who?"
"I don't know, some girls a year or two younger than us. They were in the washroom and I couldn't see who they were."
"Oh shit," said Tyler. "Sounds like it's spreading."
"You could say that! And what's going to happen when Toni finds out?"
"It doesn't matter," said Tyler. "Her's is the only face you can see in it."
"Yea it matters! She's gonna find out, and it won't take her long to figure out it was last Friday!"
"Ms. Oliver," said Mr. Richards. "Please take your seat, class is about to begin."
"This isn't over," Alisha whispered to Tyler as she walked over to her seat.
"We are so dead,"
Alisha thought as she sat down.
"You're overreacting, we'll be fine,"
Vicky said.
"But what if we're not? And what am I supposed to do when Toni finds out? She's gonna be devastated!"
"You want my help?"
"Well, yes."
"Fine,"
said Vicky.
"All we need for us is a cover story."
"Like what?"
"Let's start with what other people do know about us,"
said Vicky.
"First, obviously Ryan and Tyler know. Samantha also knows, but she's under the impression that Toni asked to stay with them after the guys drove you and your friends to Rachel's, right?"
"Yes..."
"So,"
Vicky continued.
"When your friends woke up on Saturday, none of them remembered anything. The only people that know anything about Ryan or Tyler is you, Samantha, Ryan and Tyler."
"Yes, I know that."
"So, we just need to keep those three quiet, and we're in the clear."
"But what about Toni? She's going to still be devastated!"
"There's no avoiding that, Lish. It was going to happen eventually. Just have you and your friend Rachel be supportive for her and hope for the best."
Alisha hated to admit it, but aside from admitting what actually happened, which she knew Vicky would never let happen, this was probably the best option.
"So, should I tell Rachel?"
asked Alisha.
"Or should I wait for her to find out."
"It's up to you. But experience has taught me that if you can get ahead of it, you can control the story better."
Alisha snuck out her phone as Mr. Richards was in the middle of talking to the class. She opened a message to Rachel, and sent "we need to talk asap about toni. theres rumors going around and if true shes gonna be devastated."
***
Alisha rushed to the usual meeting spot as soon as the morning break started. Once at the bottom of the stairs, she saw Rachel standing there.
"Hey," said Rachel. "What's going on?"
"We need to talk. Privately," said Alisha.
The two of them left their usual spot, with Rachel leading the way. They entered the nearest girls washroom, and went into the far stall.
"Ok," said Rachel quietly. "What's going on?"
"It's Toni," started Alisha. "Do you remember at your house on Saturday how none of us remembered anything?"