My Life in Rosewood

Chapter Sixteen

Finding out what has been happening to Aria was a turn of events that I did not expect. I knew something was going on, obviously. Her being away for those years doesn't mean that I can't tell when my best friend is acting weird. But I sure as hell did not expect her to tell me she was basically being stalked/blackmailed by someone. By someone who threatened to spill secrets they have for this person's own gain. Like honestly, what do they get out of making someone else's life miserable? The only thing that eases my mind at all on the fact that I can't even help Aria through this is that she will on occasion update me, but it doesn't ease me enough when I know I still can't do anything to stop it.

As if my life needed to get more complicated though, Katie keeps calling and texting me. Apparently she's being pressured into getting me back to New Jersey and it just makes no sense why my "family" wants me there so badly. Was it not enough to disown me and then send a psychopath to try to persuade me to come back? Not in the slightest. So my best reaction at that point was to firmly tell her I wanted nothing to do with going back to New Jersey and to angrily tell her that I want nothing to do with this family before promptly blocking the numbers to everyone in that family of mine except for two of the people who actually seem to care about me, Bobby and his mom.

Once that is all settled and I feel safe again weeks pass and now it's finally time for basketball season to officially start. We had tryouts a few days ago and made our final choices to who should be on the team. I know basketball will 100% keep my mind occupied about what this mystery person is doing to my friends, and help keep my mind relaxed about Katie harassing me. I feel like I've been waiting for this day forever. Sports is basically the only thing that can keep my mind at bay for distractions no matter what the issue is. So I'm hoping this helps with my constant fears.

After Biology class it's now my free period to do whatever I want. Normally I'd end up in the courtyard to relax, catch up with work or draw. Today though I'm heading to the lunchroom to help out for the dance-a-thon. Hanna and Spencer volunteered to be on the decoration committee and they asked the rest of us to join. I didn't bother to argue, mostly because whoever took the time to do this was dismissed from the rest of their classes for the day. So that was a win win. Even Hanna is doing a lot better, or well, physically anyway. She's back on her feet but still shook up from not knowing who ran her over. Which I completely understand.

Walking down the hallway I see people here and there passing me, some even giving me weird looks. I'm not sure why but I keep my head down, not needing any type of drama today. As I keep going I hear more voices, gossiping it seems as my ears perk up to something being said in particular. "I heard that Fitz is having a fling with a student."

My heart drops a bit, turning my head to the side to see who was talking about this. It happened to be Riley and Naomi, Mona's friends outside of me, Hanna and the boys. Their faces look amused when they see me, smirking my way as if they had seen me coming and said it on purpose.

"What did you say?" My voice is alarmed yet ready to spit out anger if needed.

They both laugh, shrugging as if they didn't care much before Naomi says, "Oh you know. Your friendly neighborhood hero seems to finally be acting on his pervy ways." A hint of snarkiness to her voice.

"You wouldn't happen to know who it is, would you Jessie?" Riley adds with a bigger smirk, knowing damn well that they think it's me.

My face goes from a split second of fuming to a soft smile, not wanting to give them the satisfaction of getting under my skin. They always hated that I became popular in high school from sports, and it got worse when Mona declared me one of her best friends. "No. I have no idea who he's dating if he is. But we all damn well know that he isn't seeing anyone outside of his age group." I put a bigger smile, "So I'd suggest that you fuck off and mind your own business."