𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐊 . . . 𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐭𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐝

𝟐𝟔. 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭

26. you are being a terrible feminist

season three, episode eleven: there are some things i haven't told you

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"Both of their laptops, Clay's phone." Nessa told Zach as she recalled what Justin told her last night whenever he called her. "They're coming down on him hard, Zach."

Zach grimaced as they sat in his car in the Liberty High School parking lot before school started. He had done some thinking for himself all night as soon as he had heard about the cops searching Clay's house, and so had his sister.

"We know he didn't do anything, Nessa." Zach said as he exhaled loudly. "They're just making noise."

"Yeah." Nessa nodded, but she wasn't so sure. Their dysfunctional group chat with all of their friends had been blowing up this morning, everyone's parents had been asking where they were the night of the Homecoming game. Luckily, Nessa and Zach's mother didn't bother to ask them a thing about that night. She was completely unconvinced that her two perfect children had anything to do with the likes of a murder investigation. But, Nessa wasn't sure of anything anymore.

She had no idea where any of her friends were after the Homecoming game, and nobody knew where she was. Nobody except one person.

"Ness?" Zach said as he looked over at her. "Why did you tell Ani that you were with me after the Homecoming game?"

Nessa paused, anxiety flooding over her body as she chewed on her lip. She couldn't possibly tell him, or anyone else. She really couldn't.

"Because, Zach." Nessa said shakily. "I didn't want Ani to come up with any assumptions for herself. She, as well as Clay, has a way of putting two and two together and coming up with five."

Zach nodded, considering how to best ask his next question. "Why would that matter?" he asked, nervous to hear her answer.

"Because I was with Alex." Nessa admitted. "And if that got back to Scott, or anyone else at this point, with how volatile we've been in the last few weeks, I'd never hear the fucking end of it."

"I see." Zach said nervously as he fiddled with his keys in the ignition. Nessa looked away from him, she knew that he was the best at seeing through her lies.

"And where were you, Zach?" Nessa asked him the question that she had been avoiding ever since the moment she saw Bryce tackle right into her brother, killing his knee.

"I was with a friend."

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

"After what happened at Homecoming, you both promised that you'd tone it down." Principal Bolan told the girls as they sat in yet another meeting in his coveted office.

Nessa hated how comfortable she felt in his stupid blue chairs in the office.

"I don't remember making that promise, and I'm sure Nessa doesn't either." Jessica retorted as she sat with her legs crossed.

"I warned you two to stop the funeral protests or you'd both be held responsible." Principal Bolan told them with a disapproving tone in his voice.

"Well." Nessa said in a sharp tone. "Looks like we're here to be held responsible, sir."

"I spoke with the superintendent this morning and this is what we decided – we're calling an assembly tomorrow." Principal Bolan told the girls. "In addition to our students, the Hillcrest football team and coaches will be in attendance, and you girls will make a public apology."