West Chester Beauty Queen

Chapter Five - Collective Thinking

"Joe," says a voice, "Joey! Joey! Wake up!"
I moan and say pushing the hand off my shoulder
"Go away." I grumble
"No, we need to talk." only then did I realize that it was Bam.
"What time is it?" I ask
"10:30." he says, "But you need to see this."
I groan and sit up and rub my eyes, "What?" I say
He holds a bright screen in my face and it blinds me for a moment and I grab it, rub my eyes again, and then look at it.
The words were a little fuzzy at first but once I adjusted I knew it was an article of some sort.
The headline was, 'Johnny Knoxville and Joey Margera: Dating?'
"It was posted this morning." Bam says
I scroll down to the actual article and read.

'Yesterday in West Chester's annual Summer Celebration, there was a special sight, other than fireworks.
Johnny Knoxville was out spending time with one of his fellow Jackasses twin sister, Joey Margera.
'Nobody knew Joey was back in town,' says an anonymous source, 'But it looks like she's cozied up to Knoxville.'
Indeed it does. The two were spotted riding rides, signing autographs, and having a great time. They were even seen in what seems like a touching couple moment with Knoxville hugging her from behind.
There has not been any word from either Knoxville or Margera on any social media, other than pictures of them riding the Ferris wheel taking selfies, but we look to contact them for real confirmation on their relationship.
'I think they'd make a great couple,' says a fan of Knoxville's, 'They seem really happy in the pictures.'
There's even some rumors flying that they were seen kissing on the Ferris wheel...'

"Oh dear god." I say and drop the tablet in my lap and fall backwards on the bed.
"Is it true?" Bam asks
I sit up again and say, "Yeah."
"Then what's the problem?" Bam asks
"It's just...I didn't want it to come out this way." I say
"Well," Bam says, "When you're famous that's how things come out. And besides, this article just causes speculation."
He was right. The article didn't actually say we were dating, just that we might.
My phone rings and I pick it up and roll my eyes and hit ignore. But it only rings again.
"Do you need to get that?" Bam asks
"Nah." I say
It stops but starts chiming my message tone.
Finally Bam gets up and reaches for my phone, but I reach for it too but he beats me.
"Hey!" I exclaim, "Give me my phone!"
He gets up as if to walk away with it but I jump on his back and reach for it but he extends his arm so I couldn't reach it.
"Bam!" I exclaim, "Give it back!"
I couldn't let him read the messages from Steven. He'd be so pissed!
We continued to fight but then he dumps me off my back and says,
"It must be Ape, congratulating you on your new relationship. Or your new beau. Telling you he loves you."
He unlocks my phone and goes to my messages and his mocking smile fades away as he reads the messages.
'Shit' I thought, 'He's going to flip.'
After awhile he looks at me with an unreadable expression.
"Who is this?" he asks in a hushed tone.
I don't respond and he sits next to me again,
"Joe," he says, "Who is this? Steven. Is this your ex?"
I sigh and say,
"Yeah."
"What...why...why is he saying all these nasty things?" Bam asks
I wasn't ready to tell Bam. I was hoping to be out of the country when I told him.
"He must've sent them to the wrong number?" I say hoping he's buy it. But no such luck.
"Bullshit!" Bam exclaims, "He didn't just accidentally sends these horrible things to you. Just some of these things...
'You whore, you left town just to find another guy.' 'Im actually glad we broke up you slut. You should just fucking kill yourself, make the world a better place' and they get worse Joey. Why is he saying these things?"
I sigh and say, "Steven, is my ex boyfriend...and we broke up, as you know. But...you don't know the whole story."
"What don't I know?" Bam asks
I run my hand through my hair and say,
"Well, I told you Steven and I broke up. But you don't know why. The reason why we broke up was...because he cheated on me with my best friend."

*Flashback*

I was just about to finish my shift at 'Vicki's Bar & Grill' when I got a text message.