New Ways

THIRTY-TWO

Sigrid

"You. Fucking. Bitch!!!" Amery thrusted a punch into Gwen's nose. The latter stumbled backwards and Derek caught her in his arms. Gwen cursed at the pain, as a few drops of blood trickled down from her nostrils.

Derek turned to face Amery, his expression remorseful. "Am, we're so sorr-"

"Shut up!!!" The girl screeched. "Don't talk to me, you asshole."

I gently rubbed Amery's back when she returned to my side, her back facing the pair of culprits. Silence filled the room for a moment. Everyone was probably still speechless at the discovery. After I had received a call from Quentin reporting that he had followed the alleged Cellphone Stalker back to Gwen's condo, Amery and I rushed over. I called Jean-Pierre and instructed him to go to Gwen's place and keep watch with Quentin outside, lest the culprit leaves.

When we finally arrived and I rang the doorbell, a raging Amery pushed me away and immediately attacked Gwen when she answered the door.

"God, what is wrong with you guys?!" Jean-Pierre asked angrily, shoving Derek in the chest.

"Hey, hey. Enough violence for tonight," I reminded, pulling Jean-Pierre away before I stood in front of Derek. "You care to give us the explanation we deserve?"

Derek shifted his glance to Amery, who still had her back turned away. He sighed and turned his gaze towards me. "It's not Gwen's fault. It was my idea. She was just helping me to find the right people to 'kidnap' the phones. Ramirez here is one of them."

Ramirez was the suspicious Mexican guy who Quentin followed around silently, and today the latter just happened to witness the guy dropping a cellphone into one of the victims' mailbox. He was from our school and apparently was one of those unnoticed nerds, very fitting for the job. If anything, I had to commend Gwen's judgment in selecting her accomplices.

"That's all? That's all you're telling us, Mr Mastermind?" Jean-Pierre taunted impatiently, his face red from all the anger.

"I have herpes," Derek said nervously. That earned everyone's attention, including Amery who finally turned in our direction. "I got it at Lloyd's house party months back. I don't know who gave it to me, well, because I was too wasted to remember who I did it with. But I do remember that she was some kind of leader in school. I just don't know w—"

"So you assumed that I gave that disgusting virus to you and went around stealing my phone?!" Amery yelled from across the kitchen, obviously hurt by the accusation.

"We were just being cautious, Am. And besides, some people said you were smashed drunk too that night," Gwen spoke up again, holding a piece of tissue against her bleeding nose.

Yeah but she was with me, I thought, almost letting out a chuckle at the amount of oblivion in the air.

As if hearing my thoughts, Amery snapped at Gwen. "Yes, I was. But I was with Sigrid!"

My eyes widened in shock at her confession. All of a sudden I felt everybody in the room glaring unbelievably at me. I grinned nervously at Jean-Pierre, whose jaw fell when Amery made it clear that I was her alibi that night. "It's not what you think it is. Or... maybe it is. I'll explain later."

"We just needed to know who was the one who had herpes. There must be some kind of evidence or some kind of text or doctor's email in the person's phone that could prove it and help me. We're sorry, Am. We really are," Derek took a step towards Amery.

"No, stop. I'm not taking your bullshit anymore, you moron," the girl held up her hands. "After all these years, you should know that I'm not the type to sleep around. Heck, I'm a fucking virgin! Unlike your darling sister over there."

"Hey! Shut up!" Gwen retaliated.

There was a knock on the door and Quentin answered. A bunch of cops appeared and started walking over to the three culprits and handcuffing them. Gwen and Ramirez struggled in vain, while Derek resigned himself to his fate, his face truly regretful when the cop dragged him past us.

"Am, please. It doesn't have to be this way," he pleaded.

Gwen stopped in front of me, sobbing hard. "Sig, I'm sorry. I really am."

"Me too," I replied coldly and turned away as the policeman dragged her as well.