The Stalked, The Loved and The Reflection

Chapter twenty six

Devin was supposed to give me a ride home, so I ended up taking the bus. I turned off my phone and went straight to bed, ignoring all the homework I had due the next day.

Not too long after I got home, my mother did too. I could hear her footsteps coming my way.

"Maddison Rotchester! You have some explaining to do!" She barged into my room, forcing me to get off my pillow of tears.

"Yes...mom?" I asked innocently, hoping it had nothing to do with the picture.

"Tell me why I just got a call from your principal about you sending innapropriate  pictures to the entire school?!" She looked me straight in the eye with a gaze that I hadn't seen in a long time.

For the past few months, I felt distant from my mother and having her yell at me was bitter sweet. I couldn't help but hug her.

I felt her soften up as if to say I've missed you too. She eased out of the hug and held my shoulders and lifted my chin to meet her gaze.

"Maddie. You need to tell me what's really going on. I told the school that picture wasn't you," I looked down then back up at her in a way to show my gratitude for her believing me without a word even coming out of my mouth.

"I raised you well. You wouldn't take such pictures sober or drunk. So I wondered why you wouldn't defend yourself. You jump on me quicker than light when I say you left the toilet seat up. The only person important enough to you that you'd take all of this for is Vanessa."

"Mom..." I said tearing up. I wanted to say more but words wouldn't fall out of my mouth, just tears. Even if words could come out, I wouldn't know what to say.

"She is your best friend, but this is her battle to fight. However it happened, she got herself into this and shouldn't drag you with her. If you're sworn to secrecy, don't let it cost you your head." She kissed my forehead and started walking out.

"By the way, Shana called. Apparently Devin has been trying to reach you but you won't pick up. Give him a call and see what he has to say." She left the room.

I sat in awe of how wise my mom is and how well she knows me. I stared at the phone for a while, then gave in and turned it back on.

Five missed calls from Dev and seventeen from Vanessa...

I called Devin back first.

"Hello? Maddie?"

"Yea."

"Look, about earlier-"

I got a FaceTime call from Vanessa.

"I'll...call you back. Something...important came up." I said without waiting for a reply and answered the FaceTime.

"Maddie I've been trying to reach you!" She said.

"Yea. My phone was off."

"I heard about what happened earlier...he didn't dump you right?"

"I-don't know."

"Well he better not have. I just told him the truth."

"Wait. What? About the picture? The whole truth?"

"Yea. You risked your reputation and relationship with the love of your life for me. Telling one other person wouldn't do me any harm right?" She said and I was so relieved.

I may get to keep my bestfriend and my boyfriend after all.

"This means so much...Thankyou." I said, tearing up again because I'm an emotional reck.

"Don't thank me. It was all you. But uh...don't worry about Devin for a while. He needs time to...take it all in you know?" She said in a very uneasy tone.

"Alright...well I'm pretty hungry. We'll talk another time."

"Love yah."

"Yea you too. I mean- love you too." I was getting extremely curious as to what she told him exactly and why he'd need to take it all in.

I doubt she's close enough with Devin to tell him that she sent pictures to ReVaugn while she was tipsy.

I was about to put down my phone and go eat dinner, but I got a call from Devin.

I owe it to him to answer.

"Sorry about that...I was on the phone with Vanessa. She said she told you everything?" I asked, wondering exactly how much of everything she told him.

"Yea...about that. I don't really believe her." He said and I could picture him running his fingers through his ramen highlights.

"What? Why? You really think I'm the one who sent the pictures? Even after she confessed? I can't believe you-"

"I knew it! I knew it was her."

My heart started beating faster because now I knew it wasn't the whole truth she told him. But I just told him.

"Wait. I thought she told you it was her. She told me she told you everything...Dev...what did she tell you? Did she say it was me?" I panicked hoping I wouldn't have to turn away from my best friend because of a rumor.

"No. No. She said the girl in the picture was Juliana."

"What? Daniels baby momma Juliana?" I asked wondering why she would bring her into this mess.

"Yea. She said that the socks were there because you left them at Daniels house and Juliana forgot to give them back when she went there and picked them up." He said, and I could hear the sincere confusion in his voice.

"It didn't make sense though cause I gave you those socks when we got back together and I called Daniel and he said you haven't been over his house since the mirror incidents."
"Even without his word, you facetimed me at  Vanessa's house while she was showering on the only day you could've went to his house, since you were with me the other times." He said.

"Damn Dev. Sherlock Holmes or what?" I said, honestly impressed with the amount of thought he put in this situation.

"Hey, when it comes to my girl I don't play." He said with an emphasis on my girl.

"Even without Daniel or you as evidence, Juliana has a birthmark above her right knee...a huge one. That's why she doesn't wear revealing clothing. I only know because we took swimming lessons together in elementary. The girl in the picture is birthmark free." He said, forgetting one other obvious piece of evidence.

"Plus, Juliana is still pregnant." I added, feeling like Holmes as well.

"Oh yea ha I forgot about that. The stomach in the picture was too flat for a girl who's 2 months pregnant." I could hear his voice lighten up a bit.

The rest of the conversation took a more jovial turn, but we couldn't help but think of the issue at hand.

Vanessa lied; mainly to Devin but also to me. Not only could she not be loyal enough to sacrifice telling one person for me, but she tried to drag Juliana into it too. Devin can keep his word about not telling...but she couldn't even keep hers about telling the truth. I guess I know who to trust now.

I went to bed that night with nothing but how much we were betrayed on my mind. Dev and I decided not to mention it to anyone. If she only told him it was Juliana, then the only rumor still needed to be straightened out was of it being me. Adding another story, even if to make me clean, would only add fire to the furnace.

I risked my reputation for her...but she couldn't even return the favor.

Two chapters in one day?! Unheard of from me😂 I may even go for three today but don't expect it. Thanks for your reads and comments and votes!! Please share my story and if you just opened this update and haven't read the last chapter, go and read it😊Much love❤️