Karma

Chapter 7

I could just put everything behind me and pretend that it never happened, but it's the furthest thing from what I actually want.

Stacy sits on the sofa, pencil tapping against the coffee table as she tries to organize everything like it's an agenda. I had told her that she was making this into something bigger than it was, and all we really needed was a firm aliby on my behalf. Riley had suggested my mom, but I had turned it down immediately.

She laughed at herself then said, "Duh, obviously your mom would lie for you, so that wouldn't work."

I didn't have the heart to tell her that my mom probably wouldn't lie for me.

"So Dean, Jaclyn, Stephanie-" Stacy finally speaks up, scratching the names into the paper, except I grab a nearby pen and cross out Stephanie's name. She seems taken aback by it, and so does everyone else.

She stands up, hands cocked on her hip as she takes a second glance at the paper.

I don't really know what I had expected to happen in this, but that didn't dwindle down my hope in wanting them to either not notice it or ignore the face that I wasn't going to pinpoint Stephanie.

"No." I shake my head at Stacy as she goes down a list of people that have to be included in our exposing lies plot. "Not Steph. She's out of the equation. Next."

"What?" Riley's mouth goes agape with the threat of a sarcastic comeback, but she quickly closes it when I mouth a don't to her.

I've learned that despite her small frame and tiny number in age, she's a spitfire that can build up a comeback before you can even tell her something to comeback at.

"Yes." Stacy says, and it almost comes off as a warning. "Stephanie is a part of the problem."

"No." I say once again. "She's not. I'm not going to say it again."

She is. She totally is a part of the problem.

"If you want my help she's in." I don't like that she's trying to take a chief role when really she should be coming in as an Indian. "Or else I'm out."

"Then I guess you're out!" I'm beginning to regret incorporating her into something that was a junk plan to begin with.

"You need me." Her blue eyes are narrowed now, and she actually thinks that I'm intimidated by it. "You can't do this without me."

She's probably right, but that doesn't turn me into the quiet obedient little creature that she wants me to be. "You're fucking delusional." I have to stand up in order to match her height. "Hell will freeze over before I let you drag Stephanie into this."

"She's dragged herself into it!" She emphasizes by yelling the words. She's right, but I don't tell her that. No one needs to know why I'm protecting her. Even if she is being an awful friend, she didn't have sex with Dean. "She's chosen her side."

"Guys," I can faintly hear Cameron attempting to jump in as mediator, but we both ignore it.

"No no no. How many times do I have to tell you?" I slam an opened hand on the sheets of paper that we've been jotting down notes on. "Now either you continue with your fetus Jaclyn story and help us take her down, or you can take your shit and get out because whichever way you roll this fucked up mess, Stephanie will always be out."

Her blue eyes go wide like she's had an epiphany. I don't even look at anyone else because they're either thinking one of two things, none of which are becoming on me.

1. I'm a total bitch

2. Why am I protecting Stephanie when she's being a total bitch too

"Are you going to tell us what else happened in Junior high then?"