Runaway Man

Chapter 18 Discoveries

Chapter 18: Discoveries

It all made more and more sense as I thought about the incident more. Putting two and two together, there was no wonder a few months back when we were discussing the topic on Halloween, Joey was so nervous. He knew it all along. He knew the man behind the mask and we needed to know who it was for the sake of the school’s reputation, which otherwise would probably not be fixed.

I felt anger boil up inside of me as I reached 100 degrees. The grief it had caused was immense, and he knew it, yet he kept quiet about it when we had been talking for over a month like every day for hours on end. My theory couldn't be wrong. Joey was related to the event with no strings attached!

But was it him who darted in with the knife? Was there more to the situation?

I doubted it highly. Well, it was possible but the chances were just a mere fraction of everything so it was more likely to be someone else. Maybe it was Mason. Maybe it was someone I didn’t even know. How would I ever know the answers I desperately yearned for?

"Found him! Mason Spencer!" Diana cheered before performing a victory dance. She pranced from one foot onto the other... her eyes crinkled from her well-known smile.

I tried to ignore her and pretend that I hadn't heard.

"Found him too," Jessica said, l "Dat picture though." I leaned over to see his display picture, which was a topless one. His midriff was showing as was the guy's next to him. I inspected the faces. The second guy was Joey. Joey looked so buff. I wondered what gym he went to (not so that anyone could spy on him obviously).

"Linda Facebook liked it," Diana chuckled, "You should totally date Mason."

I looked at her as if she were a weirdo. I just met him. How would I even manage that?

"I agree."

"I don't fancy him." I snorted like a pig.

"So?" Diana carelessly flicked her hand. She logged out of Facebook and typed in my email that was in the blue banner. She signalled for me to press in my password. Rolling my eyes, I did so.

Once I was in, I noticed a friend request pending straight away. I opened the tab, discovering that it was from Mason himself.

Being nosy, Diana grinned as she viewed it too and I turned the screen off by instinct. That was when I unintentionally saw my face reflected onto the black screen.

I screeched.

"How long has this been on my face?" I shrieked. My face was vandalised with male genitalia, swear words and 'Mason' and 'Joey'... all done in red permanent marker. That explained why it was stupidly left abandoned earlier. It must’ve been on all morning! Diana’s mum must have saw it but she didn’t say anything! whaaaaat mate

"Last night, when you slept through the movie?" Diana suggested with a wink. Jessica shoved her hands in her pockets sheepishly, signalling that it was all Diana’s idea.

"Will... will this come off?" I gulped, dreading the scrubbing I'd have to do. My skin would be so unthinkingly raw, undoubtedly five layers would be scraped off when the stains would decide to start fading.

"We'll have to find out sooner or later if it does," Diana giggled and disappeared into the kitchen, "Water fight!" She remerged into the living room with a wet sponge that had washing up liquid smeared across of it like sandwich spread. I watched with beady eyes, trying to be as alert as possible.

Then... she hurled the sponge in my face when I was off guard. It soaked me and I went, blind (my eyes were burning/stinging all at the same time) and the flavour of soap invaded my mouth like an infection!

I chucked it back over but my hit missed. Well, I had never been good at throwing. Once I almost pierced a javelin through a class mate's head when we were practicing athletics. That was when it was decided that I would not do sports any more.... ever.

Diana hissed as the droplets ran down the wall. She scooped up the damp, swollen foam from the floor and drained it all over my head. Not only was my face tattooed in ink but now I was drenched right down to my bones. My t-shirt was practically attached to my skin and naturally, I was shivering.

To get revenge, I filled up the sponge with fresh water alongside of the residue and returned the favour on Diana. We were now both wet. We examined each other before bursting out into fits of laughter.

After we had basically exercised our abdomens into six packs, I realised that Jessica had not taken part in our water fight.

"I've set you up on a date with Mason," I heard her call sweetly, "It's in two weeks’ time in the early evening. He’s busy doing sports so that was the earliest time I could get you," I widened my eyes and ran into the living room to see Jess kneeling on the heels of her feet with Diana's laptop perched on her lap, "You can't hold him up or decline it because it's too late for that."

My body went stiff but I was able to make my way over to the screen. I read a brief chat my account had had with his. There were beyond too many kisses for my liking at the end of every message so I scrunched my nose up.

I was dreading this so much.

She had to set me up. Help!

What was I going to do?