FAKE

PART II: JASON

vi: video

I wake up from a vibration of my phone. I open my eyes and can't see anything. I check the notification and it's from a random number. It's a video. I click the video and I can't tell what it is because I have just woken up. I set my phone down and walk to the bathroom to wash my face. I grab my keys and kiss Jason goodbye on the cheek.

His face was cold and sweaty. I didn't think much of it and left. Evelyn was still sleeping.

In the car, I opened my phone and clicked on the video. It was of Jason and he was smiling into the camera and then there was Andrew. Andrew was laying down on Jason's bed. This was taken a few days ago, since I've seen that shirt on Jason. I think last week. The video continued with them talking but the video was inaudible. Finally, after what seemed like forever, Jason leaned against the wall next to his bed and Andrew planted his lips onto Jason's. My heart sank into my stomach. The kiss went on for a solid minute until then Jason laughed and turned the camera off, covering it with his hands. My hands start trembling from the experience. This was taken last week! I'm left speechless. That can't be true. That must've been an edited video. I checked the phone number but it was a blocked ID. I replayed the video over and over and there was no denying that this insane video was real. I don't know what I'm going to do. Ask Andrew? Confront Jason? What had happened. Why has it happened? There's nothing more in the world that I want right now more than answers to these questions. I put the car on drive and then I receive another message. I stop the car at a red light and check the message.

He's the best. Isn't he? Pleasing you and me at the same time?

It clicked in my brain that the person doing this was Jason himself. He was getting at me. Did he want me to stay the night because he wanted to gain my trust? Did he send the video to Andrew? I have to go to school today and I'm not ready to see their faces. I drive my car back home and my parents have already left to work. They left some pancakes and orange juice at the table. Their sudden switch of supportiveness is creeping me out but it's fine. At least I get free dinner and breakfast. I run upstairs to shower. The cold water washing away the dread of seeing both Jason and Andrew. How am I even going to react? Are both of them in on this? So many questions are piercing through my head just like the cold water pierced through my delicate shoulders. I get ready quickly and apply a thin layer of red lipstick. Unusual for me but necessary. I'm going to get to the bottom of that video. Was it Ashley again?

Oh no, Jason and Ashley were friends.

God no, what if they planned this? What if Andrew was on something and they both did it to get at me. Jason was never close with me like I've said so many times. We just recently got close this month. That was their plan. Their plan was to bring me down to the lowest. Knowing this, I'm going to walk into school unbothered.

The imagery of Jason tongue kissing my boyfriend is etched in my brain the whole car ride to school but it finally goes away. Act normal, Jane.

I get out of my car and walk across the grass area to the front of the school and open the doors. The stares. They're back.

I get flooded with questions. I hold back so many tears but the chaos is overwhelmingly intense.

"Andrew's gay?"

"You didn't know your boyfriend slept with your best friend?"

"How did you not know"

"It was so obvious"

"Do you still love him?"

That last one hit me hard. I do still love him.

Evelyn came running to me and yelled at the top of her lungs for them to move. They all quickly dispersed and went to their classes