Origami | YA LGBT

Cold Dish

I stared at Sabrina in complete disbelief for about one minute or two. Hearing her story, I realized I'd never talked about my own Prom with my friends before. Maybe I was too ashamed of me being drunk that I avoided the subject every time Helen addressed it. I just thought it was another boring night that ended up in me murdering my dad's goldfish. And maybe it was. But there were so many secrets among us I almost felt like a complete stranger on my own group. Thinking about Robert's girlfriend being friends with Pamela and her clique, knowing that The Queen intended to use me as a mere revenge puppet, made me feel a bit sick. Almost betrayed. Maybe there was a good reason not to do so.

Harold suddenly coughed and I came back to reality. We're all seated in the exact same spots on the green and white blanket, now joined by a moaning Lola right next to Sabrina. Her eyes were swollen and filled with shame. The radiant silly girl was gone and it seemed like someone else was taking her place. I didn't know how to feel regarding her. Even though I knew she was sorry about everything she has done with her friends, I had the feeling she was still hiding something from us.

'So. Why haven't you told us before about this whole thing?' Helen asked, breaking the ice among us with a solemn tone. 'I think you owe Liam a bit of an explanation.'

We all looked at Sabrina in an inquiring way. Although I knew it was pretty uncomfortable to put her under the radar, we were all expecting for answers. Especially Helen. She's always been protective with her friends and I was no exception at all.

'Yeah. I'm so sorry, Liam. I really like you. All of you. Actually, I told Robb this same morning about this and that I was looking for the right moment to tell you guys about my history with Pamela. But maybe Lola came just on time.' She explained softly holding her friend's hand. 'And Mark. I owe an apology as well. You treated me so nicely that same night I felt like crap for not telling you right away that Pamela was planning to clap back. Perhaps I never wondered she was serious about it.'

'No problem. Believe me I know she's capable of anything.' Mark replied while holding me by my shoulder. 'Anyways, if she planned to keep Liam away from me, she definitely failed.'

'I'm not so sure about it.' Harold interjected frowning. 'My cousin is for sure one of the most troubled persons in this world but her plans had never flopped in the past. She's cold and very brainy.'

'I totally agree. I recall Sabrina said she wanted to befriend Liam but never said she wanted to keep him away from Mark. Think about it. If she would, Mark would end up finding another guy and that's it.' Helen explained looking at me sideways in an accomplice way and I totally get that glance. She pulled a Mindy right there and I appreciated. Our friend would be perfect for this exact situation.

'Maybe I was just a lure. A bait to keep Mark around for a while.' I added, feeling like crap. I thought that maybe hanging out with The Queen would help to overcome my shyness and just have a great time. Actually, it did but... At which cost?

'Sorry. Liam.' Lola suddenly intervened in a choked voice. 'I really like you. I-I hate myself.'

'Maybe you can tell us what you know instead of apologizing.' Robert sounded pretty aggressive. He's a good friend but never has been what you may call a diplomatic.

'Perhaps you can help us here, Lollers. Whenever you're ready.' Sabrina encouraged her friend while giving her boyfriend a we will talk later sort of look.

'Pamela will kill me if... I can't.' Lola broke in tears again, with both of her hands on her face.

'Listen, Lola! I really want to know what's going on. I've been fooled by a spoiled bitch who only wanted to take revenge on her ex by using me as her puppet. I don't think I deserve that. So, please. Tell me the truth about Pamela.' I blurted as never before. Naturally, Lola was scared because she knew what The Queen was capable of. But I was not afraid anymore. I was not the Liam I was weeks ago. I had changed. I had grown. And I was definitively done with lies, ulterior intentions and secrets. I needed the straight truth.

'Come on, Lollers. You know I'll be here for you all along. You can count on me as always.' Sabrina encouraged her friend to chin up. 'Liam is right. This madness has to stop once for all.'

'Fine, Briney. You're right.' Lola answered in a low voice, raising her face to make eye contact with Mark. 'Promise me you are not going to get mad with me when I say what I have to say.'

'Deal.' Mark replied a bit perplex and squeezed my shoulder a bit harder. He was clearly nervous and anxious about Pamela's plan. Also scared, I dare to say.

'Okay.' Lola snorted and then continued. 'Pamela was really pissed about you breaking up with her and couldn't handle the humiliation of losing her perfect boyfriend, due to the fact that everyone knew that she was the dumped one. Besides, she even realized you ended up the relationship because you were gay and that infuriated her even more.'

'Having said that, she urged nothing but revenge. So she needed a plan to make you pay for everything you've done to her or whatever. And that's when she found you, Liam.'

My heart started to pound ferociously when she mentioned my name. I was never Pamela's new G.B.F. or anything like that. She never liked me. I was just useful to retaliate Mark. A mere tool. Period.

'After arguing with Briney that same night, she forced both Mandy and me to find a way to get to you. To your luck, your friends were always around. Specially Helen, who she despises.' Lola stopped and addressed to my friend. 'Sorry.'

'No worries. I expected no less. I hate her too.' Helen shrugged looking a bit amused about that comment.

'Well. A few weeks later, Pamela saw you Liam on Mark's house party. She was there on her own though. You may remember why, Harold.'

'Yup. She was there to piss Mark and I was begging her to leave before he realized she was there. Of course, she paid no mind. She made me leave with Hel and started that shit show of exposing Liam in front of everyone.' The Pug growled.

'Exactly. Even though almost everyone suspected Liam was gay, she needed to make it public. This is important for what comes later.' Lola swallowed and carried on. 'Although Pamela was there, it was just for a moment. So we -Briney and me- waited until she left to join the party. I texted her to know if she was home already to sneak into Mark's house. Despite she knew I was still hanging with Sabrina, I never told Pamela I was going. However, since she knows lots of people, someone told her I was there. So she immediately texted me. Insulting and threatening me. Asking me to...'

'What did she asked?' Sabrina inquired softly while widening her eyes.

'She wanted me to follow Mark. To keep an eye on Liam. To take pictures if necessary.'

'Did you took photos of us while being together?' Mark was clearly baffled.

'Yes. When Briney left me alone to find Robert, I saw you both sneaking deep into the backyard. So I followed you. Not only that night. Every day until now. Every time Pamela thought you might be together.'

Lola took a deep breath, came next to us a bit scared and showed Mark a special folder well hidden intro her cellphone's files. He widen even more his eyes while she was scrolling down. I did exactly the same when turned my eyes onto the screen. There were several pictures of us every time we spent some time alone. At Mark's den, on his SUV and even today at the beach.

'She plans to publish them.' She said in a low voice while avoiding making eye contact with us.

'We need to do something.' Mark turned to me as pale as he could be. 'She even has one picture of us kissing today at El Matador.'

'Don't panic! We'll figure this out. All of us. Together.' I took his hand and squeezed it as strongly as I could. I knew he was deeply afraid. Mark was not ready to be outed in such a massive way. It's so unfair if his parents get to know he likes boys by just looking at Pamela's Instagram profile.

'So Pamela has every single picture you've showed us?' I asked Lola while frowning as some tears of impotence ran down on my face. 'Why? Why did you do this to us?'

'I-I'm so sorry, Liam. She knows too much about me. I was really af-afraid!' Lola replied while crying again, as she stood up again and walked fastly inside the cottage.

'I'm going to check her out.' Sabrina announced as she trotted behind her friend.

'We need to stop that bitch. This has gone way too far.' Helen growled to the rest of us, as she stood up. 'We have to clap back. A plan.'

I nodded in response. You know what they say. Revenge is a cold dish. And luckily for me, Helen was ready to start cooking.