During the ride home, my phone blew up.
"Em" Abby said, "You're panicking....I said not to panic."
"How could I not panic? There's an article. An article that clearly made it's way all over the internet. With a photo that is flooding my Twitter feed.The whole world knows,Abigail."
"Okay. Breathe."
"Now what."
"Just deny it."
"That never works."
"Well it might."
"How?"
"Has Collins seen it?"
"I don't know."
"Ask him."
"But what if he hasn't. I don't wanna complicate things."
"Things are already complicated. They have been for two months."
"Fine. Give me the phone"
I was hesitant at first. But I called him anyway. It was time for some serious damage control. And there was no way I was going to go about this by myself.
I sat there with the phone ringing in one ear and Abby whispering in the other.
"Did he pick up yet?"
"Will you shut up? I can't hear anything."
"Put it on speaker."
"We're on a bus. I don't need anyone listening to my conversation.Will you-"
Our arguement was interrupted when he answered the phone.
"Hey Em.'"
"Hey."
"What's up?"
"Nothing really. Just got out of school......................Thought I'd say hi."
"Is everything okay?"
"Yeah. Why wouldn't I be okay?"
"You don't sound okay."
"I'm fine."
"I think I know what this is about."
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm assuming you saw it too."
"Saw what?"
"Em."
"Yeah. I just found out about it."
"Really? It's been up for about a week."
"What? You knew about this for a week and you didn't say anything?"
"I didn't want you to worry. And it's just a picture. We can get it taken down."
"That's hard to do when it's been shared almost everywhere by almost everyone. And news flash...there's an article too."
"Now that I haven't seen."
"Yeah."
"So what do we do now?"
"Well we can't just deny everything."
"We can try."
"How? There is photographic evidence."
"We'll just say-"
"Say what? You were giving me a tonsil exam?"
"Slow down feisty." he laughed. "I was gonna say it was for a T.V. show or something."
"You really think people are going to believe that?"
"I don't know. But look, don't stress too much. I got it."
"But-"
"I. Got. It."
"I don't want you to do this alone."
"I don't want you to worry."
"But-"
"What did I say?"
I sighed. "You got it."
"That's my girl. Now, if it makes you feel any better, I'll be over there in about three weeks."
"For what?"
"I have a few interviews. A meeting or two. And I get to spend, oh, about a week and a half with you."
"You're right. That does make me feel better."
"Yay."
I could tell Abby was getting restless by the many gestures she was trying to make, signaling for me to either hang up, or give her whatever updates I could while still on the phone.
"Okay, well I gotta go. Abby's being a pest."
He chuckled. "Okay. I'll call you later. Tell her I said hi."
"Will do. Bye."
Once the call ended, I returned to my conversation with Abigail.
"So, what did he say?" she asked.
"That I shouldn't worry about it. And that he'll take care of it."
"And?"
"That's it. Oh, and he'll be here soon."
"How soon?"
"A few weeks."
"Yay. So, you think you can relax a little?"
"I don't know. We'll just have to wait and see."
