Catch Me If I Fall

Secrecy

Adelaide rubbed her eyes vigorously hoping what she saw was just an illusion, however much to her dismay, it really was Alaya and Mr.Harris. They were talking, laughing and sitting way too close to each other on the park bench.
"What the fuck!" She yelled. Brodie looked at her surprised, she could tell by the expression on his face he couldn't quite get his head around what was happening. Adelaide couldn't believe Alaya went behind her back and that it had gone so far that they were hanging out outside of school. Adelaide's thoughts were conflicting and hypocritical of the next. "Do I have a right to be angry at her? I need to protect my friend! How dare she? Should I go over? No, just talk to her CALMLY later!" The thoughts swirled around in her mind until she was dizzy. Adelaide spun around to face Brodie. He looked at her, his pupils dilating. His eyes fixated on her, waiting for a response or explanation like a puppy waits for its owner.
"I, em, forgot to mention one thing" she muttered. Brodie was starting to connect the dots.
"Please, please don't tell anyone. I know it's weird! But... I don't know I need to sort this!" Adelaide turned back to look at Alaya, almost ready to call out to her when Brodie grapped her forearm, pulling her back to face him. His hand gripped her arm and he supported her as she swayed backwards.
"It's not your job to 'sort this.' " He said in a simple tone. Adelaide kept looking in their direction, panicking, not sure what to do.
"Hey calm down!" Brodie slid his hand down to Adelaide's and picked up her other hand.
"Ok, I just, I don't want her to get hurt"
"Talk to her tonight, see what she has to say, it could be completely innocent?" Brodie's suggestion showed he really had no idea about Alaya's love for Mr Harris, or for Mr Harris' obsession with Alaya.

Brodie and Adelaide said their goodbyes, promising to meet up outside of school again soon. Once Adelaide was back home she picked up the landline, throwing herself on the couch and dialed Oscar's number. He picked up immediately.
"It's Alaya..."
"And mr Harris?"
"Yes, how do you know?" He asked inquisitively.
"I saw them" she informed him. Oscar wondered where and Adelaide debated whether she should tell him she went out with Brodie or not.
"Can you come over?" She asked. Oscar agreed and 10 minutes later the sound of the doorbell filled her quiet, empty house.
Adelaide answered the door, letting Oscar in. His chin was all cut and scratched from shaving and his hands bruised from boxing. He too was wearing black jeans with a grey hoodie.
"I'm so shocked" Oscar started.
"I didn't think it would get this far, she's one of my closest friends, I want to protect her but I want her to be with a guy she likes. I, Oscar, I don't know what to do. How do I confront the situation?" Oscar could see how worried Adelaide was, not only about Mr Harris but about her friendship, was she a good friend by telling someone about them or was she a good friend by leaving it alone. He could see frustration and confusion in her eyes. All he wanted to do was console her in the best way possible. "Where did you see them?"
"I went for coffee with Brodie, I saw them on the bench down the road on the way back." She explained.
"Brodie? How come she had gone out with him?" Oscar thought. He'd barley seen them speaking. Either way he assumed Brodie was a decent guy for standing up for his friend so he didn't mind.
"Whatever you do, don't tell Kellie." A pang of guilt hit Adelaide in the chest for saying those words. Oscar nodded in agreement. If Kellie knew, Mr Harris would be locked up in jail by now and they'd lose Alaya forever. Adelaide was stuck in between two very headstrong people. She needed time to think, to talk to Alaya.
"Can you stay over for a bit? I'll call Alaya over. Will you be there with me?" She felt bad asking Oscar because she knew he'd do it even if he had to give up all his plans.
"Of course" he replied wrapping his arms around her, pulling her tight into a bear hug. For a second, Adelaide felt safe in his arms.

Alaya had agreed to come over, thinking it was about Adelaide's coffee "date" with Brodie. In the meantime Adelaide and Oscar had made crisp sandwiches and discussed their "intervention."
When Alaya arrived, Adelaide noticed a hickey on her neck. Her stomach flipped. Oh no.
"So how was your date??" Alaya sang happily, before realizing it was a more solum atmosphere. "How was your date with Mr Harris?" Adelaide quizzed. Alaya's mouth fell open, she didn't know how to respond.
"Don't say it to anyone" she warned. Oscar sighed with disappointment.
"Don't tell me what I can and can't do!" Adelaide retaliated immediately regretting what she had just said.
"No, no I'm sorry, I just, I'm worried! He's so much older Alaya, I don't want you to get hurt!"
"I won't!" Alaya pleaded with Adelaide and Oscar not to say it to anyone in the school, especially any of their friends.
"What happened?" Oscar quizzed.
"Nothing we just...talked."
"There's a hickey on your neck!" He exclaimed. He was just as worried about Alaya as Adelaide was.
"Come on guys, do I really need to go into the details! You wouldn't make Adelaide tell you why there was a hickey on her neck if she had just spent time with Brodie!" Alaya retaliated.
Adelaide's face turned red.
"THATS DIFFERENT! Brodie's not a TEACHER! And neither Adelaide nor Brodie are desperate!" Oscar shouted at her.
"Oscar!" Adelaide stopped him. The situation had escalated way too much already, emotions were running high.
"Come on guys, please can we just sort something out!" She pleaded.
"I'll talk to you later Adelaide, I don't want to be near him right now!" Alaya left slamming the front door behind her.
Adelaide looked back to Oscar. They both stared at each other for a while before Oscar said he had to go. Adelaide was left all alone in her house.