The Blackmail Dilemma

Dare me To Expose

Begging your dad to let you stay home from school should be a part of the Olympics because it is that difficult. The thing is, no matter how hard Dad tried, he couldn't understand what I was going through. Feeling sad and anxious and, dare I say it, a little depressed, wasn't a good enough reason to stay home from school. I screamed, I begged, and I threatened to just refuse to go, but nothing worked. I tried to tell him why I was upset, but he just kept reiterating that there was no excuse not to go to school.

The last thing I expected to walk into was a school of gossip. I mean, more gossip than usual. People were chatting everywhere, snickering and gasping as Dean was escorted out of the school in handcuffs. The police dragged him towards me as I moved to the side of the doorway, staring with my mouth open. He looked at me with pain in his eyes, and I didn't think he would say anything to me. Maybe he suspected that I blew the whistle, which I didn't. Maybe I should have because he kind of disgusted me, but I needed his help. And Janessa's. Where was Janessa, anyway?

Right as he passed me, Dean mouthed, 'Stacie. Bottom right drawer.'

It took me a moment to process as he was dragged into the parking lot. He didn't resist, but just kind of hung his head in defeat.

Janessa ran through the hallway, screaming. A few teachers hurried after her, and I knew they would grab her any minute with her short legs and less than athletic run. As she came closer, I could see tears running down her face, smudged mascara under her eyes.

"Hey! Leave him alone! She's lying! Hey!" She screamed. As she reached the door, people were laughing and recording her as two teachers grabbed her arms.

"Hey," I surprised myself by saying. "Let her be a minute."

I recognized one teacher as my English teacher and the other as a science teacher. Gently, I placed a hand on Janessa's arm. We weren't that close, but I knew she didn't really have anyone else.

"What happened" I whispered.

She launched into my arms and I hugged her.

I choked on the words 'It's gonna be okay' because I knew I couldn't promise that. Instead, I glared at the teachers over her shoulder. They kind of backed off, but they were still watching us like they didn't trust me. At this point, half the school probably hated me, including the teachers.

"SSSStacie," she sobbed into my jean jacket. "She gave us up. Bitch."

I awkwardly rubbed her back. I sucked at emotions and I knew it, but I also felt bad for her. Sure, her relationship was toxic and illegal, but she had become my friend, and I hated seeing her hurt like this. Anger burned within me. Hadn't Stacie done enough? I knew she didn't tell on them because it was the right thing to do. She wanted Janessa to hurt, and she wanted it to be very public.

Stealing a glance out the doors, I saw them shoving Dean into a police car in front of the school. I also realized his pants were sagging. Oh fuck. Stacie wanted to catch them in the act, fifteen minutes before school started, because she knew everyone would be there to witness their humiliation.

Suddenly, the tv monitor above us flickered to life. I prayed Janessa wouldn't look, but God wasn't answering my prayers because she looked in time to see herself bent over a desk. I grabbed her head and tucked it back into my shoulder as her body shuddered with a loud sob.

"Make it stop. Make it stop," she chanted over and over.

My heart broke for her as my anger peaked. The audio was even turned all the way up. Teachers yelled, but the students turned their cameras to the screen. I looked outside and saw the police car was gone, so I gently took Janessa outside where she couldn't look at the riot inside.