“Is everything okay?” Gabe asked then turned to Wes. “Oh, I don’t know, what do you think Wes? Do I look okay? Does it look like sunshine’s sprouting out of my ass?”
“I’m not looking at your ass.” Wes rolled his eyes. “And stop being so dramatic.”
Gabe’s nostrils flared, and he locked his eyes on me. “Your professor.”
“Which one?” I bit my lower lip and stood behind a chair, just in case I needed to throw it down and run away while Gabe tried to tackle me to the floor.
“Ha!” Gabe clapped slowly. “Hilarious. Which one, which one, which freaking professor? I seriously can’t have kids, man.” He looked at Wes again. “No seriously, if girls are going to pull this type of shit, I’m out. Give me boys, you hear that, God?” He started pointing at the ceiling. “I know you can hear me because you saved Wes’s life, so listen up, no girls! NO girls!”
I looked over at Wes and raised an eyebrow. “Is he losing his mind?”
Wes groaned into his hands while Gabe shot to his feet and charged toward me. “Making out with your professor on school property in your dorm? Tell me you aren’t that stupid!”
“I’m not…” I swallowed and averted my eyes. “I’m not stupid.”
“I’m not calling you stupid.”
“You’re accusing me,” I snapped and pushed against his chest. “Same thing.”
“Mel, swear to all that is holy if this has gotten any further—” Cursing under his breath, he turned away and tugged at pieces of his blond hair.
Gabe only called me Mel when he was pissed or when he forgot that I was supposed to be Lisa. He knew it made me insecure and upset. He knew the name brought back too many horrible memories.
&
nbsp; Sighing heavily, Wes stood and marched over to Gabe then shoved him toward the couch. He roughly pushed him down.
“Okay…” Wes’s eyes were wide. “Let’s try this my way before Gabe has an aneurism.” He tilted his head to the side and flashed his typical Wes Michels’ I-can-get-anything-I-want smile. “I thought you and my friend were just… friends, especially after discovering each other’s identity. I mean… it’s not like I threatened him or anything, but I did tell him that dating a student would be a bit frowned upon.”
“We aren’t dating.”
“Shit.” Gabe whistled. “He’s dead. I’m calling in a favor. Wes, I’m sorry, but we’re killing your friend. Clearly he’s seducing her!”
Wes rolled his eyes. “Watch the footage again. I think you’d be surprised who seduces whom.”
I felt my cheeks blush, and then anger boiled up inside. I’d forgotten those damn cameras. “What the hell, Gabe! You were watching the tapes? Like a psychopath? And why come to me now, guns blazing! You should have called or something!” Security footage? My stomach heaved at the thought of Gabe and Wes watching me make out with Tristan like some horny teenager. Pretty sure at one point, I was straddling him, or was he on top of me? I was going to start sweating any minute. Heat blasted into my cheeks as I tried to recall just exactly what had happened.
“Wes had a game,” Gabe said through clenched teeth, interrupting my thoughts. “And I was in Portland at a freaking meeting. Believe me when I say I came as soon as I saw the…” He shook his head. “…whatever. It’s like you don’t care that I’m the only person who’s protecting you from crazy stalkers and would-be assassins!”
“Assassins?” Wes repeated, his lips forming a smirk. “Good one.”
“You know what I mean.” Gave waved him off. “And it’s not like I put one in your bathroom. I’m not that much of a paranoid control-freak. You know they’ve been on. You knew about them, Lisa. Hell, you saw them get installed. Why are you so surprised I’m checking up on you? It’s not like I can move in and sit at your door with a gun!”
“Though, he would if he could.” Wes nodded. “Just saying.”
“Ass,” Gabe said hoarsely. “You’re supposed to be helping.”
“This is me helping.” Wes shrugged and faced me again. “Look, it’s not a good idea. You and him…” He lifted his hands in the air and pushed them together and apart and then shook his head and walked off. “Just kidding. I’m not helping. Gabe, you’re up.”
Gabe shot from his chair. “What Wes is trying to say is sleeping with the faculty, though guaranteed to give you an A, isn’t the way to start your sophomore year if you plan on graduating or keeping the guy from getting fired. Besides, his father would freak if he knew—”
I reared back, colliding with the chair behind me and then the table. The candles flipped out of their holders, rolled off the table, and hit the floor with a bang.
Tears threatened to escape.
“Aw, shit.” Gabe reached for me. “I didn’t mean that, Lisa. You’re fine. It’s not you.”
“But it is.” I nodded as a lone tear escaped and rolled down my cheek. “Isn’t it? If his dad or family find out he’s dating a girl who’s to blame for someone killing himself… what then? Right? If they find out that the girl was involved in one of the biggest bullying sites on the Internet? If they find out a girl like me was freaking raped in one of those videos! But the video made it look like I asked for it? What would he do? Fourth in line for president! Right, gotcha, I need to stay away because I’m a disease, and it’s only a matter of time before I spread.”