School finished for the day and Maggie returned home. She passed by a small play area surrounded by trees and was surprised when Vanessa stepped out to greet her.
‘Maggs. I need to talk to you.’
‘Vanessa!’ Maggie gushed. ‘We’ve been so worried about you. A bunch of us found that photograph and that note you left. Oh, Nessa, it’s awful. I can’t believe Rex would do that to you.’
Vanessa’s eyes were red and her hair was a mess. ‘Does Rex know that I saw that note?’
‘No, nobody’s seen him either. Both him and Nadia took off somewhere and haven’t been seen all afternoon.’
Vanessa flinched. ‘Oh God, what’s he doing, Maggie? I can’t believe he’s letting her manipulate him. Can’t he see what she is? She’s bad news, Maggs.’
‘Nessa, that’s not all, there’s rumours flying around the school about Rex and Ms Grainger. People are saying that he forced himself on her.’
Vanessa’s eyes widened. ‘No, that’s gotta be a sick joke.’
‘I don’t know, but it’s got me worried too. You want to come home with me?’
‘Yes. I need some company.’
A few minutes later, they sat up in Maggie’s room together.
‘I’m surprised you didn’t go to Holly’s,’ Maggie said. ‘I kind of thought she was the one you went to, to confide in.’
Vanessa peered into her eyes for a few seconds, a sadness in her own eyes. ‘Why are you so down on Holly?’
Maggie didn’t want to say anything right then, but the bitterness she harboured over Vanessa and Holly’s friendship had been niggling her for days now. ‘It... it just seems that you like her better than me.’
‘Maggs, she’s just a friend.’
‘But you see more of her than me.’
‘I don’t mean it to be that way.’
‘You like her don’t you? I mean, really like her. Like in you want to be with her, you know... sexually.’
Vanessa sighed. ‘Maggs, I don’t need this right now.’
‘It’s true isn’t it? You want her, more than you want me!’
‘No!’
‘It’s true. I can see it! The way you look at her.’
‘Please, Maggie, not now!’
‘Why don’t you go and see her now then? You obviously don’t want to be with me!’
Vanessa’s brow furrowed. ‘Is that what you really want? Me to leave and go to Holly’s? Because if you do, I will. I came here because I wanted to talk to you!’
Maggie paused and realised she had been too harsh, but she still couldn’t put aside the jealousy she was feeling. ‘It’s just that... I feel like you don’t want me anymore. After that evening, it’s been different.’
‘Maggie...’ Vanessa placed her hand on her arm. ‘That evening was very special and I haven’t forgotten it. I still very much want you and to have more evenings like it. But we talked about this. We’ve both got guys and it’s not going to be anything more than what it is right now. We both agreed on that, right?’
‘I know we did. It’s just that I can’t get it out of my head and I hate the thought of you being with Holly.’
‘Nothing has happened between me and Holly, as much as I might like it too. She’s straight. And even if something did happened, I’m not going to apologise for that. I see who I want to and I’ll get with anyone I want to. You were ok with that when we talked about it, weren’t you?’
‘I was. But it’s hard.’
‘I know. It was like that for me when I first had crushes. I used to get jealous too.’
‘You did?’ Maggie looked her in the eyes.
‘Yeah huh! Of course. It’s natural.’
‘So why don’t you get jealous with Rex?’
‘It’s different with him. Maybe because he’s a guy, I guess. Don’t ask me to try to explain myself. Even I can’t understand me sometimes. I just accept that’s who I am, but my main priority is Rex. No one, not even you are going to come close to him. Not even Holly.’
‘I guess.’
‘And you don’t want that either, do you? You want a guy. Someone you can trust and who loves you and treats you like a princess.’
‘Like Shawn?’
Vanessa paused. ‘Nuh uh, not like Shawn. I don’t think he treats you like a princess at all.’
‘Oh, he normally does. I don’t know what’s been wrong with him lately.’
‘You need to be careful. You may not be able to trust him.’
‘Why do you say that?’
‘I don’t know. Maggs, I have to ask, did you really find that profile on Carolisa just by browsing?’
Maggie turned her eyes away from Vanessa and sighed. She couldn’t lie to her, not when she had asked for a confirmation like that. ‘No. Shawn found it.’
Vanessa nodded. ‘I wondered.’
‘He didn’t want me to tell you because he didn’t want people to know he had exposed a friend’s secret.’
‘I think it might be a fake profile.’
‘Really? Why?’
‘Because even though I’ve been hiding out around town all afternoon, crying my eyes out, I just can’t believe that Rex would keep a secret like this from me. I just have to believe that he’s being set up and that someone is trying to trick me. It’s already happened once. Someone pretending to be someone they’re not on the Internet. Maybe this is the same. At least I hope it is.’
‘But, I don’t get it. Shawn knows her though.’
‘Does he really?’
‘He told me!’
Vanessa didn’t reply.
‘Well?’
‘I don’t know.’
‘So it must be for real then.’
Vanessa’s eyes met hers. They seemed pained and she still didn’t say anything.
Maggie decided not to say anymore. Vanessa was there with her now and she needed cheering up. It was time to forget about all the sad and painful stuff and think about something fun. ‘Hey. Rex emailed me some pictures this morning. The pictures of us kissing on the bonnet of the Lamborghini. They are so hot. Have you seen them yet?’
‘Nuh uh. Haven’t checked my email today.’
‘Wanna see them?’
‘Yeah huh!’
Maggie felt happier now that the heaviness of the atmosphere had gone. Seconds later they had the sexy pics up on the screen, admiring them.
‘Rex is a great photographer,’ Vanessa said.
‘Is there anything he’s not good at?’
‘I haven’t found that thing yet.’
‘That was so nice...’ Maggie said gazing at the next one of her and Vanessa locked in passionate embrace. She turned her head to face her. ‘Can we do it again? Here? Now?’
‘Yeah huh!’
They began to kiss each other, pulling each other closer. Maggie’s head span and the excitement of forbidden passion welled up inside her. The longing to be with Vanessa increased tenfold and next thing they were down on the floor, rolling around with each other. Vanessa’s hands roamed up and down her body and caused Maggie to become more excited, but then suddenly their session ended abruptly when a voice exclaimed, ‘Oh my God!’
At first, Maggie thought it was her father, but the voice was wrong. She spun around and stared up to see Shawn standing there, his mouth agape.
‘Shawn!’ Maggie sat bolt upright. ‘What are you doing walking in like this?’
‘I knocked on the front door, but nobody answered. What the hell are you doing? Oh my God, Maggie!’
Maggie wanted to disappear into thin air and couldn’t even look him in the eye. ‘I wish you hadn’t seen that.’
His eyes turned to the computer monitor where the photograph Maggie had been admiring still appeared.
‘Oh God! You were making out on Rex’s Lamborghini too?’
‘It was just a bit of fun, that’s all.’ Maggie climbed to her feet and brushed herself down. Vanessa did the same.
‘I can’t believe it!’ Shawn cringed. ‘My girl...
a lezzy?’
‘No, I’m not. Honestly. It’s just that...’
‘You are! So what am I even doing with you then? Am I some kind of a game?’
‘No! Shawn, I love you. You’re everything to me, it’s just that... I love guys... it’s just that I like girls too.’
‘Oh my God!’ Shawn scrunched up his face even more. ‘I don’t bloody believe this! Why did you never tell me? Why didn’t you warn me?’
‘I don’t know... I didn’t think it mattered.’
‘Didn’t matter?’
‘Does it really? I still love you. I still want you.’
‘Well, I don’t think I want you. Not after this. Do you realise how this makes me feel?’
‘I’m sorry.’
Vanessa stepped forward. ‘No, Maggie, don’t be sorry!’ She spoke in a forceful voice. ‘You have nothing to be sorry about. Shawn, it’s you that should be sorry. What difference does any of this make? She’s still the same person she always has been. You just have to get over yourself, you have to realise that this is who she is.’
‘You stay out of this.’
‘Nuh uh! I’m sick of the way you’re treating her. She deserves better.’
‘Well that’s fine! She can have you. Seeing as you don’t seem to want any decent guy yourself.’
‘Hey!’ Maggie snapped, beginning to feel the anger bubbling up herself. ‘Rex is a fantastic guy.’
‘Oh, that’s just great, that is! So you want him as well too, huh? Great! Forget about your boyfriend then. Why don’t you hook up with them, then, huh?’
‘Maybe I will!’
Shawn glared at her, his eyes bugging even more than before. ‘I don’t believe this. How can you treat me like this?’
‘Oh puleeeeese!’ Vanessa growled. ‘You’re a fine one to talk. Ever since I’ve met you, all you’ve tried to do is hit on me. You don’t realise just how special Maggie is!’
Maggie stared at Vanessa and tried to come to grips with what she had just said. ‘What?’
Vanessa’s voice sounded pained. ‘Come on, Maggie... can’t you see it? At the pools all he wanted to do was talk to me. He wasn’t even interested in spending time with you.’
‘Give me a break!’ Shawn snarled. ‘That’s bullshit.’
‘It’s the truth!’ Vanessa said. ‘Come on Maggie, you can see it. Surely?’
For the first time, serious doubt plagued Maggie’s mind. She gazed at Shawn with pain stabbing at her heart. ‘Is it true, Shawn?’
‘Naaaaah!’ scoffed Shawn and laughed. ‘She’s dreaming. I’m not gonna go after some lezbo. What’s the point anyway?’
Maggie thought back to that day and how Shawn had treated her like she was some kind of a pest, she began to realise the truth and the pain stabbed deeper. ‘It’s true.’
‘Of course it’s not bloody true!’
‘I was just like some kind of irritation to you that day. All you wanted to do was talk to Vanessa!’
Shawn rolled his eyes. ‘I can’t win.’ He pointed an accusing finger at Vanessa. ‘She’s against me!
‘I’m against you? Get real! In fact, if there’s any conspiracy here, it involves you and Nadia.’
‘Me and Nadia?’
‘You’re trying to split Rex and I up. You’re both in on it together.’
Maggie reeled at that accusation. What was Vanessa playing at? Did she really believe that?
Shawn snorted. ‘Oh, ok, now I know you are well and truly deluded. That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. I don’t even know her.’
‘Yeah, whatever. You had a chance to get to know her at the pools. Since then you’ve been working together to break us up. You and her created that ridiculous Carolisa profile on FaceLink to make me think Rex was seeing someone behind my back.’
Shawn’s jaw dropped. ‘What?’
‘Admit it.’
‘That’s ridiculous!’ He turned his eyes to Maggie. ‘Do you believe this crap?’
Maggie turned to Vanessa, still puzzled by the accusation. ‘But Shawn doesn’t go to our school. How did that stuff get in Rex’s text book?’
Vanessa paused for a moment and then replied. ‘Nadia. She put it there.’
‘When? She was with Rex all the time. Never left his side all morning.’
‘She must have had an opportunity. Before school or something.’
Maggie still couldn’t see how it was possible. ‘But it was an accident you finding that stuff. If they wanted you to see it, why put it in his book? Rex would have most likely found it himself.’
Vanessa frowned and became silent.
‘You see?’ Shawn laughed. ‘You still think I’m involved in some conspiracy to split the two of them up? Get real. She’s deluded! I guess it must be a lesbian thing, thinking that everyone is out to get you or something. Ah, shit, I’ve had enough. I’m outta here.’
‘Shawn, wait!’ Maggie didn’t want him to go. She wanted everything to be alright. Perhaps Vanessa was wrong and Shawn’s motives had been harmless all along.
‘No, forget it! You want her? You can have her. I’m going back home.’
And with that he left.
For a few moments Maggie and Vanessa didn’t speak, but then Vanessa placed her hand on Maggie’s shoulder. ‘You’re better off without him.’
‘But I love him.’ Maggie began to feel the tears well up inside her.
‘He doesn’t deserve your love. He’s as guilty as sin, Maggs, you can see it a mile off. He and Nadia are in on the whole charade, I know it.’
‘But it makes no sense.’
‘I know, but somehow they masterminded the whole thing. I just haven’t quite put all the pieces together that’s all.’
‘Are you sure, you just don’t want to admit that Rex is seeing this Carol girl behind her back?’
‘You’re right. I don’t want to admit it and I can’t. I’d rather live in a delusion than face that maybe it’s true, but as long as there’s a chance it is all a scam I’m going to hold onto it as tight as I possibly can.’ Vanessa sat down. ‘I need to ring Rex. I can’t handle this anymore.’ She pulled her cell phone from her pocket and powered it on. ‘Oh… Rex has tried to call me. If only I’d thought to switch my phone back on after I left the school grounds.’ She held the phone up to her ear and listened for a few seconds. ‘Mmmm… He saw me leave school. He’s at Moms… and there’s a message from Mum too…’ She paused as she listened to that message and her eyes widened. ‘Oh God!’
‘What?’
‘Oh my God! Mum says Rex is at the police station.’ She stared up at Maggie, her eyes wide. ‘Nadia’s accused him of raping her!’
CHAPTER 22:
The Truth Comes Out