“There’s no details.”

Chelsea and Rose are sitting with us too. They actually look disappointed. Did they want to hear a story about Joey (I’m calling him that unless proven otherwise) beating up a reporter? I guess I would have liked to see that too but, no, that isn’t what happened.

“What do you mean no details? Did you not snoop on their conversation?”

“I’m not you.”

Tori gasps. “Are you saying I’m nosy?”

“Yes.”

Tori places a hand over his heart. “You cut me deep.”

“I was working. The reporter came in and tried to talk with him, that was it.” That was all I planned to say at least. Not that I have any more to tell. What everyone has been whispering about is the only reason I know much of anything, and I use know very little since I doubt that reporter or anyone here actually knows the truth.

“Next time, get us some deets,” Tori says with a scowl. “I want to snoop.”

“Maybe you should be a reporter then,” Rose teases then kindly pats my arm. “Besides, Dana probably wouldn’t have understood what was said anyway.”

“Yea-hey!” I pout. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“That you probably don’t even know what article came out today, let alone what was happening years ago. Do you even know about the scandal?”

“I...well...a little.” Which I only learned about today and Rose must see that based on my expression because she giggles.

“Typical celebrity drama that actually turned into political drama. Matt got busted with some other young and upcoming celebs at a huge party with lots and lots of drugs and alcohol and probably unprotected sex. Stay safe kids!" She points to all of us at the table, then moves on, "No one knows who called it in though, considering high celebs aren’t exactly a crazy thing to see. There’s all these questions of who did it and why since, actually, what real shit went down was MiaCon having a bunch of their shady business dealings getting busted during the raid. It’s like a real life drama!”

“And MiaCon worked, or was affiliated with, Forever Beauty, which is owned by Matt’s mom. There was talk that MiaCon was messing with her kids because of some bad business deals, then that she was involved with the dealings or was helping Matt get drugs off them, something, something," says Chelsea while waving her hands wildly through the air. “It was a big scandal, no one has all the answers and Matt hid for two years probably in hopes to move past it, but well, that didn’t work out very well, did it?”

“You’re not exactly helping,” Tori says, but he’s smiling so it’s obvious he’s happy to be in on the info.

“Like you wouldn’t have googled this later to be in the loop.”

“True, true.”

I kind of wish they hadn’t said anything. I don’t like gossip. Gossip reminds me of that game my teacher made us play in elementary school. She’d take the class, line us up, whisper something to the first kid then they’d whisper what was said to the next, and down it went until we all heard what the last person said, which was never the same as when it began. Because that’s how people and gossip works; we tell a story that is morphed and twisted until it becomes something it never was.

I’m sure whatever happened with Matt is the same, especially when I doubt anyone other than him and those directly involved actually know the truth. Hopefully he’s not online or checking his phone. Hopefully he’s sitting at home watching Netflix or playing video games, something away from all the drama. I doubt it’s any good for him.

Not that it’s any of my business. It’s just, he seems like a nice guy. He doesn’t deserve this kind of attention, that’s why. I just feel bad because of that. Now I feel like I should message him, at least to ask that he’s ok.

While the others talk, I pull out my phone to quickly text beneath the table.

Me: Hey, what’s up?

Why would I ask what’s up? That’s stupid. Delete!

Me: Hi, it’s Dana.

Of course he knows it’s me. Delete! Ok, let’s keep it simple. Just ask how he is!

Me: How are you?

And delete again because somehow that sounds formal. How does it sound formal? What the hell is wrong with me? I can do this. Just text what I want to say. If it bothers him, he won’t answer, or he will and I’ll realize that I made him feel worse. Shit. Ok, I got this. It’s fine. I can text. I’m a functioning...person?

Me: Hey Matt, I hope everything is ok. I’m really sorry about yesterday. I wish I would have kicked him out sooner. You didn’t deserve that, and if you need to talk about it, I’m more than happy to listen.

I regret it the moment I send it, staring wide-eyed at the last sentence in particular. I’m more than happy to listen about a personal matter of a celebrity that has probably been told that before and had their trust betrayed? What kind of egotistical maniac am I? Idiot! Abort, abort!

Me: Not that you have any reason to tell me. We don’t really know each other so obviously you don’t have to, just know that you can since I won’t tell, not that I’m saying you would expect me to tell. It’s just nice to know there’s someone, although I’m sure you already have someone. You’re a popular guy!

What am I saying? Why do I keep pushing send? That is way worse than the first one! He’s going to think I’m an idiot. Actually, he probably already thinks I am one. Damn it.

Me: Shit, I’m so sorry, idk what I’m saying. I hope everything is ok. Ok, that’s all.

My phone is immediately shoved into my pocket and forgotten about for the remainder of the day. I refuse to look, although by the lack of noise or vibration I can guess that Matt didn’t respond anyways. That’s good, or maybe it isn’t. I’m not so sure, and I try my best to forget about it until later that night when I’m doing homework and my phone lights up. By then I’m not even thinking about Matt’s response though so my eyes go wide when I see he has finally answered.

Matt: I should be the one apologizing, sorry for having put everyone in that situation. I’m ok though. Figured it’d be best to take a day. See you tomorrow.

See you tomorrow? He’s coming to school tomorrow? If I were him, I would definitely stay home and hope the drama dies down by Monday.

I don’t say that though. I don’t really know what to say. Should I tell him not to apologize either? Because he isn’t the one that put anyone in an uncomfortable situation, it was the reporter that did it. But I suck at talking in real life so through text is even worse.

Me: Yeah, that was probably best. See you tomorrow then.

Matt doesn’t respond and I’m not sure if I wanted him to or not. In the end, I go to bed thinking it would probably have been better not to have messaged him at all.