I couldn’t find a time to talk to Emma, I mean, Rosie, alone. Ian was haranguing me about “confessing” to Bethany “now!’ He cornered me in the bathroom and told me it was now or never. So when I went out, I immediately looked for Bethany. She was sitting on one of the long benches, probably waiting for Emma – I mean, Rosie. She saw me and waved happily over to me. Unwillingly, I came over, my feet feeling like heavy lead. My mind screaming a million things at me.

“Hey!” Bethany was beaming. “Wanna buy me a treat?”

“Sure,” I said. She always asks me to buy her sweet treats. Candy, ice cream, bottled beverage. Never really thought much of it before. I just figured it was her way of being friendly. But as she hooked my arms and clung to me, I realized that Ian might be correct in assuming Bethany liked me.

“Uhh, Bethany?” I asked. “Could I ask you something?”

“Sure,” she replied. “What about?”

“Do you like me?”

Bethany unhooked her arm around me and stared at me, mouth agape, as the ice cream she was holding started to drip around her fingers.

“What?!?” she exclaimed.

“I said…” I started before she interrupted me, asking “I heard what you said, but what do you mean 'like you?' ”

“I mean, like-like me.” I smiled sheepishly. This is it, she would deny it. Ian would be proven wrong and I would be let off the hook. My heart started beating loudly. Say no please. Say Ian was lying, I prayed.

“Who told you that?”

“Somebody?” I cringed, waiting for her to laugh and disprove what I said. But she just turned around and dropped the ice cream, mumbling “That fucking tattletale!” And without another word rushed to our classroom. I ran after her.

When I arrived, I met her rushing out, carrying her things. Emma, I mean, Rosie, was running after her, calling her name. They both passed me by unnoticed. When Bethany didn’t stop, Emma, I mean Rosie, stopped running after her and turned to me.

“What did you tell her Dex?” she was near crying.

“Nothing,” I mumbled.

“What. Did you. Tell her?!” she advanced menacingly at me. I was stunned at the vehemence in her voice. She’s never treated me like this.

“I, I just,” I stammered. “I asked her if she liked me.”

“And then?” I could see her calculating all the ways she could control her temper.

“And then she asked why I thought that.”

“And then?” she’s starting to get what happened.

“And then I told her somebody told me. And then she just rushed off here.”

“But why? Why would you think that?” her face was breaking my heart. I could feel all the accusations welling up inside her. “Never mind what went inside that fucked up head of yours. She thinks I told you her secret – well, our secret.”

“You mean,”

“Yes, you fucking oblivious cunt. She likes likes you. Happy now?” she was crying.

“Emma,” I started.

“Fix this Dex! I don’t care what the fuck you do, but fix this please! Tell her I never told on her.”

“Where would I find her?” I asked, determined now to do whatever it takes.

“Under the bridge,” she said. I was already running.