The time had come. For Babylon's final ruse. Either this or nothing, really.

7:57 p.m
Today began off a little dull. I boarded the bus to school hoping that the janitors had already opened the bathrooms because if they hadn't when I arrived, I'd have to wait an extra thirty minutes to get ready. In addition, the disconcerting attention I knew I and the others would attract being back at school today gave me a headache.

What I didn't realize was that the attention would be far worse. I went off the bus after the canteen lady as we were the only two on board, then stepped towards the gate, when I was met with a terrible surprise. Protesters were yelling, screaming and demanding justice for DeeJay and that we be brought down.

To show their opinions, they wore shirts with DeeJay's face printed on them, signs with harsh texts in enormous fonts criticizing us, roaring voices with their tones brighten by the loud mics in their arsenal. They'd heard about what occurred with DeeJay's casket and were looking for answers because the police were taking too long. The majority of the protesters who led the rally were close friends of his mother and WEREN'T backing down. Not even the school's security could get them under control. I knew all their faces as I spotted them at the funeral consoling her.

As the principal led me through the school gates and into his office, where the others were, security attempted to evict them yet again. I stood behind Mandy while the others sat. No one knew if we were going to get out of here without being hurt.

    The loudest, most annoying trio of girls who have repeatedly approached Dustin, Carson and I while giggling and asking us about our sexuality were peering at us through the narrow view the drapes that weren't pulled together properly gave of the office. They were working quite hard to hear what the principal had to say. Even going as far as pressing their ears against the window and using an empty cup to hear better.

    The principal stated that he needed us to miss the next three days of school in order to clean up this mess, and he called our parents. Except for mine, who I informed him I could call on my own, he answered by saying that once this was resolved, he wanted to speak with my parents and ordered me to inform them. And does he think I'm stupid, babe? He will NEVER speak to them on my watch!

We had all contacted our parents within twenty minutes, and Carson's grandmother came to the school and picked us up to make things simpler. She yelled in her automobile as she drove through the protesters, and we all looked terrified. We felt we needed to act, so we discreetly planned to go home, change, and meet at Dustin's treehouse to chat.

9:27 a.m
The rest of the day was a bit gloomy. Clouds were dark and so were the spirits in BerkVille and the blossom of friendship that was about to wither away later today. And ascending from the crowd of busy police men and women that walked about the station picking up calls, filing documents and completing interviews with journalists on recent events was DeeJay's eldest sister.

She skipped through nearly ten officers and pounded on Babylon's office door. A little irritated, Babylon went outside to investigate who or what was at his door. She opened fire and started yelling at him as soon as he emerged.

    She said that she knew he took advantage of a vulnerable and obviously out of it woman. She said that she was immensely disgruntled and would be seeking immediate legal action for her mother. But she didn't have time to empty her entire clip as Babylon called upon two officers to escort her off the premises. But as she was being pulled away, she watched as Babylon stepped back into his office and Carson was seated at his desk.

    She wasn't the only person to spot Carson however. An hour later, Dustin who had to pick up a few roti shells from a vendor who sells near the station, spotted Carson as he suspiciously walked out. Why was he here? Isn't he supposed to be on his way to his house? He tried to catch up with him to ask him what was going on but he entered his grandmother's car quickly and sped off not even realizing Dustin's presence.

From the station's door came Babylon. He placed an order for more than thirty rotis for the men at the police station the previous evening knowing that Dustin's aunt would need to get the shells from the seller early in order to finish the order by noon and might catch a glimpse of Carson and report back to Dustin. However, Dustin decided to pick up the shells for his aunt when he stopped by her workplace to inform her of recent occurrences, making Babylon's plan even more successful. He knew there would be a lot of strain and that anyone may snap, which is why he called Carson in as soon as he learned about the seriousness of the protest and kept him for a good amount of time for Dustin to show up for the shells.

Babylon walked over to Dustin who seemed a bit spooked when he caught a glimpse of him.

"Good morning Dustin!"

"Good morning"

"How has everything been going with the protest and what you, the others and Carson have been doing?"

"I don't know what you mean. Plus I have to get these to my aunt, excuse me" he replied beginning to walk away. But Babylon's next words brought him to a halt.

"That's okay if you don't want to tell me. Carson already did. He just has a few more details to add tomorrow. Have a good day!" He said placing his hands into his pockets and strolling away.

10:36 a.m
Babylon had already assembled his final pieces for his game of chess an hour ago. Mandy was on her way to her favorite vendor for a bag of mango in sauce to the back of her old primary school when he stopped her and gave her information he knew would cause trouble WITH audio proof. On the bus to Dustin's house, he turned to face me and provided me with evidence of other facts.

    After everything had time to settle, he waited for the bomb to go off. This had to work. The rest of what he had done had not. He had obtained significant clues but had allowed them to be stolen or destroyed. He had been so full of self doubt, but the circumstances surrounding DeeJay's coffin gave him new life. He had never been more determined and sure in his life. No more slip ups.

11:11 a.m
I had a burning question in my head when I got to Dustin's. Mandy was outside the treehouse on her phone, looking a little upset, Carson was looking off into the neighborhood countryside, Dustin was inside his main house checking on his grandfather, and as I walked into the treehouse, I saw Beth sitting by herself on one of the seats. I really didn't want to talk to her, so I sat down across from her on my
phone. When the others finally entered the treehouse, the tenseness was at an all-time high. And Dustin started off the damaging conversation.

"Carson. I want to ask you a question and be truthful"

"Um... okay! What's up?"

"Why are you giving information to Babylon about what we've been investigating?"

"WHAT?!" Beth, Mandy and I exclaimed.

"What are you even talking about?!"

"This morning I saw you come out of the police station after you dropped us off. You didn't see me but I'll say again I saw you. Babylon then came out of the station and told me that you relayed information about what we've been doing to him!"

    The three of us wore shocked expressions.

"Okay that's insane. I only went there because-"

"Because what?"

"I can't say..."

"So it's true?!" Dustin questioned a bit agitated.

"Okay, let's not just jump to conclusions. Maybe Babylon is relaying fake information or something" Beth chimed in.

"Really? You think he is?" I started off, my eyebrow raised.

"Yeah, that's what I just said?"

"Oh, because look" I pulled out a folded picture I had in my pocket taken from camera footage of Mr. Rainyman sliding a thumb drive to Babylon. "This is literal proof of your father giving something to Babylon to save your ass and throw us under the bus. Babylon said it himself, WITH the proof right here!"

"What the fuck?" Dustin stated.

"Okay. I don't know what this is and I'll clarify with my father but-"

"Nah. I think you know exactly what he was doing because I bet you were a part of it too!" Mandy butted in.

"What are you even talking about?" Beth said confused.

Mandy quickly pulled out the voice recording from the phone call Babylon and Mr. Rainyman had about what Beth had told him regarding DeeJay and Dustin's covert relationship.

"What the fuck Beth?!" Dustin exclaimed after the audio stopped.

"Okay, okay, I know how it looks. And I'm so sorry, but my father was putting so much pressure onto me and he is so scary and-"

"SHUT THE FUCK UP BRO!" Dustin screamed. "Why are you the fucking victim when you're giving information that could ruin my life?!"

"That's not what I'm saying-"

"I said shut up!"

The scene faded into a brief awkward silence, then Carson spoke.

"Okay I was going to stay silent and bring this up with you privately but the way you're acting is awful. You're acting like anyone had purposely put you into those situations. Yes Beth was wrong but also try to understand her side. So, Dustin, since you're so quick to speak, how about you tell the others how your fingerprints are on the GUN THAT KILLED DEEJAY or were you just not going to mention that at all?! Because Babylon told me all about it at his office today! And I was going to bring it up with you privately but you clearly don't deserve it after you blasted me in-front of everyone making me look suspicious!" Carson said, making all our jaws drop to the floor.

"WHAT THE FUCK?!" Beth, Mandy and I screamed in unison.

"Your fingerprints are on the gun?!" Mandy inquired.

"Yes it is. And what's the coincidence that Babylon got mauled that night and that evidence was destroyed?" Carson said. He felt betrayed that Dustin had made snap judgments based on what he had seen earlier and took Babylon's word.

Standing there, Dustin shook his head and laughed cruelly. When Dustin got angry, he had a tendency to shout the most vile things that came to mind. And I was aware that he was ready to say something dreadful.

"You thought that was so good huh? You really want to be spiteful? Because I can be. Carson, why don't you tell everyone how you threatened DeeJay when you were on DRUGS, which was on one of the tapes I had which I destroyed and kept secret, FOR YOU?!"

My jaw which I had picked up just a few seconds ago dropped once again.

"WHAT THE ABSOLUTE FUCK?!" Beth, Mandy and I exclaimed.

Carson told Dustin, "Fuck you!" while appearing to be a little teary eyed. And since Carson hardly ever swears, it came as a bit of an anomaly to all of us.

"No! Fuck all of you!" Dustin returned.

"Wait, how the fuck I get in it?" Mandy asked.

"Right!" I said in agreement.

"Probably because you two are gullible idiots who takes everything Babylon says at fucking face value!" Beth answered.

"Beth please shut the fuck up. You're the one who's fucking wrong!" I responded, indignant at her insult to me.

"God, are all of you fucking incompetent?!" Dustin exclaimed.

"We're incompetent? Nigga you're the one who hid something so big from us that you knew we could be dragged down with you for if anyone found out!" You were willing for us to go jail with you when your fingerprints are on a murder weapon!" Mandy explained.

"I don't understand why neither you or Carson told us these things. If you were truthful and upfront we would've believed you. Now how are we supposed to trust you?" I stated.

At that point Mandy felt a bit guilty but a bit happy at the same time that her secret was safe.

"Well it was my business with an experience that's personal and significant to me so I can choose whoever I'm comfortable with in fucking telling it to! And clearly I didn't tell it to someone trustworthy and who's there for me so fuck it!" Carson blurted before storming out of the treehouse and hopping onto a bus to town.

"You should all leave too!" Dustin said with disgust in his tone.

"One step ahead of you!" Mandy answered, already grabbing her bag. And of course I followed her out.

Beth waited until we were sufficiently far away before storming out and waiting for a bus two blocks away. Despite this, she boarded the same bus as us because it had stopped for us first. She sat in the back, her head out the window, till she arrived at her destination. Dustin was bombarding our phones with angry messages while all of this was going on, so we all blocked his number.

11:58 a.m
Babylon's office.

"Why did you even need us to protest at that school?"

"Don't ask questions, just know you did well" he replied before sliding an envelope of money towards the elderly lady.

"Well, enjoy the rest of your day!"

"You too!"

12:20 p.m
   The previous fifteen minutes had been spent by Beth in her room talking on the phone with her father, angry about what he had done. He informed her that he was currently finalizing a business deal, but he had not the slightest regret and hung up. She continued to cry hysterically as she attempted to finish her homework alone at home while feeling terrible about her actions.

Across town at Subway creating our own sandwiches was Mandy and I. Mandy had a tuna sandwich with lots of lettuce with an orange Chubby she bought from a mini mart and I had a chicken sandwich with tall bottle of Coca Cola that had huge pieces of ice so I could munch on after I finished my drink. And as we ate we discussed recent events.

"Do you think Carson was actually on drugs?" I questioned.

"I do. He seemed pretty teared up about it when Dustin brought it up plus I did kind of notice a few months ago. We've literally never seen him cry before so I know that was harsh truth. I think it's messed up that Dustin brought it up too!"

"I do too. He can be such an asshole at times!"

"Right! And can you believe Beth trying to spin this on us? Like it's not our fault you can't keep your mouth shut! This is why I don't tell her none of my business!"

"Exactly. And it's so unfair because no matter what she has a father with power, money and will who will fight tooth and nail to protect her. Basically she has a knight in shinning armor. She and Carson also have it made for them in life already no matter if they fail. And her releasing information that could be detrimental and ruin lives is so fucked up!"

"That's my point!" She took a bite of her sandwich. "And another thing... I'm starting to think Carson wants to fuck Dustin!"

"You think?" I said picking up my drink.

"I do! Like I'm not sure but I'm almost certain he has a crush on him! What does he and DeeJay even see in him?!" She stated sending the both of us into violent laughter.

"But to be honest, I want all of us to work through this and become really good friends" I uttered disappointed in how things had occurred.

"Same. I guess we just have to wait and see... Do you think Dustin did it though?"

"Nah. Dustin is all bark no bite. Trust me. I just wonder how the hell his fingerprints got on the gun in the first place!"

1:45 p.m
After what happened at the school, Carson's parents came home early to see how he was doing. They had been pacing the house for the last forty minutes, bickering and making plans. Carson's anxiousness was through the roof as they were near to panicking. They debated fleeing to yet another island, but they decided against it when they realized that doing so would only make them appear to be even more guilty. They had to find a way to chip this off of their reputation so left the house without Carson.

The concept of moving wasn't one that Carson particularly liked. They relocated from Antigua to Martinique and then Saint Lucia when Carson was very young, which was harmful for his development because he kept making friends just to lose them and feel lonely once more. Additionally, despite his current anger toward us, he still wanted to stay and to rekindle our friendship stronger than ever and he still had a crush on Dustin, unfortunately.

And with all this stress brought more disturbing thoughts brewing in Carson's head. He shuffled around the house looking for something to drink or anything that could get him high but Dustin had done too much of a good job. When he wasn't successful in finding any he tried looking for money to go get more but his parents had given him a limited amount on his bank account since his overdose before the summer and he had spent all of it already. He trampled through stuff in the house and only came up with one dollar.

   This increased his stress, and he began pacing around the house, his head pounding. He was upset with everything and broke down on a stool in his mother's room after tearing through her purse one last time. He was shivering from crying so hard, snot was flowing from his nose, he screamed at the top of his lungs, and he felt chilly and clammy sitting there alone. And while he stared out into the wall, he fell into a deep slumber from which he was only roused when his parents returned home.

    And as he walked out of their room, inched down the hall and entered the living room, he noticed his father's credit card poking out of his wallet...

4:44 p.m
   Mandy sat in her room by herself, scrolling through Gibs' social media profiles. She couldn't stop thinking about what occurred today and how she had hoped we'd become closer friends and that we'd soon be the best of, but she understood anything may happen at any time. She then recognized that this was most likely what occurred with her mother and sister, precipitating their downward spiral. Anything bad can happen at random intervals. She was experiencing intense feelings for Gibbs as the days grew and realized she had become engrossed in the moment. Yes, he was a really good and caring person, but she had to consider her future. She also knew that if she did this and broke his heart that she would ruin him. But, in this case, what is the best option? All she knew was she had to speak with him. Or maybe this relationship was just one of those silly little one's we jump in and out of during our teenage years.