"Hey, Scotty, can I ask you something?", I started when we laid down in the garden and cuddled.
Scott chuckled amused, "Anything, babe." "Why are you so mad about Bryce? I mean I haven't forgotten what he has done but I'm in the process of forgiving him because I see a different side of him now and how much he's hurt himself. And you've been his friend, too." Now he sighed looking as if he was trying to find the right words. 

"When there was the fight in the hallways after Bryce's hearing, the others and I had to wait in a classroom." "When Monty and I left school?", I made sure that I understand the background of his story. "Yeah, that's when it happened. Clay and I talked or well, we just changed some words. But he suspected me to be a rapist, too, judging by the look that he gave me. Can you believe that?"

"Oh, baby, don't worry about that. We all know that you could never be like that", I felt sorry for him that he was judged like that just because he was friends with Bryce - like me - and a part of the baseball team. "That's not only what bothered me. But he asked me what I would do if Bryce would have done this to you. And that's when I began to realize what actually has happened. You spent so many nights at his place, he could have easily-" 

"Don't say it. He hasn't done anything to me. That is what counts. I promise you, he's never done anything to me. That's what made me so mad actually. I wondered if I should have noticed something as Monty, Sheri and I are the ones who spent the most time with him. But we didn't because he's been normal around us. Anytime, even if he was drunk." "Okay, I believe you. He just really made me think about it all", Scotty nodded. 

"Monty?", I stopped him when he walked from the gym to his car in the afternoon, he's been ignoring me since Saturday, only checked if I was okay. "Oh, hey Ellie. I didn't see you all day." That was a lie, obviously. "Can we talk, Monty? I mean right now in this moment", I looked up to him and saw a hint of fear in his eyes. "I've got to go home, Ellie. We'll talk some other day, alright?"

"No, wait", I stopped him by laying my arm on his and talked with a special emphasis, "We have to do this, now." My friend sighed and followed me to my car in which we would talk about it. But Monty didn't say a word for five minutes straight so I began nervously. "What I saw on Saturday.. I mean at the party.. in this room.. Did it really happen or was it because of my condition?" He didn't say a word again.

"Monty, I'm pretty sure that what I've seen has really happened. Please, talk to me. It's not a bad thing, Monts. You can do whatever you want to do. I'm just asking about it because I need to know the truth as your friend. I have to know the truth in order to help you. Are you gay?" "I'm not fucking feeling this way!", he suddenly screamed at me and within a second his veins began to throb but in the same moment he looked as if he was about to cry.

"Monty, hey, calm down", I whispered and hugged him since we were sitting on the back seat, "It's alright, you know? It's nothing that you've got to be ashamed of. The team and your friends, Charlie, Scotty, Sheri and I won't judge you. You don't have to say it out loud or tell anyone but don't feel ashamed. No one would talk about you. Even better, we would all support you."

That's when I could make him smile for a moment, "It's true, Ellie. But what am I going to do? I was so good at hiding my feelings. I thought the team and everyone in school would laugh about me. But even if they didn't, my mom would be heartbroken and my dad would only make it worse. I can't say who I am."

"Oh, baby", a tear fell down my cheeks as I saw Monty with tears in his eyes for like the third time in our whole friendship, "You should never hide your feelings again. Promise me that you will never hide your feelings to me, okay? No one will hate you. And your dad is a sick person anyways. Your mom is alright but she's staying with a person like your dad. I think this is way worse than what you feel. You don't have to feel guilty."

"Thank you, Els. I wouldn't have believed you if you said that talking would help but it really did. Don't tell anyone, please. I know I can trust Sher and I wouldn't be mad if you would tell her by accident but I'm still unsure if I could let anyone else know about it."

"Of course, Monty, it's your decision only. But call me whenever you feel angry and try to hide your feelings. That's when you actually need to talk about it. Plus, your boy is really cute. I hope he likes girls, too", I chuckled trying to make the situation more pleasant. "Well, he's not my boy after I hit him", he regretted.

"Hit him?", I repeated shaking my head, "You completely beat him up! The poor boy", I still smiled because he's never been so honest as in this moment. "I love you, Els, you know. I wish I wouldn't like.. you know.. males. I'd be in love with you honestly." "What a shame that you're not into me", I joked with him and we hugged each other to share this moment lovingly. 

Bryce and I were spending some time together on Wednesday afternoon when I get a call from the police station. Justin needed my help so Bryce and I went to the police station. We stood up as soon as the officer brought Justin to us and removed the handcuffs. "Are you alright?" "Yeah", he nodded ashamed. "Bryce's lawyer let it disappear." "They just made you stay because of a summary offense. Because apparently, you've smoked everything before they came", Bryce added not really knowing how he should talk to his former friend.

"Did they call your mom?", I wondered. "They've tried it, she's been gone for a long time. The police doesn't know that I'm staying at the Jensen's house." "Yeah, I understand." "Could you..", Justin scratched his neck, he probably felt uncomfortable since he didn't expect Bryce to be here, "Could you drive me home?"

"Yes, man, of course. Listen, the deputy told my lawyer that Seth is back in the city." "Have you seen him?", I looked at Justin with a bad feeling, Seth only meant trouble, "Justin.." "I.. I'll make it." "Okay, but you know that we're always here for you, anytime. We're like siblings no matter what happens."

Justin finally told us about Seth so we went to the place where they wanted to meet together. "Who's the polo idiot?", Seth looked at us annoyed when Justin didn't come alone to the place, "But I know the girl. Cheeky little girl." I did defend Justin a lot especially before he had other friends. And while we've been dating or more like having a summer affair during the summer before Hannah came to our town, I defended him more often. We tried multiple times to hang out at his place but not rarely, Seth came and threw us out. That's also why we spent so much time at Bryce's. Seth looked amused but turned back to Bryce, "Do I know you?"

"No, you don't. They've got the money. Can we just get this over?" "Okay, let me see it." "Five thousand to clear Justin's debts and to make sure that you leave him alone, forever." "And what do you do if I don't leave him alone? Is she going to hit me with her crutch?", he laughed. "Then you have to find out what a good friend I am, I guess." "You're the rapist, right? I knew that I have seen you somewhere. That's pretty fucked up what you've done."

"Yeah, that's how I am, fucked up. And my life is pretty fucked up, too. Which means that I've got no problem spending my life behind bars to ruin yours. So, how do you like it?" Seth left without another word, I could see relief in Justin's eyes. Seth was no longer a problem for him.