Rumor Has It

7:25 p.m. PST, May 27

jenny4: Hi.

lilybear: What's up?

jenny4: I need to tell you something, but you can't tell anyone else. Okay?

lilybear: ...That sounds ominous. Sure, why not? My lips are sealed.

jenny4: It's just... I think I like someone else. Like, other than Dean. I'm not sure yet, though.

lilybear: What?? But Dean is like, a movie star! How could you like anyone else? Everybody's jealous of you that you get to spend so much time with him.

jenny4: I know, but it's getting old. He's never had a super interesting personality, you know? I don't think I can stand much more of it, unless he opens up to me and shares something groundbreaking.

lilybear: Fine. I guess if that's how you feel, it's how you feel. I have to go eat dinner. Bye.

jenny4: Promise you won't tell anyone?

lilybear has logged off.

7:40 p.m. PST, May 27

lilybear: Guess what Jen just told me???

Tfootballfan: That's one way to say hello to your boyfriend, but alright. What?

lilybear: Come on, Tommy. It's serious! Jen is breaking up with Dean!

Tfootballfan: What?

lilybear: I know! You're not allowed to tell him, though. She hasn't done it yet.

Tfootballfan: But they're, like, the power couple! He's the quarterback, she's the prettiest, most popular girl in school!

lilybear: Thanks, Tommy.

Tfootballfan: You know what I mean, Lily. The prettiest, most popular girl in school, other than you.

lilybear: Yeah, yeah. But anyway, I can't believe it!! I had to leave and tell her I was going to go eat dinner, but now I really have to. Bye!

Tfootballfan: Bye!

7:43 p.m. PST, May 27

Group Chat, "The Cool Kids"

Tfootballfan: I have the biggest news to ever be shared in the history of high school drama.

Chad2: What's that supposed to mean?

Tfootballfan: Jennifer is going to break up with Dean!

alex logs on.

alex: Umm, what did I miss? Jennifer and Dean, breaking up??

Tfootballfan: Yep! Lily just told me.

Chad2: That's crazy! When?

Tfootballfan: Tomorrow, I think. Otherwise it wouldn't have leaked.

alex: Whoa. We have to be there, to help our guy, you know?

Chad2: Seconded.

Tfootballfan: Yeah, uh... thirded? Is that right? Anyway, see you all tomorrow!

All log off.

8:00 p.m. PST, May 27

alex: You know what Tommy just said?

<3sara: What?

alex: Seriously, guess. I'll give you a hint. It has to do with someone from the football team and a girl!

<3sara: You and me?

alex: No, obviously.

<3sara: Tommy and Lily?

alex: I think the world could end and they'd still be together. No, Jen and Dean!

<3sara: What?? They broke up??

alex: No, but they're going to! Tomorrow!

<3sara: Tomorrow? Where? I have to be there.

alex: Outside of school, I'd assume. Right after we get out.

<3sara: Okay! See you then!

Both log off.

8:07 p.m. PST, May 27

<3sara: You know what's happening tomorrow?

*softie*: It's getting a little late, don't you think?

<3sara: Nope. It's only eight! But that's not what we're talking about right now. Jennifer and Dean are breaking up tomorrow!

*softie*: What??

<3sara: That was my reaction, too! I bet you it'll be brutal. I'm going to be there.

*softie*: Who's breaking them up????

<3sara: Jen!

*softie*: Oh, then I hope his heart doesn't shatter! She's awful. Once, she told me she liked my brand new white shoes -- and then less than an hour later, she spilled orange juice all over them!

<3sara: That has nothing to do with anything, but I agree. I'm definitely going. Meet you there?

*softie*: No way am I missing that! Bye!

Both log off.

5:38 a.m. PST, May 28

*softie*: Guess what happened?

^bae^: Jen and Dean are breaking up?

*softie*: Yeah! How did you know??

^bae^: It's all over school by now. Chad told me.

*softie*: It'll be sad to see them go, but then again, it'll leave Dean single!

^bae^: I would take offense if I didn't know you. I heard that Jen is planning to take a book with his most embarrassing memories and show it to the whole school beforehand!

*softie*: I heard it's going to be his diary.

^bae^: Ooh, that would be bad!

*softie*: Bad, but juicy. It's going to be so much fun to watch! See you there?

^bae^: Absolutely!

6:00 a.m. PST, May 28

peter: So, today marks the day when you're single once more, huh?

deanthequarterback: ...what?

peter: Oh my... no one told you??

deanthequarterback: Told me what?

peter: Your girlfriend is going to absolutely destroy you today! Publicly!

deanthequarterback: That doesn't sound like Jen, Pete.

peter: Ask anyone! Everybody knows about it! It's going to happen after school, right outside the gym.

deanthequarterback: Huh... I don't know. Give me a minute.

deanthequarterback logs off.

7:03 a.m. PST, May 28

Mrs. Myller: Hello? Is this Principal Linh?

Aimee: Yes, this is she. May I ask who you are?

Mrs. Myller: I'm Dean Myller's mother. I wanted to ask about one of the students at your school, Jennifer Hileigh?

Aimee: I'm familiar with both students.

Mrs. Myller: There's a rumor going around that Jennifer is going to publicly humiliate my son after school today. She's always seemed like such a sweet girl, but this is going too far. Will you please call them both into your office and see what's going on?

Aimee: Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I'll deal with it as soon as school gets in.

Mrs. Myller: See that you do. I don't want my son to get hurt.

Both log off.

8:07 a.m. PST, May 28

jenny4: What did you do?!

lilybear: What do you mean? I didn't do anything!

jenny4: Then why is the whole school suddenly convinced that they're going to see me read Dean's diary aloud, hit him a few times, and then break up with him?? You're the only one I told about being unhappy with Dean.

lilybear: I didn't tell anyone! I promised not to.

jenny4: Sure. Lily, I don't think there's any coming back from this -- for either of us. You can go and find a new best friend.

lilybear: What? You can't do that.

jenny4: I definitely can. Especially after Principal Linh called Dean and me into her office, and accused me of planning to do several things I had no intention of doing. Some of them were violent, Lily. You don't know how much it hurts me that you would break my trust that way.

lilybear: Look, I'm sorry. I texted Tommy, and he must have told some other people. It's fine! You can still be my friend, and we can both still be popular.

jenny4: That's all you care about. Not me, the popularity? I've had enough.

lilybear: Jen --

jenny4 logs off.



5:49 p.m. PST, May 28

jenny4: Dean, I'm so sorry. I don't know what happened, but I wasn't going to do any of the awful things they're saying.

deanthequarterback: I believe you, Jen.

jenny4: Except for one thing. I need you to know the truth.

deanthequarterback: ...

jenny4: I did tell Lily that I might be interested in another guy. But I changed my mind. I'm perfectly happy with you, Dean.

deanthequarterback: ...another guy?

jenny4: Yeah. Sorry. I'm not interested in him anymore.

deanthequarterback: It's okay. I believe you. I love you, Jen.

jenny4: I love you, too.