Chapter 10

The next day I called Veronique and told her about what I wanted to do about telling Zak about the whole Courtney thing. We decided we couldn't do it alone, and recruiting Billy for his computer editing skills in order to help make this plan work. The night the guys got back, Veronique told Nick and I told Aaron what was going on and what the plan was. So the next day, Veronique told everyone that she was going to throw a little get together at her and Nick's house. We made sure to have Zak invite Courtney to be a part of the celebration. It was so hard trying not to avoid Zak. Every time he would look at me I wanted to either scream in his face for being so blind to Courtney's indiscretions or run away and hide from him. I could tell he knew something was up, but I just didn't have the heart to tell him in person. The night before the party I decided to make a video diary for Zak to explain what happened and why I was going about this the way that I was, hoping it would be a good enough explanation for him to forgive me. I couldn't bring myself to send it until right before we put our plan into action.

Courtney was standing outside by the pool with Zak, Annabelle, and Nick. Aaron, Veronique, and I were in the living room discussing what we had to do.

"So, you and I are to run outside as if chasing each other then I shove Lynn into Zak so that they fall into the pool?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"So that way he has a reason to come inside WITHOUT her around. Once he comes into the living room after drying off, Billy will turn the TV on so that the video of Courtney at the restaurant will play as he's passing by. He'll stop and watch wondering what Billy is doing. Then Billy can tell him someone just randomly sent him the video. That way he will see for himself what Courtney was really doing while he was gone, while not fingering one of us as the culprit for the video."

"And you can't do this yourself because?"

"Because he won't believe it coming from me, but he will if it comes from you guys. Now let's do this before I chicken out." I said taking a deep breath for courage. "No! Aaron!" I screamed out running around the living room once before running outside.

"I'm going to get you!" Aaron taunted while "chasing" me across the yard. At first I went to hide behind Nick since he was at the grill to make it look legitimate before going across the pool to Zak.

"Help me!" I pleaded, looking at Aaron.

"What's he trying to do?" Zak asked.

"He wants to throw me in the pool."

"Ah. Well in that case," he side stepped so Aaron could have a clear shot at me.

"Ah!" I squeaked before getting back behind him, "If I go in, you're going with me."

"You think so?"

"I don't think Bagans. I know." At the last second, Zak side stepped Aaron so he could get me. I took a deep breath and braced myself for impact while holding onto Zak's shirt for dear life. The next thing I know I am surrounded by blue and white. I quickly swam up to the surface so I could breathe. I wiped the water out of my eyes and looked around to see Zak sloshing is hair back and forth. I did it.

After we got out, Veronique came out and brought us some towels to kind of dry off with before sending us inside to get some clothes. I went into the bathroom and just dried off with what I had on before going back outside to wait.

"Courtney?!" I heard Zak yell about five minutes later. I glanced over at Veronique and Nick. Here it goes. We all walked inside to see what he was yelling about, though we all knew.

"Yeah, Baby?" she asked in that sweet and innocent voice.

"What the hell is this?!" he demanded.

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about this! Play it again, Billy."

We all watched as the screen displayed Courtney sitting at Chili's with another guy, holding hands and then ultimately kissing.

"I-I don't know what you're talking about. That's not me."

"Sure looks like you," Nick commented.

"Don't, lie to me," Zak said, his voice menacing in its anger.

"I'm not lying. Who would have a video of this anyway? You guys were gone. Unless—" Courtney turned around to me, "You! You did this!"

"Me?!"

"I thought that was you at the restaurant. What? You didn't think I would notice two girls acting ridiculous in the middle of a restaurant with their cell phones high in the sky?!"

"That doesn't prove anything other than the fact that I was at Chili's with a girlfriend taking pictures. Anyone could have taken this footage."

"Oh so this video just happened to get into Zak's hands by divine intervention is that it?"

I shrugged, "Could be."

"Wait a minute! You SAW this going on?!" Zak looked at me incredulously, "And you didn't tell me?!"

"You never gave me a chance to!" I replied defensively.

"Me?! You're the one who has been acting all weird and giving the cold shoulder the past two days!"

"Even if I did get the opportunity to tell you I knew you wouldn't believe me. You would've just gotten mad at me for making false accusations! Well there's the actual proof that she's the lying cheating whore we all tried to warn you about!" I yelled out jerking my arm, palm up towards the television. Not wanting to cause a scene, I turned to Veronique, "Thanks for letting me come over. I'll talk to you later, okay?" I told her, all of the fight drained out of me.

"Okay," she said concern coloring her words.

I walked to the end table by the couch to grab my purse and keys before heading towards the door.

"Where are you going?!" Zak demanded once I reached the door.

I retaliated in anger, "What do you care?! It's not like you consider me a friend anyway!"

"Lynnette!"

"Goodbye!" With that I walked out the door and to my truck. I drove home as fast as I could, on the verge of breaking down. I got to the top of the stairs before my vision became too blinded by tears to see. I leaned against the front door and cried my eyes out, not caring who saw me or what they thought of me.