Homecoming Scandal

By: CNJ

PG-13

4: The Cover-Up Is Over

Logan:

It was a relief to finally be on spring break. I needed to get away from the tension surrounding us, so I headed home to my family. So did most of the others in our group. I wound up giving Jana a ride home.

Her mom invited me in and we sat and talked a while. I noticed her mom and stepdad seemed a little tense and I wondered if they knew about the fight between Jana and Randy.

I guess they didn't because when Ms. Pinkerton asked how Randy was, Jana kind of mumbled that he was home with his parents. I stifled a grin.

"Did you two hear about a rumor flying around Connecticut U. about some of last fall's homecoming elections?" Mr. Pinkerton, who everyone called Pink, asked as he picked up that latest Bridgeport Post from the coffee table.

"Oh...God," Jana gasped. We came over and looked. Sure enough, there was a small article on it. Oh...God! If word gets around Bridgeport...better play it safe, act like...

"Well, we did hear something on it, but we don't really know too much about it," I shrugged, feigning innocence. I mentally thanked God that my parents didn't subscribe to the Bridgeport Post and hoped it wouldn't be in any of the other newspapers and that my parents wouldn't hear it from any of the other Bridgeport parents who had kids at Connecticut U. And there were a lot of former Burkeview High kids who went to Conn. U. I tried not the think of the field day Dad would have on it, especially if he knew I'd been implicated.


Melanie:

I was a little bit surprised to get an e-mail from Randy later on that night after I was back home with my parents. Randy had given me a ride home along with Gene earlier once classes let out for spring break.

(Randy) Quarterbackaol to (Melanie) Cheerlder67compuserve: Hey, Mel...did you see the Bridgeport Post? They have an article on the scandal. I hope this doesn't make us toast. Dad saw it and asked me if I knew anything about it. I played at being the bystander; I told him that I'd heard about it vaguely, but didn't really know what it was about. Thought I'd pass this on to you just in case your 'rents see it and ask anything.

Cheerlder67compuserve to Quarterbackaol: Thanks, Randy. I think I might need it; my parents get that paper. As it is, Mom's worried because she knows about my fight with Logan.

Quarterbackaol to Cheerlder67compuserve: Oh, God...you didn't tell her anything about Logan...?

Cheerlder67compuserve to Quarterbackaol: No, none of the scandal detail or his involvement in it, although I was a little tempted. But that would get all of us in deep sludge with our 'rents. I just told her that it was something really personal about where we were going for dates or something mundane like that.

Quarterbackaol to Cheerlder67compuserve: Let's hope that the others don't spill it all to their folks on us. Have you heard from Jana?

Cheerlder67compuserve to Quarterbackaol: No. And the stupid thing is, I know she's home for spring break. And naturally I know Logan is home too, but he hasn't spoken to me since our argument. This is getting depressing, so I'm going to log out. Good night, Randy. Thanks for offering me your shoulder.

Quarterbackaol to Cheerlder67compuserve: Thank you and good night. Talk soon, Mel.


Keith:

By the end of spring break, I figured that I'd covered Parker, Sara, Randy, Melanie, Logan, and the other's butts long enough. All's I was doing was getting myself deeper in trouble. Once I was called into the dean's office, I decided to tell the truth. After all, Parker and Sara had been on the voting committee.

"...they're my friends," I told Mr. Conway, trying to look regretful when I was called into the office. "So I hate to see them get into trouble, but it doesn't do them any good to let them completely off the hook, does it?"

"No, it doesn't," Mr. Conway stated. "And you either, Mr. Masterson."

"Whaaa...?" I had to struggle not to show that I was startled, taken off-guard.

"There's plenty of evidence of vote-tampering on your part, Mr. Masterson." Act responsible and repentant, I told myself. "Yes, I guess so and I'm really sorry," I tried to look regretful. "So, I'm prepared to accept any..." I tried to think up a word that would make me sound like I was really remorseful. "...consequences of any actions I did wrong."

"You should be," Mr. Conway said shortly. "Mr. Masterson, you may go now, and you'll be receiving a notice in the mail within two weeks regarding the disciplinary action taken against you."

"Yes, sir," I stood and headed out. I was surprised that my legs were shaking a little as I walked down the hall. Much as I hated to admit it, I was scared.