Hi, I just want to let you know that I made a mistake on the last chapter. When Artie said the anonymous text came after Glee practice, I meant to say it came "last night". So to make things clear, the text came at night, so after Gina and the rest went to Breadstix. Sorry for the mistake!
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
"YOU!"
Ryder jumps as Gina storms inside his classroom and bangs her hand on his desk. She glares at one student who is sitting in front of the class, and barks an order for her to get out. The kid scrambles out of the classroom, hugging his textbook and pencil to his chest.
"Dude, chill out, what's going on?" Ryder asks innocently, which makes Gina burn even more.
"How could you do this to me?!" she yells at him. "I trusted you! Told you everything! I thought you were my friend but how could you?!"
"Whoa, back up for a second," Ryder gets on his feet. "What are you talking about, Gina? What exactly have I done?"
Gina feels like her head is going to explode. "So you want to play this with me? You want to play the 'I'm innocent and I don't know what is going on' card?" she tries to keep her voice steady, but she is on the verge of shouting.
"I don't know what's going on," Ryder keeps on saying. "What is it? Did I forget something I promised to you? Did I accidentally say something to insult you?"
That's it. Gina can't handle it anymore. "You told the whole school about Jake!" she screeched, trying not to punch him. "You told everyone, everyone, especially the Glee kids!"
"What?" Ryder gapes at her. "What the – I didn't, Gina! I didn't say anything, I swear!"
"Liar!" Gina accuses, tears falling down her face now. She hates herself for breaking down in front of him. She is disgusted with herself. "You were the only one who knew, Ryder! No one else does! And all those mean things you said about me on the text, and Marley… oh gosh, how could you do that to Marley? Now she thinks I'm a backstabber and a liar and a fake. She hates me, Ryder! And now Jake will hate me too, and so will everyone else on the Glee club, all – because – of – you!" She lands a punch on Ryder's stomach with every word. Her hands are shaking and her face is burning. Burning with shame, with inexplicable rage.
"What text are you talking about?" Ryder is still completely at lost. He can't believe what Gina is saying now. "Gina, I swear, I have never told anyone about Jake…"
"No use lying now!" Gina screams, shoving him away. "Is that why you weren't at Breadstix yesterday, huh? Did you make up that pathetic excuse of doing homework, when you were actually playing that sick, cheap trick on me? Were you laughing at me when you did it? At how stupid I was?"
"I really did study last night, Gina," Ryder says exasperatedly. "I had a paper to write. It's not even done yet. I'm doing it right now. Please, I didn't make that excuse up."
"I thought we were real friends. I thought you really liked me!"
"I do! What can I do to prove it to you?" Ryder's head is spinning. "Look, you said something about a text? Check my phone. There's nothing there. Nothing!"
"It came from an anonymous number," Gina spat. "It won't be on your stupid phone. You probably used another number."
"If it was anonymous then it could have been anyone!" Ryder says exasperatedly. "And why would I do this to Marley, huh? Why would I hurt her? I love her, Gina! I don't want to see her cry!"
"You were the only one who knew," Gina shakes her head, backing away. "I don't know, I don't know, but you were the only one who could have done it." She brushes some tears away. "Get away from me, Ryder. I don't want to talk to you again. I don't want to see you again. I hate you. I hate you, and I was wrong to trust you. You're nothing but a big fat liar."
"Gina, Gina stop!" Ryder calls out as Gina runs out of the classroom. "Gina! Wait! I didn't do anything!" He tries to follow Gina, but that girl is fast. She has disappeared in a second.
Gina is gone.
Oh no, things are heating up between Ryder and Gina!
Did Ryder really betray Gina?
P.S. I haven't told this before, but Who You Are is set somewhere after the episodes Feud and before Guilty Pleasures. FYI.