Chapter 19:

-

"You WHAT?" Wayne spat in disbelief. James crumbled under his tone, fidgeting his feet in the grass. He suddenly wished he hadn't taken Wayne somewhere private to talk. Thankfully, there was the occasional passers-by out on the quad, where they stood.

"I don't know how it happened…" James said desperately. "Bee and I have always been great friends… something just clicked, is all."

Wayne stepped up to James's face.

"If you weren't one of my best friends I would so hurt you right now."

"Com'on, Wayne, I feel bad enough already. Why do you think I told you first? Besides, it's not like you could go for her anyway, Mr. Married Man."

"That is completely not the point," Wayne said, thrusting an accusing finger at him. "I've been after Bee since birth."

"Can't say the same for her."

Jimmy spotted Glenn making his way over, but both boys ignored their short friend.

"Low blow, Jimmy," Wayne warned. "You're treading on thin ice with hot blades…"

"Hey, guys, what's going on?" Glenn greeted them cheerfully.

"What, if you can't have her no one can?" James snapped.

Glenn, sensing fireworks, immediately directed his gaze elsewhere, saying:

"Wow, look at that fine tree over there…"

"Dammit, Wayne," James went on as if Glenn never even existed. "I don't need yours or anyone's permission but Beatrice's! So just back off!"

Wayne finally resorted to shoving his friend.

"You back off!"

James looked shocked that Wayne would have the gall to choose violence on him. Not one to be overpowered, James shoved him back. Glenn immediately rushed over to stop the inevitable.

"Guys, GUYS!" he protested. "Let the lady choose, huh?"

Wayne and James both seemed to think that was a fair idea.

"Yeah, we'll let her choose," Wayne said threatening. "I'll charm the socks off her. Just don't cry too much when she chooses me."

"Oh, yeah?" James countered. "Too bad I have the advantage… you know, being MINUS the ball and CHAIN!"

Wayne turned his back on him and stormed off.

"Yeah, we'll see, Jimmy, we'll certainly see."

-

Rosalind took a big bite out of her hamburger at lunch the next day. Glenn was currently sitting across from her Indian-style on the bench with a baby-name book, reading in deep concentration.

"I feel like I've turned into the peacekeeper," Glenn complained. "All my friends have gone bananas."

"Love does strange things," Rosalind said with a sweet smile. "At least from what I've seen. Who knew I'd find help with my situation in such an unlikely place as you?"

"Who knew, indeed," Glenn said absentmindedly. "How about Ashley?"

"Too common."

"Serene?"

"Too obscure."

"Jacqueline."

"Too French."

Glenn lowered the book from his eyes.

"Well, what would you suggest, Rosie?"

"Maybe you shouldn't read that in public," Rosie said, glancing over her shoulder nervously. "Someone might see."

"So?"

Rosie cast him a look, as if he should know the answer already himself.

"Sooo-- I don't want to be known as the knock-up."

"But it wasn't your fault…?" Glenn asked in genuine confusion. "Rape-pregnancy isn't the same thing as getting knocked-up."

"It's all the same to them," Rosie muttered. "I'm just not ready to be exposed yet. They'll know soon enough anyway, when I start to show."

Glenn conceded to her wishes, and stuffed the book back into his bag.

"As you wish, my dear."

Rosalind decided it was time for a change of subject, and glanced around the room for inspiration. She saw Joe, sitting at a table alone with a strange blonde.

"Joe seems pretty happy," Rosalind pointed out.

"Yeah, the happiest I've ever seen him," Glenn agreed. "I hope it lasts. No one deserves happiness more than him."

-

Delilah stroked Joe's hand affectionately as Joe finished up his lunch. They sat in silence together, something they often did, with words flowing in the air around them that they could only pick up on. It was a mutual understanding, deepness they could solely decipher. Joe wouldn't have it any other way.

"So you never told me what you wanted for your birthday?" she stated. "Three days away and I still haven't gotten you anything."

Joe shrugged and smiled at his girl.

"I'm sure you'll think of something."

"I'm afraid for your Ascension," Delilah said. "You seem tense about it too."

Joe sighed.

"It's my dad. I have a feeling he has something phenomenal planned… big in a bad way."

"You're paranoid," Delilah hugged his arm reassuringly. "Whatever it is, I'll make it worth your while in the end."

"Ooh," Joe said, his eyebrows shooting up at her hints. "Does dear Delilah have something phenomenal planned herself?"

"Let's just say, it'll be a night you won't forget."

"Those plans will have to be postponed," a voice said in front of them. Both Joe and Delilah turned to see Meredith leaning her weight on the table, her hands planted on either wide of Joe's plate. Her low cut dress made her chest directly in Joe's line of sight.

"You'll dump the lady now, or later," she went on. "Your choice."

Joe smirked at her threats, suspecting they were empty.

"Good one, Meredith. And I'll break the Covenant up while I'm at it. I tried to be patient, but you're really starting to get annoying. I suggest you find someone else to latch onto. It'll do you good."

He got up to leave, deciding the conversation was over.

"I gotta hit the library before it closes," he said, pecking Delilah on the cheek as he grabbed his jacket. "I'll catch you later."

"Always," Delilah agreed.

Meredith folded her arms and raised an eyebrow at this, hating the fact that they weren't taking her seriously. She scowled at Delilah as she also made to leave.

"Tramp," Meredith mumbled at her back.

Delilah stopped, and turned to face her.

"What did you call me?"

"I know what you are," Meredith said, getting in her face. "And soon, everyone else will too."

Meredith suddenly jumped on the nearest table.

"Can I have everyone's attention?" she waved her arms to be sure of it. Delilah stood still, paralyzed in shock.

"Oh, my God…" she breathed in horror.

Meredith didn't know… she couldn't know… could she?

People around began to murmur amongst themselves, halting whatever they were doing to pay attention.

"This girl right here--" Meredith said. "This one right here—ladies and gentlemen… I give you the WHORE for HIRE!"

Off near the exit of the cafeteria, Joe stopped immediately in his tracks.

The murmurs turned into gasping hisses, whispers in shock. Delilah hid her face and began to rush from the room.

"Don't believe me?" Meredith said. "I'll prove it."

Suddenly she jumped off the table and grabbed at Delilah. With a few swift jerks, she yanked Delilah's long black coat right off her back, revealing it all, the netted tights, the skintight vinyl, even the small whip at her hips. The room fell silent. Joe dropped everything and ran full speed in their direction.

"That's right," Meredith assured her audience. "Delilah the slut… or should I say Roxanne? That's your whore name, isn't it, Delilah? Does that name make them more turned on, or what?"

Meredith stood victoriously beside her work, her hand on her hips and her face twisted into a crooked smirk. Delilah shamefully tried to cover herself with her hands, her eyes filling with tears.

"DAMN you, Meredith!" Joe snapped at her, snatching Delilah's jacket from her evil clutches and draping it over his girlfriend's shoulders.

"It's okay, Delilah," Joe whispered in her ear. "We'll get out of here."

He held her close to his chest, shooting Meredith one more harsh glare before herding Delilah out of sight.

Meredith dropped her shoulders in surprise. Joe knew? And he still dated that slut? She had imagined this going quite a bit differently in her head. Now, Joe hated her even more than before. What a disaster.

At least one good thing came out of it: the whole school knew what Delilah was, and Joe would always be known for dating the harlot. Their relationship would be in dangerous waters from now on, for sure.

-

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Signed,
--RedRogue