Chapter five, part 2
Chapter 5 Halloween Dance part 2 confession and lies
Angelica let Susie caress her cheek a little longer before gently removing her hand. As much as she enjoyed the moment, Angelica suggested they explore other options. "As much as I want to enjoy you caressing my cheek right now," she said shyly, "I think it would be best if we checked to see if the costumes fit before making any final decisions. We can't stay here too long since the Halloween store closes in five minutes."
She continued, "I mentioned that a new work schedule has been created. The boss said the higher-ups demanded changes due to multiple complaints and callouts. I'm not surprised by the slades given the recommended changes." She walked toward a fitting room, with Susie following closely behind her. "Could you please help me with my homework later tonight, Susie?" Angelica asked her.
"Don't worry, I haven't forgotten," Susie replied with a grin.
"Oh? You don't mind it as much as you claim, especially when I'm caressing your cheek. Any other time, you hate it, but the moment we're at your house or mine, it's a completely different story."
Angelica blushed at Susie's comment, her eyes widening. "Hey! We don't talk about that. It was only a one-time thing, and besides, you caught me off guard when I wasn't looking," Angelica replied.
Susie couldn't help but chuckle at Angelica's denial. "Mhm, whatever you say, Angelica. We're only here to pick out costumes for the dance before the big day, and I promise we'll head straight to your job afterward to check your new schedule, all right? Now come on; we have the whole afternoon together." Susie said, grabbing Angelica's hand and heading toward the dressing room.
Angelica and Susie were searching for a fitting room, costumes in hand. Susie couldn't shake the thought of Angelica's earlier reaction, wondering if the emotions she saw in her eyes were genuine. She understood the seriousness of the situation, but only time would tell how the conversation about Mary, Kate, and Brianna's blackmail would unfold when she revealed how she had discovered it two years later. After a few minutes of exploring different sections of costumes, they finally found the fitting room area. Susie and Angelica approached the counter to check into their fitting room." Good afternoon, ladies said the fitting room lady behind the counter. How many are we trying on she asked them.
"Four," replied Susie. "All right, Angelica, I'll wait outside while you try them on before I search for mine. If you need anything, call me, okay?"
Angelica nodded as she took the number tag from the counter lady and handed it to her as she entered the fitting room. Meanwhile, Susie walked from the fitting room area to look for a Halloween costume.
Later that same evening, Tommy, Chuckie, Phil, Lil, Kimi, and Dil were still discussing Susie's situation, wondering who had told her about the Thanksgiving drama. As they sat in silence, Chuckie finally broke the quiet.
"What do you mean she doesn't have any friends?" Chuckie asked, raising an eyebrow. "Angelica is the most popular girl in high school; surely her friends would take a liking to her, right?"
The others looked at Chuckie blankly, unsure if he was joking or being sarcastic. Before anyone could respond, his stepsister Kimi spoke up first.
"You can't be serious," Kimi replied, facing her stepbrother. She took a moment to explain. "What Lil means is that the people Angelica has befriended don't care about her feelings, including Mary, Kate, Brianna, and even the teacher, Coco LaBouche." Kimi paused before continuing. "How could you possibly not realize this after being in middle school for four years, especially after seeing it happen for five years as a Freshman and nearly a Sophomore? Chuckie, Susie, and Angelica only have one more year left before school starts next semester."
"Yes, of course, I'm serious," Chuckie responded. "I wasn't aware of this situation when it was happening in middle school. I was distracted by my schoolwork and balancing my personal life, and we had little time to fool around. Besides, even if I had known about it sooner, taking action would have been difficult because nobody would have believed us without evidence."
"Fair enough, I suppose. We must pass our classes to avoid falling behind," Phil said. "However, next time, Chuckie, please be more aware of your surroundings, especially when things are visible. We understand you've been distracted by schoolwork, but can we focus on the main issue before the Halloween dance? Susie is going to start questioning us once winter break begins."
"Phil is right," Tommy said, chiming in. "Susie will soon start questioning all of us. I was unprepared for the news about Susie finding out about the Thanksgiving drama from last.
November. As Kimi mentioned, how could Susie have known what happened last year when nobody has talked about it recently? Think about it: it has only been a year since we argued with Angelica, which lasted over 30 minutes and only added fuel to the fire. We completely ignored her for the rest of the semester, and then, out of the blue, Susie texted Lil to schedule a group meeting with all nine of us to reveal that she was aware of what had occurred. How could she possibly know about the Thanksgiving drama when nobody told her?" He paused, waiting for the others to respond.
Lil and the others began reflecting on the situation, wondering how Susie had learned about last year's drama so quickly—just two days later. Lil spoke up, saying, "That's the problem, Tommy. Nobody in our friend group, not even our high school friends, knew what was happening behind the scenes. If you want my honest opinion, no one has mentioned it to Susie, so you can rule us out.
The remaining suspects are Mary, Kate, Brianna, and possibly Angelica since she tells Susie everything. Of course, if anyone else has more information to share, we're all ears.m To answer your question about how Susie figured out the Thanksgiving drama within days or months, we must ask her ourselves. We have no idea if Angelica told Susie directly or if someone outside of school mentioned the conversation to her.
"Or maybe she brought it up during lunch while questioning Angelica about the matter," Kimi replied. She paused, then continued, "Either way, we need answers and them fast. But how do we get them? That is the real question."
" I might have a few Suggestions," Dil said. Since the five of you are no longer middle Schoolers but are now in high school, I could ask around the area if that helps. We know the town from the back of our heads, including our hangouts and regions, Dil added. I was going to mention Mary, Kate, and Brianna earlier, but that option was thrown out the window since nearly half the school doesn't interact with them.
"I don't know," Chuckie said, pausing before continuing the conversation. "Maybe we should wait until winter break, like Susie suggested. Who's going to bother answering our questions about Angelica? Her mother definitely won't, and the teachers at school aren't going to say a word either. Besides, it's none of their business what goes on in other people's personal lives. What if we end up getting involved in someone else's affairs?"
"We're already involved in someone else's business," Chuckie said, looking at Phil.
Pil continued, "Waiting three months would have been pointless if we had stayed in line two years ago without getting involved in Angelcia's problems. None of this would have happened if we had talked this out like adults. But here we are now, facing all these issues. So What's the plan, Tommy?" he asked him.
Tommy, Lil, and Kimi were surprised by Phil's unexpected comment and opinion about the situation. Phil usually made foolish remarks or sarcastic comments. Tommy finally spoke up after taking a few minutes to process what had happened. "All right, everyone, here's the plan," he said. "Starting Monday, Dil will gather any remaining information he can find. In the meantime, Phil, Lil, and Kimi will search the second and third floors, while Chuckie and I will start from the first floor and the Jim area, including our usual hangout spots."
Chuckie, Phil, Lil, Dil, and Kimi agreed with Tommy's plan and started preparing for their next move. Meanwhile, Susie and Angelica finished shopping for costumes at the Halloween store and went to Angelica's job before closing time. After a 10 to 15-minute walk from the Halloween store to Grab and Stars, they finally arrived at the building just as the rain began to pour outside.
Once inside, they admired the impressive decorations. As they entered, Chris, the cashier, noticed two more customers approaching the counter. He greeted them both with a warm smile.
"Welcome to Grab and the Stars," said Chris. "How can we help you today? Please wait a minute; it's Angelica Pickles herself! Shouldn't you be working right now? We could use an extra pair of hands," he joked.
"Hilarious, Chris," Angelica replied with a grin as she walked toward the counter with Susie. "We could use an extra pair of hands in the evening when we have many customers." She glanced at Spote and noticed a few new faces among the newcomers. "Are those the newbies?" she asked Chris, returning her attention to him. When did they start? Angelica wondered as Chris looked behind him, watching the newcomers clean up. He knew Angelica's question about when the newbies began working at Grab and Star.
" Oh, that's right. I completely forgot. I'm sure the boss, Chris, mentioned I told everyone during yesterday evening's meeting. When you were sent home early, the higher boss demanded that we hire extra hands once they found out during the past few weeks since the business started picking up Eddy, Johnny, and Justin, including a few others who had called out several times during business days and holidays so double that with 40 points totaled. This information took Angelica back by surprise. She replied, " Wait, Eddy, Jhonny, and Justin, including a few others, got fired? Two years after I said leaving Eddy in Chared was the worst idea the boss could have ever made, Johnny wouldn't stop complaining. Justin, please note that the tool was determined for termination from the beginning. That's wild since I had the last laugh, Angelica said with a grin. So, how did this all start? Angelica questioned.
Chris shifted his attention to the girls while the newcomers continued their tasks. He replied, "You're right about having the last laugh, but you also make a valid point about the boss putting Eddy in charge of the place." Johnny wouldn't stop complaining about his personal life, which felt like too much information, and Justin had been determined to get rid of him from the beginning. One could have seen this coming. Even now, I sometimes question why the boss made such a risky decision." Chris crossed his arms after finishing his statement.
Angelica and Susie were in complete shock, especially Angelica, who could hardly believe it. This revelation piqued Susie's interest. What Chris mentioned seemed to resonate with her more than with Angelica. They exchanged glances, both aware of what they were likely thinking before asking further questions. They turned their focus back to Chris when Susie spoke up first. "If you don't mind me asking, could you give more context about your boss making risky decisions Susie asked? She added," Why did your boss even hire them in the first place, knowing it was risky but also stupid?
Chris sighed when asked about the ongoing situation, mainly since the higher-ups had expressed concerns about the suspicious activity at the corner store. He replied, "It seems like I'm stuck in this conversation for a while." He continued, "As Angelica has pointed out over the past two years, leaving Eddy in charge was the worst decision the boss could have made." This situation began two years earlier, on Saturday morning, March 20, 2008, when business unexpectedly picked up in the middle of spring. We were informed yesterday that a meeting would be held within the store.
Flashback: Two years earlier, the. It was almost the downfall of Grab and Star.
Two years earlier, on Saturday, March 20, 2008, at 9 a.m., spring was beginning to settle in. Inside the Grab and Star Conner store, the winter season officially ended as everyone clocked in for work. Chris was standing behind the cash register when he heard a loud knocking at the entrance doors. One of the employees walked over to the locked doors and opened them to let Angelica in, allowing her to escape the cold breeze outside. After closing the doors, she made her way to the back. Once there, Angelica removed her jacket
and gloves, and Chris noticed her putting her belongings away as she clocked in for her shift.
"Good morning, Angelica," Chris said as he walked toward her. I didn't expect everyone to be here so early since we don't share the same schedule. He paused for a moment, waiting for Angelica to respond.
"Good morning, Chris," Angelica said. "It's quite unusual for a Saturday morning. I meant to ask you about this on Friday, but you weren't around." She explained that she had thought carefully about her question and was curious why everyone needed to be at work so early.
"Since we're on the topic, I think now is a good time to explain what the boss told me last night about why the morning staff needed to arrive early," Angelica continued, looking at Chris and waiting for his response. Chris raised an eyebrow at her question concerning the early arrival. He was surprised that Angelica hadn't been informed that the boss had hired an assistant manager.
He replied, "Perhaps someone should have informed you earlier, but we hired an assistant manager two weeks ago to take on various tasks while the boss is away. This decision was made as a precaution in case he becomes unavailable."
Chris took a moment to gather his thoughts before responding. Just as he was about to speak, Angelica interrupted him. "Before you continue, let me see if I understand this correctly," she said. "The boss thought hiring an assistant manager in the middle of spring was a good idea?" She raised her eyebrow as she questioned Chris.
Chris nodded slowly in response. "Yes," he said. "He told us to come to work early to meet with the entire staff." He wondered why their boss was asking them to do this. Business had just started to pick up, and they needed extra hands to make the place look successful.
As Chris finished speaking, Angelica stood there wide-eyed, realizing their boss had just doomed them all by hiring an incompetent assistant manager. She didn't bother asking any more questions about him and turned away in frustration. "Yeah," she replied, "I'm surrounded by risk-takers who can't even conduct background checks correctly. To add insult to injury, our boss has set us up for disaster. Nobody dared to question his logic at all."
Chris listened for five to ten minutes as Angelica vented about their boss's poor decisions. He wasn't sure if she was joking or serious. Finally, trying to adopt a serious tone, he said, "Besides, what could go wrong? I'm pretty confident in the boss's decision-making."
Chris spoke with conviction. "I'm sure you're confident enough. But lots of things could go wrong, Chris. Just wait and see if things go south. You owe me big time, understand?" Angelica said, her tone serious.
Angelica paused momentarily before continuing, "The last time you said, 'What could go wrong?' about someone working here or elsewhere, things only got worse." She pointed at him, emphasizing her point. "So you better hope I'm wrong because you'll pay for it if I'm not."
Chris nodded, knowing better than to provoke Angelica further—she had a very short temper. "Yeah, whatever you say, Angelica," he replied.
Before the conversation could continue, everyone in the store, both at the front and the back, heard the doors unlock. Their boss walked in with Eddy right behind him.
"Good morning, everybody. I apologize for the delay. I'm glad you all made it to work on time. I won't take up too much of your time since we open our doors in four minutes. Let's get straight to the point: as you know from last night, I left a note near the time clock announcing that we needed to hold a group meeting," he said.
He paused to ensure everyone was paying attention before continuing, "I understand that things can get rough around here, especially after our recent rush hour during the winter season. I couldn't be prouder of this team. I want to acknowledge the higher-ups, including Mysele, who hired Eddy and a few others to help balance the scheduling. I expect you to follow his orders as if they were my own when I am unavailable on my days off." Everyone nodded in agreement with their boss's words. Once the meeting concluded, Eddy introduced himself while the boss unlocked the doors and turned the closed sign to open.
During the past week and a half of March, the boss occasionally stopped by on his days off to ensure that Eddy managed the operations effectively while keeping up with orders and paperwork. It had been three months since the boss and the higher-ups hired Eddy, along with Angelica and the other workers who were already there. The scheduling changes when Eddy brings in Johnny and Justin. Still, Angelica, who had been with the company the longest, started to feel exhausted after the rush hours, especially since Eddy had been adjusting the schedule for two years straight. Two years later, Grab and Star began to struggle as the pressure mounted from multiple complaints, bad reviews, and overworked staff.
On the evening of September 16th, seven months later, after dealing with multiple complaints, bad reviews, and overworked staff, Angelica finally took a break after handling the last customer. She entered the break room and saw Chris sitting at one of the tables, watching videos on his phone. Angelica sat down across from him, burying her head in frustration. Noticing her unusual behavior, Chris contemplated whether he should break the silence. Finally, he spoke up, saying, "Um, are you all right, Angelica?" He waited for her reply. Angelica lifted her head and expressed her frustration. "Does it look like I'm all right, Chris?" she growled as she continued, "It's been two months since Eddy got hired as assistant manager and another two months since Eddy hired Justin and Johnny. It's all because of that stupid favoritism crap he has!" Angelica yelled. Chris didn't know how to handle the situation as Angelica carried on. "And you might wonder how I learned this, Angelica? Oh, it's pretty simple. Let's go down memory lane. From May through August, we kept getting nothing but multiple complaints from customers about strange behavior and idiotic comments from Justin after not doing his damn job! And cleaning around here after being told so many times," Angelica said, still angry. Chris finally said, "Whoa, I understand your frustration. Watch, you have every right to be frustrated," Chris said as he put his phone on the table.
He continued, "Now if you don't mind my asking, when did this favoritism start? As far as I remember, we addressed it before rush hour, and I didn't notice anything wrong other than Justin's idiotic comments. As Chris paused momentarily, he said, "Justin and Johnny have been doing their jobs when the boss is around." Just before Chris could say another word, Angelica interrupted him and said, "This favoritism nonsense he has! It started on April 5th, 2008, and continued into 2013! They called me up, saying, 'Oh, where are you? Please come in for work on my day off, damn it.' Then, I want to be slick and change my days around while he has nothing but piles of papers with an angry letter, even Emails! That he doesn't Check. Johnny never shuts up; they always argue on the phone, and it's like all three of them should've been faired! Over 40 plus points!
End of Flashback:
After what felt like hours, days, weeks, months, and even years, things spiraled out of control for two solid years. Eddy tried to cover up any loose ends that could have led to his termination due to the backlash he received from anonymous sources. Two years later, the boss and the higher-ups finally decided to check in on us, as some of us hadn't spoken to them directly about the situation. Chris paused for a moment before continuing.
Before long, they heard Angelica's loud outburst as she confronted Eddy, calling him out for all the lies he had told, the misinformation he had spread, and the emails he had withheld for so long. Even the boss and the higher-ups were unaware of these issues, and their concern escalated to the point where they decided to shut down the entire operation and demanded a complete statement.
I explained the whole situation from start to finish, detailing multiple complaints, bad reviews, overworked staff, and the favoritism system that Eddy had created. Once these issues were addressed—especially after Eddy nearly pushed Angelica and the rest of us to the brink of burnout—they decided to send Angelica home for a week of vacation. Additionally, they fired Justin, Johnny, and Eddy. Chris finished speaking, and there was a moment of silence before Susie spoke up.
"Honestly, I don't know whether to feel happy or disappointed that this issue has gone unaddressed for two years," Susie said, crossing her arms. "If you knew this had been a problem for so long, why did you wait until things went from bad to worse?" Susie looked at Chris, awaiting his response.
"That's the problem," Chris said, sharing his thoughts. "As soon as Eddy took charge, the others began discussing their issues with him. Eddy would twist our words and use them against us, which affected the candidates who wanted to work here, ultimately leading to their rejection."
"This is why nobody wanted to listen to Resone," Angelica interjected. "It's funny how I ended up having the last laugh. Anyway, what about my schedule?" she asked him.
"Oh, I forgot that the schedules, hours, and days had already been finalized," he said. The clipboard should be hanging up near the time clock. Angelica smiled joyfully upon hearing that her schedule had been switched around. She told Susie she would return to check her new schedule before leaving Chis and Susie alone as soon as Angelica walked Towers back. Before Angelica left, she introduced Chris to Susie.
" So you're the famous Susie Angelica mentioned during the job while working, " said Chris, who started cleaning around the cashier by reaching underneath to grab spray and paper towels. He continued, Sometimes Angelica would often Soliloquy to herself but didn't question why.
"Thanks, I never thought Angelica mentioned me that much," Chris replied. Susie commented that she was aware Angelica's secret crush was on her. "Being famous wouldn't define me personally since Angelica is the most popular girl in school," she added. Chris looked serious again as he said, "More like her guardian angel at best."
Susie raised her eyebrow, wondering what Chris meant by his comment. "May I ask why? What do you mean when you say Angelica would often soliloquy to herself? Is there someone you're hiding from me that I shouldn't know about?"
Chris sighed after realizing he had been caught. He carefully looked behind him to ensure no one, including Angelica, was paying attention before turning back to face Susie again. "Yes, I am one hundred percent hiding information. It all started when she was constantly stressed while working after Eddy, Justin, and Johnny's firing. Soon after, Radome girls began showing up, demanding Angelica's presence throughout the day." He paused, unable to figure out why the situation escalated.
During Angelica's burnout episodes, Susie allowed Chris to explain his side of the story entirely. However, something caught her attention about the Radome girls: Mary, Kate, and Brianna. She interjected, "Let me make sure I understand this correctly. The girls who demanded her presence every day were Mary, Kate, and Brianna. Why didn't anyone take action?" she growled.
"Whoa," Chris replied, wiping the sweat from his face in response to Susie's anger as he almost dropped the cleaning spar on the floor. "I understand that you're upset and have every right to be. We didn't take action sooner because we believed that Mary, Kate, and Brianna—the girls you mentioned—were her best friends. At first, we didn't have much information about the situation, but things spiraled out of control when we noticed the boss observing her condition. She was slowly working herself to burnout. Long story short, action was finally taken after the hospital and authorities were alerted. Her hours stayed the same, but her workdays were adjusted. That's all I know since the incident."
After Susie and Chris finished their conversation, the back doors opened, and Angelica stepped outside. After listening to Chris and better understanding the truth, Susie nodded. As she approached, Angelica noticed Susie patiently waiting for her. The two girls waved goodbye to Chris while leaving with an umbrella. After a long day, Susie and Angelica finally returned home. They entered the house and headed upstairs to prepare for bed.
On Monday morning, the high school was bustling with students Entering the building. Among them were Susie, Angelica, and Tommy. Phil, Lil, Kimi, and Chuckie approached the high school building, entering through the double doors. Everyone followed their usual morning routine: grabbing breakfast in the lunchroom, hanging out in the hallways, or heading straight to their lockers to prepare for the first period. Soon, the warning bell rang over the loudspeakers, signaling that students had exactly two minutes left.
After breakfast, Susie walked Angelica to her math class on the first floor. They hugged before parting ways, but Susie noticed that Angelica was reluctant to let go and didn't quite understand why. She felt Angelica lean her head against her for comfort. Angelica said, "Thank you for not leaving me alone this weekend," which made Susie feel appreciated. Susie then returned the gesture by leaning her head against Angelica's, knowing she had done her best to help Angelica feel better." You're welcome, Charlotte said Susie with a smile. " I wasn't planning on leaving your side. It didn't cross my mind this weekend, and it never will, Susie said as the warning bell rang. Now that Class is about to start let the students enter your math class. Susie added," Before I head to my first-period class, I want to discuss something with you, just the two of us, okay? Susie said, letting off Angelica to break the hug.
Angelica raised an eyebrow at Susie's comment and wondered what she could want to discuss when spending a weekend together. Right before Angelica could replay, the security guards patrolling the hallways told the remainder of the students to head straight to class before they got detention. Angelica watched Susie take off for Class right before Miss Rosenthal instructed Angelica to enter her classroom so she could bring the math lesson.
Inside Miss Rosenthal's math classroom, she sat at her desk and began taking attendance as the school loudspeaker turned on throughout the building.
The loudspeaker announced, "Good morning, students! I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend. Today, we congratulate our high school football team for bringing home the trophy where it truly belongs.
Next month is October, which means our Halloween dance is approaching. Ladies and gentlemen, come with your Halloween spirit! Tickets will be on sale during sixth-period lunch. Make sure to purchase them before the deadline; otherwise, you'll miss out, so don't wait until the last minute. Ticket sales will end on the 17th of October.
Once you purchase your tickets, you will receive paper details about the dance's location. That's all for announcements. Have a great day!"
After the morning announcements finished, Miss Rosenthal continued with attendance, noting which students were present or absent. She then stood up from her desk and walked around the room to collect the math homework she had assigned. As Miss Rosenthal gathered the assignments, Angelica's mind wandered. She was preoccupied with Susi's statement about wanting to have another conversation. What would they talk about? Angelica pondered, spacing out from her surroundings. After all, they had spent the entire weekend together while her mother was on a business trip.
Before long, Miss Rosenthal arrived at Angelica's desk and picked up her math homework. Noticing that her favorite student was lost in thought and not paying attention, Miss Rosenthal gently tapped Angelica's desk to get her attention.
"Angelica," Miss Rosenthal said, breaking through her daydream. "Is everything all right? I noticed you seemed distracted during the announcements this morning. Did something happen over the weekend?" She waited for Angelica to respond to her question. Before Angelica could reply, she snapped back to reality and looked up at her math teacher, which made her jump slightly.
"Oh, yeah," Angelica replied. "I'm sorry for worrying you during the announcements, Miss Rosenthal." She covered her face with her hands and took a deep breath. "Honestly, I don't know if everything is okay."
Miss Rosenthal nodded in understanding. "If I had problems, you would be the first person I confided in," she paused thoughtfully. "There's no need to apologize," Miss Rosenthal said with a small smile. "You are correct, sweetheart. I would want to hear about something bothering you or making you uncomfortable. I am responsible for what happens in this classroom, but we can talk more later, okay? Just remember, I am always here when you need me. Now, let's get started with our lesson."
Angelica was surprised by her math teacher's comment for the first time in ten years, as it felt like something a mother would say to her child. She understood that her mother wasn't the best, but Miss Rosenthal differed from her other teachers. She treated Angelica with respect and kindness and always showed her love. Sometimes, Angelica wondered what being Miss Rosenthal's stepdaughter would be like. She uncovered her face and nodded with a smile. However, little did Angelica know that her conversation with Susie was about to turn dark.
In October, Tommy, Chuckie, Phil, Lil, Dil, Kimi, Susie, Angelica, and other students hurried to buy their Halloween dance tickets just before they sold out. During the sixth-period lunch, a familiar person approached the ticket table and discreetly handed over the money to purchase the last two remaining tickets. This surprised the students who wanted to attend, as the person walked away with a slight smile on their face.
On the night of the Halloween dance, Angelica and Susie were in the bedroom getting ready, putting on their costumes and makeup to enhance their looks. Once they were done, Angelica transformed into a true vampiress with fake teeth, while Susie looked stunning in her vampiric attire. Susie couldn't help but admire Angelica's beauty in her costume and said, " I can't believe I am saying this, but Angelica, that vamper costume looks fantastic, "Susie said, blushing a bit. "You look good in everything you touch, honestly.
Angelica turned to face Susie, heading her comment about looking fabulous in everything she touches. She turned red and said, " Thanks, Susie. but let's be honest, we know you're the person who looks way better," in a shy tone. But about that conversation, you mentioned what exactly you wanted to talk about," Angelica asked Susie, now with a more concerned look. Susie knew she wanted to talk about the blackmail that Brianna, Mary, and Kate had started. She quickly replied, "Don't worry about that, Charlotte; after the Halloween dance I mentioned last month, I promise we talk differently about promises she responded. Now let's win ourself's a Halloween contest, Susie said, reaching for Angelica's hand.
Angelica took Susie's hand as they left the Halloween dance together as a couple. Susie and Angelica were dropped off at the high School by Alyssa while taking off. While entering the school building, music could be heard playing loudly inside the gymnasium located in the basement. While everyone was having fun enjoying themself, Susie and Angelica were on the other side of the gymnasium, staring at each other eyes and saying.
"Susie, there's something I've meant to say for a long time," Angelica said shyly, getting very nervous. She continued, "From the moment we first met when my aunt was pregnant with Dil, we became bitter enemies. However, as weeks, months, and years passed, you stood by my side through the good and the bad times." Angelica paused momentarily, adding, "I want to be your girlfriend, Susie. You're the only person I crave; I daydream about your soft lips touching mine." Before Angelica could get another word out, Susie leaned in, kissed her softly, and caressed her cheek. As Susie caresses Angelica's cheek while she leans close enough for their first kiss, Angelica's eyes widen, finally getting her dream girl and sharing an actual romantic kiss. Angelica slowly closed her eyes as she wrapped her arms around her waist, returned the favor, and kissed her back. Their lips locked with one another. After a good few minutes, Angelica and Susie broke the kiss and took a breather. Susie spoke up and said.
" There's no need to apologize, Charlotte Susie comments. " I figured you had a crush on me since we became friends over time, but to answer your question about wanna-be my girlfriend, my answer is yes, I'll be your girlfriend, darling Susie said.
Angelica smiled joyfully as Susie did the same, knowing they had finally become one. While the Halloween dance continued, Susie felt her phone vibrate in her pocket and wondered who had texted her. She told Angelica to head to the girls' bathroom.
Inside the girls' bathroom, Mary waited for the person who had asked to meet her there. After five to fifteen minutes, the unknown individual made their presence known. They said, "Glad you could finally make it! Mary was getting worried you wouldn't."
Mary waited for them to say something else, but that was it. She smiled, realizing the truth in their words and that she had kept her promise. "Don't worry too much," she replied.
"Getting here was no problem for me. As for Kate, she's too busy enjoying herself alone with Angelica, right, Susie?" Mary said as she turned to face Susie directly. Susie finally revealed herself as the unknown individual Mary had been talking to for the past few years.
"Yeah, I'm pretty sure getting there was no problem, especially since we were the ones who started this whole blackmail in the first place," Susie growled. She continued, "My girlfriend has been through enough hell and back ever since you all decided to make her life worse!"
"Yeah, and you don't think I'm fully aware of this behavior after dealing with Brianna's nonsense and Kate's family? I understand that we're both tired of this situation. I've provided you with all the requested information and am returning the favor now. What we did to those individuals was just collateral damage; they brought it upon themselves. I refuse to take full responsibility for their actions." Mary replied, taking a moment to collect her thoughts. Susie continued to listen to what Mary had to say about the whole situation. She understood where Mary was coming from since Susie found out that Kate's family had been nothing but toxic to their daughter. After a few minutes had passed, both girls were silent when Susie spoke first.
"All right, Mary, that's enough. Since you claim to be fully aware of this situation, I'll give you less than 15 minutes to explain how this blackmail situation started from beginning to end. That should be enough time. And remember, no one is allowed to enter the girls' bathroom," Susie said, crossing her arms as she finally calmed down.
After Susie settled down, Mary sighed and replied, "Fine, but before I explain myself thoroughly, you must learn about the person who created this organization." Mary walked toward a nearby stool, with Susie closely following her. Once they reached the broken stool, Mary opened the door. "Welcome to where it all began, Susie. This place has been abandoned for the past 20 years," Mary commented.
Susie raised an eyebrow at what Mary had just said. "Welcome to where it all began 20 years ago?" she echoed. "What does that mean, Mary? It's just a broken toilet stool that hasn't been fixed in years. Do you expect me to believe we can have a meaningful conversation here?"
As Susie continued speaking to Mary, she paused and pressed her hand against the wall, revealing something unexpected. The wall began to open, and the toilet was moved aside. A loud noise interrupted Susie mid-sentence, unveiling a hidden room. Her eyes widened in complete shock as the noise settled.
Susie stepped into the secret space Mary had revealed, her mind racing with questions about how Mary knew about this area and why she had kept it a secret for so long.
"What is this area, Mary? How long have you kept this from everyone else?" Susie asked, waiting for her to reply. "And more importantly, when did you have the time to build this?"
"It's pretty simple, Susie. As I mentioned earlier, welcome to the place where it all begins. For the past 20 years," Mary said, pausing to push a button that closed the entrance. "Welcome to the first location of the Unknown Shadows presentation room, where our Halloween dance is being held. I haven't told anyone about this, not even the school principal. The only people who know about the Unknown Shadows are the shadows themselves, the members who joined long ago, our current members, and Brianna, Kate, and me." They brought us here for the presentation so we could get registered in the system database.
Mary paused briefly, giving Susie a moment to process all the information she had just shared. Then she added, "We weren't the ones who built this place; the Unknown Shadows did. Everything in this room—the technology, the computers, and even the door—was constructed from scratch."
Once Mary concluded her explanation, Susie turned her attention back to her. After looking around for a moment, she replied, "From the article you read two years ago, after reaching out to me before the blackmail took full effect, the watch makes sense. Still, I've read everything in Angelica's diary, including what she wrote down. Am I missing something here?"
"Yes, Susie," Mary chimed in. "If you want to learn the truth, I suggest you listen to the audio logs before hearing my story."
After she finished speaking, Susie replied, "That's the problem. Wait, audio log?"
Mary nodded, confirming that Susie was correct. "Yes, audio logs, files, a presentation manual, and even a journal he left behind," Mary explained.
"Don't worry; we have plenty of time to attend the Halloween dance."
Susie couldn't help but grin at her comment and replied, "Oh? Plenty of time, huh?" looking forward to dancing with Kate before the contest started.
While waiting for Mary to respond, Susie noticed that Mary had turned away, her face slightly flushed from the comment. Mary finally replied, "Of course, we have plenty of time before the contest. We're lucky to have fun at prom so I won't miss my opportunity." She added, "Besides, the dances haven't started yet."
Susie then said, "All right, whatever you say. So, where should I start? The audio logs or the introduction?" Mary replied, "If you want to understand the situation, start with the introduction, followed by the audio logs. Once you finish the introduction, I'll guide you through the audio logs since they can be scattered." Susie nodded in agreement, ready to let Mary help her with the audio logs. Once that was settled, she made her way to the computer, where the audio log for the introduction was waiting. Susie reached for the audio log for the introduction and pressed play.
**Introduction Audio Log:**
"Hello, is this working?" a voice came through the audio log. It continued, "Wonderful! Greetings and salutations to you, the newest member from the outside world. My name is Tobias, and I welcome you to our original location. Here, members like you can receive training and learn the basics within a week or two, depending on how much time you invest to become an official Unknown Shadow.
You may wonder where I am during this introduction; I won't be present, as this audio recording is currently being played. But enough about that—let's get back on track.
As you enter this secret area, you, as the newest member, will be fully registered in the system using the computer in front of you. To your right, you will find a notebook with space designated for your login information once you open it. After you have entered your details, the computer will take care of everything else. You might be wondering why we have this notebook lying around instead of keeping it in a secure location in this room. That's quite simple: this room is heavily monitored by the best security you could hire. If any danger comes our way, it goes into a defensive mood and transforms back to its original state if the unknown guest tries to take us down.
Anyway, After that, a higher-up member will collect that data along with the information of the other members from the list on the wall, which will be marked with a checkmark. If you have any questions, please refer to the introduction manual and this log.
One more thing: the next time you visit, return everything to its original place so that the next person can find the belongings you used efficiently. Shadows have strict rules around here, and we only have one notebook. Make sure you read the rules and study them. Good luck, and I hope to hear from you soon."
The audio log ends.
Once the audio log ended, Susie picked it up from the table and returned it to its proper place. The room fell silent, and neither girl spoke to the other. Susie was lost in her thoughts about the information about the unknown shadows. Initially, she didn't realize how closely connected she, Kate, and Brianna were to everything, but Mary changed her perspective when she revealed the truth.
Soon, Susie made eye contact with the notebook and wondered how many members had joined the group. As she reached for the notebook and opened it, she was surprised to find a list of names of each member associated with the unknown shadows. She flipped through the pages, reading names like Tobias, Alexander, Zach, James, Mark, Logan, Samantha, and Josh.
Finally, Susie spoke up, saying, "Unbelievable! Who would've thought the unknown shadows would go to great lengths to find new members? You'd think it would stop at two, but with eight already—and if they add three more—it'll be quite a sizable group." She continued to look through the notebook, intrigued.
Mary and Susie agreed that the unknown shadows could offer excellent connections for new members. Mary had already gathered this information from the audio logs when she inquired with one of the higher-ups about the real reason for their group's extensive membership. She said, "I was shocked by what I learned. When I questioned the higher-ups about why so many members joined, I discovered that half sought payback against others, while the rest were driven by revenge." Susie's eyes widened at Mary's revelation about the motives of payback and revenge. She turned to Mary, saying, "Half sought payback against others, while the rest were driven by revenge! Susie yelled out of anger and frustration. She closed the notebook and placed it back on the computer table. " what made them think joining this organization would solve their problem Susie asked.
Mary took a deep breath to collect her thoughts before saying, "Instead of explaining this whole situation from start to finish, I'll let the audio logs speak for themselves because everything will make sense in the end."
As Susie approached the main table, leaning against the intern's wall, she watched Mary with curiosity about what would happen next. When Mary reached the table, she pressed a button underneath it, causing the table to open from the bottom. To Susie's surprise, a second computer emerged from beneath the floor, large enough to display everything. Mary leaned into the laptop, and Susie observed her as she focused on her task. After a few minutes, Mary successfully pulled up files and audio logs from various dates.
Meanwhile, they could hear people entering the bathroom, accompanied by loud music from the gym. Mary sensed that Susie was either watching her or preoccupied with something on her mind, especially since the whole drama had begun over the race for class president. Breaking the silence, Mary said, "Look, I might not fully understand what's going through your mind, but judging by your actions, it's clear you're frustrated."
Mary continued organizing the files and audio logs as Susie sighed at her comment. "Honestly, I don't think 'frustrated' is the correct term for how I truly feel about this situation," Susie replied. Mary listened patiently as Susie paused to gather her thoughts.
After a moment, Susie added, "I've known Angelica since we first met as babies. As we grew up, I noticed that something about her changed. I remember this clearly from our middle and high school years. Her mother wasn't the best parent, and considering the number of arguments they had over two to six months, it was evident that this was not a typical daily situation." As more people began to notice, rumors spread throughout the neighborhood. From what I heard soon after, things became quiet for unclear reasons. Deep down, I was uncertain about how she would react after this conversation after the dance. Susie said as she finished speaking her thoughts.
As Mary listened to Susie talk about her conversation with Angelica and how rumors spread throughout the neighborhood and town, she finished piecing everything together before returning her attention to Susie.
"Honestly, I feel the same way. I'm unsure how Kate will react when I tell her that I'm the one who went behind everyone's back and shared every piece of information with you. She will be upset that I know, but what's done is done. I am tired, and this nightmare needs to end one way or another.
In your case, however, nobody knows Angelica better than you, and I can tell you this much: she will be very emotional," Mary said. After silence, she continued, "I sincerely apologize for dragging you and Angelica into this mess over this class president drama that Brianna became so obsessed with. I'm sorry we caused Angelica to experience complete burnout with our selfish actions. Brianna threatened us, saying that if we didn't help her achieve her goals, then Kate and I would be next on her list for crossing her and the group.
All I'm asking in return is for you, Susie, to do whatever you have planned. Please expose every last person involved." Don't let them continue to destroy more innocent lives who don't deserve it, Mary said.
Susie took a moment to consider Mary's apology regarding Brianna dragging her and Angelica into the class president election drama. Susie felt frustrated by their selfish actions and was coerced to follow Brianna's orders. Once she collected her thoughts, she replied, "As much as I want to lash out at you, Kate, Brianna, and even the members —over what happened, I realize it's important to address this calmly." She paused momentarily before continuing, " So of the kindness of my heart, I'll make sure that you and Kate get out of this whole drama in one peace. That's a promise. Susie replied.
Mary nodded in agreement with Susie for getting her and Kate out of this drama in one peace. After the girls settled their agreement, Mary played the first audio by pressing play on the table computer.
Audio Log, Day 7: Friday, January 8th
It's been tough lately. I wonder if lying about having a secret organization was the right choice, especially when dealing with Jonathan. I missed my chance to ask Samantha to the Halloween dance last year, but someone always seemed to be in my way! Everywhere I go, her fanbase pushes me aside like I'm some low-class, unpopular student. I Am ten times better than those losers but don't worry. Soon enough, my plan will come into motion, and soon enough, I'll make sure that Jonathan pays for his actions for taking Samatha away from me!
This is the end of the Audio log for day 7. Once the Audio song was finished, she played the next one on the table computer.
**Audio Log, Day 15: March 13th, Friday Evening, 7 PM**
High school field trip: "Come on, please turn on!" the voice said, trying to get the recorder to work. After a while, it finally started, and the voice continued, "Perfect. As usual, today didn't go as planned because he kept waiting. What was that noise?" The sound of footsteps could be heard outside the hotel bedroom. The voice resumed, "It doesn't matter because now I believe we messed up big time. All because Brianna overheard conversations during this trip, and I'm afraid this might all end soon enough." I worked so dam hard and now looked at the mess they made. Ugh, no worries, I can fix this watch at Prom.
End of Audio log for Day 15; March 13th Friday Evening, 7 PM**
The final audio log plays.
**May 20th - High School Prom, 8 PM, inside the bathroom:**
*High school prom bathroom:* "Ah! This can't be happening. All that hard work has gone down the drain, Johnathan! Now, thanks to Brianna, who snitched on all of us that night, I will get suspended. Wait, please! It wasn't me; Johnathan started this!"
After leaving the bathroom, the audio log ended when it dropped to the ground. Mary said, "The voice you just heard in this audio log was Timothy. He was a former student who befriended Johnathan in music class, where they first met." This dynamic changed when Samantha appeared; everyone was captivated by her looks and how she talked and walked, which earned her respect and kindness from the people around her. As Susie began to listen to Mary, she continued to speak." but that all changed when both Timothy and Johnathan had feelings toward Samatha, and when word came out about the people who liked her, fights, arguments and all-out war broke out over one person that folks loved.
Susie's eyes widened in disbelief as she listened to Mary. "Let me get this straight," she said. "This whole organization started because Timothy was jealous of Jonathan for stealing Samantha away from him?"
Mary nodded and added, "Exactly. Not only was Timothy jealous of Jonathan over Samantha, but that jealousy was the reason this group was formed in the first place. Timothy wanted revenge and was determined to repay Jonathan for taking his girl. Samantha was out of his league, and he tried to go after Brianna after she rejected him. That led to Timothy getting expelled from school, being kicked off the football team, and losing his position as class president."
"Out of everything, they are fighting over a girl, which leads to conflicts between the towers. Eventually, Brianna takes charge of the towers and gets expelled from school," Susie said. "Honestly, Timothy should be held accountable for his actions. He should have realized the situation sooner but chose his path. Don't worry; he will pay for it one way or another. Brianna told Kate, and I informed everyone about what happened and what she did to ensure that Timothy was kicked out of the group for good."
After Mary explained the situation to Susie, she downloaded all the information from the computer onto a USB hard drive.
Mary saved the necessary files before both girls entered the secret area. She logged off and grabbed her notebook, closing the door behind her as the wall returned to normal. Mary and Susie made their way back to the gym. Angelica noticed Susie walking toward her and grabbed her hand so they could start dancing together.
Later, each student involved in the event was called to the front during the Halloween dance. Every student voted for who had the best costume of the year. Once the results were announced in the winter, Angelica and Susie were awarded first place for the best Halloween costume.
After the dance ended, the students were picked up by their parents and guardians and headed home. Susie and Angelica held hands as they returned home for the night.
Meanwhile, back at Angelica's house. Both girls had taken off their makeup along with the costumes. As this happened, Angelica was sitting on the edge of her bed, waiting for Susie to return from the bathroom and for the conversation she mentioned. Not long after, Susie entered the bedroom, closing the door behind her and saying,
"All right, about that conversation," Susie began. "I mentioned we would have another talk after the Halloween dance." She took a deep breath, released it, and continued, "Charlotte, this might be difficult, but understand that I'm fully aware of the blackmail and mistreatment you've experienced from Mary, Kate, and Brianna at school and work. Why didn't you tell me the truth, Charlotte? Why did you lie about not getting grounded?" you understand I could've done something before this started in our third year of high school, babe. Susie said, looking at Angelica with a sad face.
Not long after, Angelica was left in tears, sobbing heavily as Susie learned the truth about Angelica's blackmail at the hands of Mary, Kate, and Brianna. "I'm so sorry," Angelica said between sobs. "Mary, Kate, and Brianna would ruin my life if you intervened. They would make my life a living hell, all because of the class president election I won from them. The only reason I lied is that my mother is selfish and demanding. I've spent days, months, and years trying to make you proud of me. I'm so tired of her and this blackmail," Angelica confessed, crying.
Susie walked over to her girlfriend's bed and hugged her tightly, allowing Angelica to release ten years of pain and stress that had been building up inside her. Eventually, Angelica cried herself to sleep while Susie lay beside her, holding her in her arms. "I've always been proud of you, babe; I never thought otherwise," Susie said, tightening her embrace while Angelica cried.
End of chapter.
Hello everyone, welcome back, my nightmare readers. I hope I didn't keep you all waiting too long, but before we push forward, I sincerely apologize for the lack of weekly uploads. My reason is that this chapter was going to be released around July or August, but I changed my mind at the last minute cause I wanted to make it look good enough by the time it's officially completed. Anyway, if you have enjoyed this story so far and want more, leave a like and comment. Until Chapter 6, see you guys later.