Chapter 13 - The Mistake

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It's getting late. Very late. It's almost three in the morning and Clay is still sitting on the ground staring at the playground. No one has walked even near the park. There's not a single human being out right now, and Clay is beginning to feel like he's being messed with. But he doesn't budge. He stays there. He continues waiting.

Until he falls asleep.

As the sun begins to rise, Clay begins to open his eyes. At first, he feels his neck in pain, but then quickly jumps to his feet when he realizes what happened. He runs straight to the playground and to the slide. The notebook is gone. He then runs to the tree, the camera is gone.

"Fuck!" He shouts.

Then he looks at his phone and it's 7 am.

"Fuck!" He quickly runs to his bike and heads home.

After sneaking into his room and getting changed, he has breakfast and goes to school. Every bit of him is freaking out. He can't sit still. His heart is racing. He knows that whoever has been texting them knows that he was trying to catch them. He doesn't know what they're going to do about it. Will they release everything they've got? Will they give them a punishment?

All Clay does know is that he needs to talk to Bryce. He knows that Bryce will have just the right thing to say. That he will know what to do. But Bryce was running late to school so they couldn't talk before class. They don't have a class together until after lunch, so he texts Bryce.

CLAY: Meet me at the shed at lunch

Bryce doesn't respond. Everything in Clay is telling him that something is wrong. He knows something is up, and though he doesn't want to admit it, he knows exactly what it is.

When lunch begins Clay nearly runs to the shed. And when he opens the door he sees Bryce just sitting on the couch starring straight ahead.

"Hey... " Clay is nervous.

Bryce doesn't say anything but just hands Clay his phone. On his phone is a video sent from the UNKNOWN number that shows Clay going into Bryce's closet, taking the notebook, and putting it in his bag.

"I'm so sorry! I'm so so sorry!" Clay sits down next to Bryce, who still looks forward. "I was going to tell you today. That's why I wanted to meet you here." He tries to get Bryce to look at him. "I knew they'd release the video if I didn't do it."

"Did they tell you not to tell me?" Bryce finally looks over.

"Well... um..." Clay thinks about it for a second. "Well no actually. They only told me not to read it." He feels so bad right now.

"I..." Bryce looks away and puts his face in his hands.

"I was trying to figure out who's been texting us. I think that's why they sent you that. I used a camera and tried to stake out the spot they wanted me to drop off the notebook." He moves to the other couch in front of Bryce. "They must've known I was there. They waited until I fell asleep and took the notebook and my dad's camera."

"Your dad's camera?" Bryce looks up at Clay. "Your poor father!" She shouts, getting angry. "We should start a support group for people who have their stuff taken by you and given to random creep."

"I deserve that."

"Thanks for accepting it." Bryce sits back.

"You know me. You know how sorry I am. I will do anything to make sure that your notebook never gets out. I will do anything to make sure you can trust me again."

"The problem is... I still do trust you. I don't want to, but for some reason I do. I know you'll do anything to fix this. And I know it isn't your fault. You were just doing what you had to. But..." Bryce stands up. "I think I just need some time."

"I understand." Clay stands up as well.

The two chimes from their phones echo in the silent shed.

UNKNOWN: Next time u try 2 find out who I am, everything will b released. But 4 now, u just get a punishment. Stay tuned.

"Great." Bryce says before grabbing his backpack and leaving the shed.

Clay just stands there, trying so hard to not hate himself too much. It isn't working. Clay's phone chimes.

UNKNOWN: In your opinion, who is Bryce's hottest friend?

Clay doesn't have to think hard about this. He is ashamed of it but knows exactly who it is.

CLAY: Monty

There is no response. Clay waits a while, but nothing.

"Shit."

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