Chapter 72

***Chrissy***

~

08:28 pm,
Dayle has got to be kidding me, how could he be so reckless? Even to one of his best friends? This is the height of betrayal, it is unfair. Fuck! I comb my hair backward.
If he could do that to Steve then who am I? What are the chances?
The reactions flooding the schools’ blogs are erosive. I've watched the video twice, it's like that of Dayle, Steve’s face isn't seen seem but we can identify him. The irony of this entire situation is alarming—to me, Lauren’s face is vivid... There's this part where she's sucking his dick and all that shit involved. It’s not nice for such a thing to go viral, especially amongst students, the students’ blog isn't a porn hub. This is bothering me like I'm the victim, it's hurting more to know that Dayle is involved in this.
I hate this.
My phone starts ringing, it's a group video call from Elle and Ken. I answer it without hesitations.
“Seriously, what the eff is wrong with your brother? He LEAKED Steve’s sex tape?” Ellen starts scolding
“How did it happen? Did you know that he had the video?” Ken asks
“What's wrong with y'all, if I knew a thing I would have... No, I wouldn't say shit but I'm not even in support of that. I'm mad, I'm feral.” I explain to them almost raising my voice. “I can't believe that Dayle did that,”
“But he did!” Ken snaps
“But maybe he couldn't have done that, I mean—”
“Hold up Chriss, don't start with the defense mechanism!” Ken interrupts me. “You should know that Dayle is mischievous. I bet Molly cusses the day she met him!”
“Ken, Molly is a nice person...” I add indignantly
“Everyone is nice in your eyes.” Ken blurts angrily. Why is he acting differently? “Open your pretty eyes, Chriss!” he almost yells raking his hair backward.
“Do you have an issue with me, Ken? What do I need to open my eyes for? That's very disrespectful!” I tell him but he's pursing his lips suppressing his words.
“Guys fucking calm down, okay? What's all this about? We are here to discuss Dayle’s matter because you, Chrissy, are his sister and we are concerned about the whole thing. Of this could happen to Steve, it might happen to—”
“Ellen, don't say that. Egan or Dayle would never do that to me, keep me out of it!” I snap, why would she conclude things like that?
“This entire Facetime idea is a fucking not working... I just gotta go! Sorry guys!” I tell them, Ken disconnects without a word. Ellen and I stare into the screens, shocked.
“Okay, that wasn’t funny.” Ellen snaps. “We were meant to like... ask a few things that could have led to Dayle’s actions... Did they argue? You're close to the guys better than any Hemsville student!” she adds
“I fucking swear that I know nothing! We had gone out with Dad—we returned not quite long.” I explain
“So... Why is Ken mad at you? He's never mad at you!”
“I... I don't know! You witnessed everything... I know nothing!”
“Turning up tomorrow?”
“Sure. I promised Amber, she's feginayeky expecting me.”
“Alright! I'm gonna let you cool off, we'll sort things out by morning. I love you, girl!”
“I love you too girl, good night!” I disconnect the call tossing my cell phone on the sheets.

I enter the shower room, and after ten minutes o step out. I prepare for bedtime since it's been a hell of a day. I hear a soft knock on the door, I know that it isn't Dayle. He knocks swiftly and barges before I reply—he’s used to that behavior. Nonchalant and carefree. Dad plops his head through the fraction before he enters totally.
“Hi Da-Dad, did you need something—you know that you could just ask for my presence and I'd come!” I step out of bed but he motions with his head for me to remain there. He smiles at me and I return the gesture.
“I came to see my daughter, isn't that the duty of a father?!” he teases as we both smile. He sits next to me cupping my face swiftly. “You have the eyes of your mother!”
He causes me to blush. I look exactly like my mother.
“Thanks!”
“I'm concerned about you, are you sure that you're okay? I notice your reaction when you discussed with Dayle, did he do something… I’ll apologize on his behalf and call him to order—“
“That’s far from it, Dayle has been nice to me! He’s very caring, he loves me!” I tell him truthfully. He gives me a smile taking my hands into his fatherly palms.
“Dom has told me a lot about you two and how perfectly you both get along. I'm very stunned that he listens to you all the time... Dom gave me instances—even at breakfast. You are an angel, at least, he doesn't cause so much trouble like he used to. Thank you for coming into our lives—for accepting me as your father. It matters to me!” he gently pulled me in for a hug, it was safe and secure.
“Thank you, Dad!” this is the right time to ask for permission for Amber’s party. “Uh... Dad,”
“Yes princess, what do you want? Say it and you'll get within a snap...”
“Oh no Dad, I have everything... Like everything is in check!” I remind him but he chuckles.
“So tell me, what did you want to ask then? Or did you wanna know how much I love you??? Ah, I love you more than you can ever imagine!” he teases snuggling my cheek, I crack up instantly.
“It's not!” I clear my throat. “The school’s female senior prefect will be throwing a party tomorrow by 5 pm, I wanted to uh... know if I uh...”
“Go ahead my princess, I'll make sure that Bobby drives you and picks you up afterward. Is that okay?”
“More than okay, thanks, Dad!” I hug him instantly. When I first saw him, I thought that he'd never smile but he’s the opposite of what I thought. He's very sweet, caring, and a perfect father.
“Okay, I'll you rest! Your mother is waiting on me...” he says he rises and then places a kiss on my forehead before heading to the door. He exits but I hear him talking to someone.
“...Oh, bad kid. Have you been eavesdropping?”
“...Dad, that's hilarious. I wouldn't DO that. I just wanna have a good with her, I offended her...”
I hear them mutter but the rest of the words weren't clear to my hearing. The last person I want to see is Dayle, I don't want to see him at all.
My eyes are fixated on the door until I see him walk in wearing a blue armless short and black combat shorts. His hair is ruffled as always when we jam eyes—I look away while he closes the four behind him.
“You should know that I don't wanna talk to you—”
“And I can't stand you not talking to me!” as cocky as ever, isn't hr shameless over what he had done? He pulls the chair next to the reading desk and sits on it. His eyes are heavily gaping at me. Now, why is he staring at me like that? I survey my body, and the top I'm wearing is covering my body, no skin is left uncovered except for my arms and lower thighs.
“Stop creeping!” I snap before I could swallow the words.
“Why are you mad at me?”
“Why am I mad at you?” I scoff flipping my hair behind. “You did wrong. You were so wrong to have hurt a friend. At first, it was Molly and now you leaked Steve’s video, what else can you not do? Maybe you'd be onto Egan and that includes...”
“Enough Chriss, enough!” he yells but regrets it instantly. I know that I prompted him to do so. “If anyone would distrust then it should not be you—I trust you with my life on it!” he says trying to keep his low. His coldness is sinking deep into my streams. “I would NEVER do such a thing like that. I love Steve, he's a brother to me and not to mention you—it’s not me who will do that to you or Egan... I'd rather die—”
“Dayle?”
“Believe me, I didn't do it! I'm here to explain things to you, maybe you'd at least believe me but it seems like I was wrong to have thought so.” he rises to leave. Fuck! I was wrong to have concluded.
“Dayle, I'm sorry. I was scared... I mean, I was scared for you and the things people are saying about you! Deep down, I know that you wouldn't. I know you wouldn't...” I step out of the bed to stand very close to him. His eyes are showing how hurt he is. I cup his face. “I'm sorry! I believe you, I know that you didn't do it!” I add. He holds my hands and slowly closes his eyes before he clutches me with his strong body. Three seconds go by, and we extend to the bed, sitting abreast of each other.
“What happened? Did you get hacked or something?”
“No. I'm shocked as you are. Yes, Steve sent me the video of him and Lauren—he didn't mean it for other purposes... It was only to show me that he had finally gone out with the girl he loves. I haven't seen it since the time he showed me at the restaurant, days ago. I'm fucking confused. I don't know why I got tagged along, I know no shit. Steve wouldn't even answer my calls or reply to my messages or DMs. I'm fucking tied down Chriss,” he rubs his face across, he's frustrated.
“It's going to be fine, Dayle, we'll sort things out by Monday...” I rub his back. “We'll come up with something, we'll find out who did this to you and why?!” I rub him again.
“It's going to be a fucking disaster. I'm worried about Steve honestly, he'd think that I betrayed him and there you have Lauren—she’d hate me this time. Chriss, I'm so confused right now—”
“It's okay Dayle, I know you to be strong. We'll figure things out.” he rests his head on my shoulder, and I let him, and I stroke his face slightly. He's in a bad state. I know that whatever affects their friendship affects him too. They love each other so much, they are inseparable and now this comes off like a blunder.
“You need to talk things through with Egan, it's very important. Start from there—”
“They both refused to connect with me! They are ignoring me.” he interrupts my suggestion. “I'm so fucked up, Chriss!”