A Dangerous Game •Jon Moxley•

08; Confusion & Freak Outs

I ran over to Matt as he opened his arms for a hug.

"I knew you'd do it." He whispered. "Your amazing."

"Thank you, Matt. Without you, I wouldn't of had the confidence I did." I smiled. "Thank you. Really."

"Well now this means we have to go out and celebrate. I'm calling Jacob and Grace right now." He smirked.

I took my first seat at my desk right beside his, and let out a deep breath I'd been holding. I logged onto my laptop and began my next assignment.

Max had emailed me saying I could handle The Gossip Page. Which basically meant any drama or news floating around campus, I'd cover.

He told me specifically to not let personal emotions get in the way of being honest. So I was pretty excited to begin my new piece for next week's paper.

It was going to be about Olivia..and Grace.

- - -

"Alright, two Shirley Temples for us, a large order of chili fries for the newest member of the Eagles Gazette, and a bacon burger for mwah!" Matt chuckled, as we clinked our glasses.

"Thank you." I giggled. "I wonder where everyone else is."

By everyone else I meant my cousin and his girlfriend. I had no other friends. Although I didn't consider them friends, because he was sort of obligated to come tonight, considering we're related.

"Alright, normally I'd be a little ticked with this particular person coming and joining us, but Jacob texted me a while ago and said Jon and Olivia were tagging along." Matt sighed. "I figured this is a special night so the more the merrier."

"I appreciate you looking on the bright side, but uh, I'm fine with just spending the night with you. Going to get ice cream or whatever." I shrugged.

"Really? You don't wanna wait for the rest of them to get here?" He questioned.

"Nope. I kind of flipped on Jon yesterday, and I'm not that close with Grace or Olivia. Besides, you've been my number one supporter through all this." I explained.

"Well..Let's go before they get here." Matt stands up, slapping a twenty on the table. He threw his coat on as I did the same.

We got in his car and headed to the ice cream shop. After getting our Sundae's, we settled back in the car.

"Tomorrow when the paper gets released, remember that feeling you get when you see your article on the front page. I remember how amazing it felt to have mine there. You never forget it." Matt smiled. "It's sort of why I keep writing I guess. Because of the feeling."

"I will..gosh that's gonna be surreal. I'm gonna get so many copies." I chuckled. "I know Kathie will wanna have one."

"Of course She will, I know she's super proud of you. I am too." Matt grinned.

We ate our sundae's engaged in conversation about what inspires us for writing, and I realized something I had never thought before.

I-I might like Matt. Like a lot.

- - -

The following day, I walked to school early so I could begin everything I wanted to do. For my article topic this week I was writing about Grace and Olivia, how students can affect one another's school life, for a number of reasons. Most popular one being boys. Or in this case Jon.

So to dig deep and find out how they got this way, I wanted to follow them around for a day. See what they really do. But the only risky thing was I was doing this without their knowledge.

I figured the best writers could analyze people discreetly. Plus in my piece I wasn't using their names, I'd switch them up a little bit.

As I entered the school, I saw janitors still cleaning up the hallways, athletes were the only kids I saw passing by me.

I dropped my bag off at my locker and figured the one spot teenage girls would be before school was..the bathroom. To touch up makeup, fix their clothes, gossip, the usual.

I brought my notepad and pen to jot down key points I wanted to say in my article, and then headed to the biggest bathroom in the school.

It had a big mirror which was constantly used for selfies.

I walked in and saw Grace, Olivia, and a few other cheerleaders huddled in the corner. They were trading lip glosses and nail polishes.

They looked over to me and started whispering.

"Hey Astrid, where were you last night? Me and Jacob went to that shit hole diner and didn't see you or Matt." Grace crossed her arms.

"We left early, didn't feel like waiting. Sorry."
I shrugged.

"Jon and I just made out in the bathroom the whole time. Besides, I figured you two would be..preoccupied." Olivia winked at me.

"Ohhhhh, you two were doing..each other Hmm?" Grace snickered.

"N-No we weren't. Not that it's any of your business." I rolled my eyes.

"Whatever. I'm just glad you remembered my advice I gave you a few days ago." Grace muttered as she walked by me.

"Let's go girls. We have to scope out the boys locker room." Olivia called out, following Grace out the door.

When the bathroom was empty, I took my notepad out and wrote down in big words, INSECURITY ?

I waited a few more minutes before walking out of the bathroom and following them. I figured it was going to be an..interesting day.

- - -