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She cracked a smile as if that was the funniest joke she’d crafted in weeks, and I almost felt bad when no one reciprocated the smile. After a slow, awkward moment of silence, the Dean folded her hands on the table in front of her, and leaned forward a bit in her seat.
“So, let’s cut to the chase,” she said, “and review the facts of the matter. From what I know, Vivian supplied the Office of Student Life with this video clip. I assume you are all aware of this, and the content of the clip?”
Everyone nodded as if in some bored, trance-like state. Nobody wanted to be here, and yet, we all did. I’d shown up to defend myself against whatever story Vivian had concocted about me and Elliot, and that was a good enough reason to subject myself to this kind of social torture.
I glared at Vivian, but she didn’t seem to notice—or chose not to. She kept her eyes straight ahead, smirking at Jason, who sat across from her beside Elliot. Jason seemed to force a grin back, only to toss a side glance toward Elliot, who sat sulking in his chair like a fourth grader in time-out.
“Vivian,” the Dean said, turning to my arch-nemesis. “Would you like to explain why you sent this video clip to the Office?”
“Sure, Ms. O’Donnell,” Vivian peeped, smiling like a motherfucking waitress at a Hooters. “My friend, Jason here, was at a party at the Lancaster’s place, and filmed a sex tape of these two,” she practically spat, shifting her gaze to me and Elliot, “with only one person’s consent.”
“What?” I couldn’t help but let out a maniacal laugh. “And whose consent would that be?”
Vivian nodded to Elliot. He didn’t look up from the surface of the table. In fact, it looked like he’d shoot himself right then and there, if he could.
“He asked Jason to do it,” Vivian continued, looking to Jason. “Isn’t that right?”
I shook my head. I couldn’t let her continue spewing lies.
“Youasked him,” I stated. “Not, Elliot,you.”
Vivian cocked an eyebrow at me.
“Oh, yeah? Then why would Elliot send it to me?”
“What?” Elliot and I both said at the same time as I jumped to my feet.
“You did this?” I whispered. I was too angry to feel the tug of tears. My whole body went numb as I stared at him, into him.
“No, I… I-“
“He sent it to me,” Vivian interrupted, “and toldmeto pretend I was the one who told Jason to film it. He even offered to pay me to do it. Like I don’t do my research.” She snorted. “I know who you are, Lancaster. Everyone does. And we all know that you don’t haveshitto pay me off with. Not anymore. So when I got this sex tape, I sent it to the Office of Student Life because receiving that stupid video is kind of sexualharassment.”
Now, it was time for me to interrogate Elliot. That mother-fucker.
I couldn’t believe this.
I couldn’t believe him.
Who could I believe?
“Why would you do this?” I ground out. “Did you have Jason tape this video for the sole purpose of sending it to Pierre and ruining hislife.Ruining mine.”
When I looked to Jason, I saw him flinch, casting his gaze down to the floor.
Shaking my head, I settled back in my chair, and almost threw my legs up onto the surface of the table to stretch out. I didn’t drink, but fuck, Ineededsomething calm my system before it exploded.
“She’s lying!” Elliot finally blurted. “I wouldn’t, I would never!”
“Really?” Vivian butted in again. “Because from what I understand, you’ve always been a bully to poor Kathleen here. It seems like this is right up your alley.”
The funny thing was, it all made sense. Elliot was diabolical. I knew it from the start. If things didn’t go his way, then, well, he’dmakeit go his way. It was so like him. Plus, how would Jason know that Elliot was bringing me to his cousin’s place if Elliot didn’t tell him himself?
I didn’t know what to say.
“I just want to say,” the Dean interrupted, breaking me out of my half-daze, “it’s a Class H felony in North Carolina to disclose a sexual image of someone with the intent to humiliate or harass an individual.” Suddenly, all eyes were on her. She took in a slow breath, her milky gaze resting on me, and then Elliot. “Mr. Lancaster, are you aware that Powell and Freeman are sister schools? And that we still share the same codes of conduct?”
Elliot’s eyes simply flicked up at her.
