*Trigger Warning* - This part contains information about sexual assault and/or violence which may be triggering to survivors.

Chapter Thirteen continued...

"Who is it?"

I don't know why I need to know or if I believed her. It didn't really matter. It didn't change what had happened.

"James." She states simply.

Kris scoffs next to me. Ashley's eyes flick in irritation to Kris's and little color comes back to her cheeks. Then she turns her attention back to me.

"Not all of them obviously. Ari is always on the Dirty, it would be humanly impossible for one person. And I'm not as sure about the sex list post, but he's responsible for a few of them cause' I was there."

"You were there?" Kris asks but Ashley's eyes remain glued to me.

"We were all hangin' out in the hot tub. I took the picture...."

Kris interrupts, "So, what you took the pictures and James uploaded it. Seems more likely you posted it."

She continues speaking to me as if he hadn't spoken at all.

"We all took pictures. Including Ari. I put a bunch on my Snap. I texted the photo to James. He looked so bummed out in it, I was tryna to wake him up to the truth. Ari wasn't into him. The next day it shows up on the Dirty posted by TheCaptainJames, his username."

Her eyes finally fall to Kris's for a second.

"Or are y'all forgettin' that. He literally signed his name to it. I don't know what garbage he told y'all, but he was jealous and he posted it. And it's not the only time he has posted neither. The rumor about you and Ari being lovers was James."

She looks at me pointedly. "I was with him when you two arrived in the Tesla, I saw him take the picture. Then at lunch when you told everyone about your birthday celebration and Ari hadn't invited him, the photo magically appeared on the Dirty. And the sex list, I bet he did it too. It was right after Ari started dating that John kid. James was pissed. He said she was too good for all these guys. I swear he knew all their names and strange details about them. Boy is obsessive. Then the sex list showed up."

"It's sus you were there both times those photos were taken," Kris says.

He did have a point.

Ashley fully turns to him and says, "Kris, I can't tell if your throwing shade cause' you have a problem with me or if your incapable of seein' through James's for what he is. If it's the latter, I get it. James is a golden boy but Ari has him whipped. When it comes to her, he's obsessive and irrational. It's why I posted her with those guys. Throughout the entire party, I had to listen to him bitchin' and moan. Ari and Dechlan. Ari and John, all night long. I was drunk and salty. I wanted to break it through his skull she wasn't interested."

"Despite what ya'll think, I don't hate Ari. She's been nothin' but a friend to me for two years. I'm not a horrible person. I made a horrible mistake that I regret. If I'd known what was goin' on with them boys in that room, I swear I woulda intervened. My intentions were to get back at James, not Ari. There are photos of her doing crazy things on the Dirty all the time, never seemed to bother her. I didn't think she'd care."

I stare at Ashley for a long moment. Her arms are still tightly wrapped around herself as if she's doing it to keep herself in one piece. She'd made a horrible mistake, just like I'd made a mistake. I nod my head and look down at the floor. My mouth can't form words. The anger I'd felt had swooshed out of me and now I feel empty and drained.

"You don't owe me anythin', but could ya'll keep this between us for a while?" I look up at her, confused by her request. "I want the chance to apologize to her myself first."

I nod my head again in agreement. That's all I wanted as well. A chance to apologize.

"Thanks." Then she leaves without saying goodbye.

All three of us leave the shop in silence. No one speaks until we reach Kris's car.

"It's not your fault," Katie says. I peer over at her through a curtain of my hair. "What you said back there about having Ari's back. It's not your fault. You can't control what other people do. And you can't be expected to watch Ari's every move."

I rub my eyes at the familiar throb building behind them. I hear what Katie is saying, but the guilt is overwhelming.

"Maybe let's just figure out what happened," I say.

"I don't think James did it. Ashley's story doesn't prove anything." Kris says. "Posting inaprops pictures of someone on the Dirty is far from drugging someone."

"Kris, How can you..." Katie starts in on him in irritation.

"No, It's fine." I stop Katie and put a hand up for her to relax. "Having his point of view keeps us honest and from jumping to conclusions. And he's right what she said doesn't prove anything. When need concrete proof?"

"How are we going to accomplish that?" Katie asks.

"From the source," I say.

I grab my phone and begin drafting my message. I needed to send a text message, one that couldn't be ignored. I finish the text and press send.

"I know what you did to Ari. Meet me at my place. Tomorrow morning at 9. Don't be late."

***

Sunday

"Do you really believe me capable of hurting her?" James asks.

I repeat his question in my head. Yes, I do think him capable. It made sense it had been him all along. He is close enough to Ari to know what was going on in her life, he was her best friend she shared everything with him.

It's obvious now. The day the picture of John and her were leaked. We shared the same lunch period. He'd followed us out to the hallway, took a picture, and then preceded to stalk us to the skatepark. His username had been on the hot tub post. He must've posted it by accident.

"I didn't ask if you'd done it, James. I asked why?" I step closer to him. I want him aware I'm not afraid of him. I want him to know I'm confident in my accusations. Kris might've been unsure, but I wasn't.

"Just like I know you've been spreading gossip about Ari on the Dirty."

James shows no visible reaction.

"The hot tub photo. The rumors about Ari and I being lovers." I want to mention the other posts, but I wasn't a hundred percent sure on the others. I want him to think I knew more than I did.

"I didn't...." He starts to object but I cut him off.

"I know everything James. I know you bought Rohypnol from your brother's friend."

This time he reacts but only for a second then he pulls up his mask of indifference. He's not nearly as good at it, as Ari is. I can still see a bit of worry in his eyes. 

"Don't bother denying it," I add. "I doubt the skeezeball will keep his mouth shut when the cops question him."

A wild panic fills James's face. "The cops?" He demands. "You called the cops?"

"Not yet, but rape is very serious," I say.

"I didn't rape Ari. I got to her, I saved her before things go out of controls."

"Is that why you did it?" I ask. "To save her. Let me guess, you drugged her and waited from some guys to try to take advantage. John or...Dechlan." He flinches at his brother's name. "Then you wanted to swoop in like Superman and rescue her."

"Did it go wrong when multiple guys decided to sexually assault her?" I ask. I can tell my words are getting to him, so I push harder.

"Or was it the original plan? Because it was a success. Do you feel good about yourself when you're holding her? You nearly had a train run on her but hey at least she's your girlfriend."

"Shut up!" James shouts. "I don't have to listen to this. " His spins and heads for the door.

"Or I could be wrong." I rush out. "Maybe you drugged Ari so you could rape her yourself."

James turns and glares at me. "You don't know what you're talking about."

"Don't I, James? Did you accidentally lose track of her? Is that why you asked me where she was at the party? Were you going to do it yourself? Then John and his frat brothers beat you to it?"

"Shut the fuck up!" The rage is all over his face and he moves towards me. I have the urge to retreat backward but I hold my ground.

"I'm okay," I say out loud.

His anger is making me nervous. My eyes flicker towards the living room, but I force them to return to James. He doesn't notice the break in my brave front.

"I wasn't going to hurt her!" He shouts. "I was protecting her from making another mistake with those assholes!"

"Did I miss something?" I ask. "When are drugging and rape a form of protection?"

"Stop saying rape! I got to her I saved her before anything happened."

"Did you know spiking someone's drink can have a penalty of up to ten years in prison?" My eyes narrow. "Never mind that. Did you know mixing alcohol with Rohypnol is dangerous? She could've died."

"I wasn't trying to hurt her! " He's yelling and almost in hysterics. "I was trying to get her away from John and my brother. She's better than them. I wanted her to stop partying. To pass out. I was going to take care of her and make sure she was alright. Then Dechlan got into a fight. I left her for only a couple of minutes."

"Don't you get it. I was helping her. You saw what John was going to do to her. The type of guy he is. And my brother is violent and out of control."

"Who she is with, is her choice," I say.

"She was making the wrong choices as always!" He growls.

In the distance, a car pulls up to my driveway. Just in time. James's eyes are still wild and he hasn't noticed.

"We belong together. I needed a chance to show her. Things went wrong, but it worked out in the end. She wasn't hurt, she didn't die, and I took care of her. I'm taking care of her now. She's happy now. Can't you let her be happy? If you tell her it will ruin everything it will ruin her."

"Ari is stronger than you think." I glare at him. For someone who claimed to love her, he sure didn't see her. Not like how I saw her.

He starts to say something then he stops. He looks me up and down.

"Oh." He chuckles. "Interesting, I get it now. You're in love with her."

"What?"

His statement catches me off guard. He's trying to distract me.

"No, I'm not," I add.

"Who do you think you're fooling." He crosses his hands over his chest. "The way you're always watching her every move. And it's all over your face now. You're jealous."

He grins smugly. "What you didn't think I'd notice? That other people didn't notice? I thought you were just fangirling but man, I was spot on about the post I wrote?"

I don't bother dignifying his absurd accusation with a response. Just because I loved her didn't mean I was in love with her.

"Your little..." James scoffs and says, "...girl crush doesn't mean you know anything about her. You think because you've known her for a couple of months you understand her better. I've known her for three years. I've supported her and been her friend through it all. I know what's best for her. And let me tell you something..."

He steps closer and I can't help but step back. He leans forward and I can feel his breath on my face.

And then very quietly he says, "She's not gay. I know that for a fact."

Then he straightens and winks at me.

I hate him. More than I've ever hated anything. I can feel the tears stinging my eyes, I can't control them. I'm mad, I'm not sad.

Keys jangle and metal slides into the door's lock. James hears it too and turns to look at the door. He looks back at me frantically.

"Don't tell her. You'll ruin her." He says hurriedly.

The door opens and my mother loudly calls in, "Sweetie! Did you forget to lock the...?"

TBC...continued.

Didn't mean to freak anyone out by the Trigger warning but better safe than sorry.

Also first time anyone in the story has acknowledged how the MC is acting on the outside. Any thoughts?