Chapter #5The Rumorati Revealed by: Seuzz   Text by imaj
You push Joe away. 'Strictly platonic,' you say, mimicking Tina's accent. 'And that's what me and Tina think.'
'But it sounds so sexy when you say it like that,' pouts Joe.
You bat him away with a gentle swipe. 'We just talked,' you reply. 'That's what Ah'll tell Alyssa when she asks tomorrow. And she will ask.' You give Joe a peck on the cheek as you slide past him. 'Ah guess Ah can say we kissed a little, but it goes no further than that you rogue.'
'This would never have happened if you'd let me pick Maddy,' calls Joe after you as you walk out and pick up Tina's clothes.
*****
'So what happened,' asks Maddy as she bustles close to you following morning. You regard Tina's best friend as she hooks one arm around you and starts leading you down the hall. You can see why. Joe would find it difficult to look past her breasts, which are easily the most generous pair at Eastman, but she's just as pretty as Tina. 'Tell me everything. Alyssa's going to want to know anyway.'
'Nothin' happened,' you blush, impersonating Tina's character perfectly. 'We had a little talk is all. Maybe a little kissing and all too.'
'With Joe,' says Mandy, peeling herself away from the wall she had been leaning on and joining you at the other side. The bubbly blond grabs your other arm and steers you and Maddy into an empty classroom where the rest of the Rumourati members are gathering. 'Just kissing? Seems like such a waste. I've seen him take his shirt off after basketball practice.' She licks her lips. 'Mmmm, mmmm,' she coos. 'I'd like to get my hands on those abs.'
'Ignore her,' snarks Maddy as you enter the classroom. The rest of the Rumourati are there already ' hatch faced Lisa, mischievous Natalie and innocent and na've Summer. Only Alyssa, the leader of the group, is missing. 'She just wants to have a boyfriend she can outsmart.'
'I've outsmarted plenty of boys,' says Mandy hotly, breaking off and sitting on top of a desk next to Natalie.
'Kindergarden class doesn't count Mandy,' says Lisa, rolling her eyes. She's a sharp one and from Tina's memories you know her position in the group is mostly about Alyssa keeping tabs on her.
'I think it's good that you and Joe have hooked up,' pipes up Summer nervously. Lisa looks round at her sharply and Summer's expression wavers. 'It is good, isn't it,' she asks, unsure of herself.
'It is good,' confirms Alyssa as she confidently strides into the room as if she owns it. She sets her book back on a desk and pulls out notebook and pen. Very deliberately, she opens the book and starts taking notes. Lisa's head immediately snaps back round. 'I think it's great that Joe's settling down with you Tina, you'll make a great couple' she says. You feel your cheeks flush again with the complement, but in the back of your head you translate the words from Alyssa-speak to mean that'll stop the horny fuck from making any more waves. 'You make sure he stays settled down,' adds Alyssa, addressing you directly before turning to Natalie. 'Nats, I want you to make sure everyone knows the good news about Tina and Joe.'
'Even the basketball team,' asks Natalie.
'Especially the basketball team,' snaps back Alyssa. She takes a second to compose herself before continuing, giving Natalie a bright smile. 'I'll talk to Ian personally, but make sure they all know the good news.'
'How is the team managin' since Jon Straussler disappeared,' you interrupt.
'What's that got to do with anything,' asks Alyssa, staring at you.
'Ah was just thinkin' about it,' you say, quickly looking at your feet. 'Joe said Frank was going to be away for a while, so Ah wondered if it was going to affect them.'
Alyssa smiles brightly. 'Thank you Tina,' she says, writing down something in her notebook. 'I'll talk to Ian about that too. The big game with Westside is coming soon and we'll need to be at one hundred and ten percent if we want to win.' She stops for a second before muttering something under her breath. 'And wipe the smug smile off that snake bitch Chelsea Cooper's face,' she says so quietly that you can barely hear it. The members of the Rumourati look at one and other. Lisa smirks.
Alyssa sighs and flicks over a page in her note book. 'Next point: Legacy. Maddy and Mandy, I want you to talk to some of the Freshmen today. I'm looking for girls that have the best interests of Eastman at heart, just like we do.' Everyone nods at this statement ' the Rumourati is a public service after all. 'Keep an eye out for the selfish girls too. I've already got one name that needs to be gently reminded of how we do things here: Carrie Carmichael.'
'I think I know her,' says Maddy.
'Good, have a word with her,' replies Alyssa. 'Nothing major, just a friendly chat. And keep an eye on her. Let me know what happens.' With that she closes the notebook and puts it back in her back. Belatedly, you realise you've been holding yourself tensely for the last few minutes. You slip back into Tina's persona, animating it with little effort, and relax. 'That's all for this morning. I'll see you at lunch.'
*****
Instead you catch up with Joe at lunch, meeting him by his locker. He turns and grabs you by the hips, just as you thought you were sneaking up behind him. Joe tries for a kiss but you turn your head in time and it ends up as a chaste peck on the cheek. 'Ease up their sugah,' you say as he tries again. 'Take it nice and slow.' Joe starts to say something but you place your finger on his lips. 'Walk with me darlin'?'
You slide your arm around his, pulling him away before he has a chance to answer. After a few steps you turn into an empty side corridor. 'Hey Joe,' you say, discarding Tina's personality like a used rag.
'How are you settling in,' he asks. 'Found out anything?'
'Other than that Alyssa runs her friends like some kind of military operation, not much,' you reply. 'I mentioned Straussler's disappearance in passing and she didn't seem happy.' You pause for a second to delve through Tina's memories. 'But I think she's tense about the game with Westside that's coming soon.'
'She's going to love it when she finds Frank's left town,' says Joe with a smile.
'Yeah, I told her,' you explain. 'I don't think I'd want to be that Ian Carpenter guy when she gets to him.'
'Lot of unresolved tension with those two,' explains Joe. 'I think half the team hopes they'd just get a room.'
'But Alyssa thinks the team captain and head cheerleader dating is too much of a clich',' you say, lifting the insight direct from Tina's thoughts. 'And too much like Chelsea Cooper and Gordon Black at Westside.'
'Carpenter's mentioned them,' shrugs Joe. 'Makes it sound like they deserve each other.'
You give you life at Westside a brief consideration. It seems so remote now, so you just shrug. 'That's not why I wanted to talk to you,' you say. 'The guy in the coma''
'Sawyer Harrison,' interrupts Joe.
'Yeah, Sawyer,' you reply. 'I was thinking of looking at that angle again.'
'We covered everything there,' says Joe defensively.
'Ah think Ah could find out more,' you say, easing back into character. 'Alyssa's friends carry a lot of respect around here.' Joe nods reluctantly. 'Who should I talk with first?'
Joe gives your question a few moments thought. 'His sister, Belinda. She's a freshman here. I think you should check out the Straussler disappearance though.'
You give a surprised Joe a kiss on the lips, briefly exploring his mouth. 'Remember who your dad put in charge sugah.'
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