Mr. Armstrong’s confession hits me like a blow to the stomach.
I slowly sit back down on the bleacher…
The blood draining from my face.
When I wrote the principal’s name in the locker…
I had no idea what he would confess.
I just wanted a little revenge.
— Not even in my wildest dreams—
Mr. Armstrong does drag?!
Jay is suddenly on his feet in front of me…
And from the look on his face…
It’s clear that Jay had no idea about his father’s secret.
The crowd around me is quiet…
But the silence doesn’t last.
Whispers and titters spread around the auditorium.
Mr. Armstrong grips the sides of the podium…
And even from all the way over here…
I can see his chest heaving.
Leans over to whisper something in his ear.
The principal nods curtly…
Then immediately strides from the gym.
I don’t pay attention to what Dickson says next…
Although I know he is desperately trying to get the crowd under control…
Because my eyes are only for Jay.
And his are locked on his father.
He suddenly jumps off the bleachers…
And I don’t think, I just follow.
As I’m leaving, I see Quinn.
She’s standing, her eyes narrowed on me.
Jay pushes the doors to the gym open…
And the sound is like the blast of a cannon.
Guilt like I’ve never felt before swarms me.
Rendering me unable to call out to him.
Mr. Armstrong is at the end of the corridor…
But Jay’s heated voice stops him short.
Jay
What the **** was that?!
I slink back into the shadows…
Knowing I shouldn’t witness this…
But the guilt keeps me rooted in place.
And I notice he won’t meet Jay’s eyes.
Mr. Armstrong
Go back to the gym.
Mr. Armstrong
We’ll discuss this later—
Jay
— No! We’re going to discuss this now!
The principal blanches at the question…
But then his face goes hard.
Mr. Armstrong
Jay, I’m not feeling well.
Mr. Armstrong
Clearly something has come over me.
Mr. Armstrong
Just go back—
Jay
All those late nights?!
Jay
The closet that’s always locked!
Mr. Armstrong’s face pales.
I wrap my arms around myself…
Feeling as if I’m falling apart.
Mr. Armstrong
It’s not your business what I do with my own time!
Mr. Armstrong
It’s no one’s business!
Jay
YOU JUST TOLD THE ENTIRE SCHOOL!
Mr. Armstrong
I didn’t mean—
Jay waves a hand to cut him off.
Jay
— Ever since Mom died, you’ve been trying to mold me into a “proper man.”
Jay
You expected me to play football.
Jay
Date the head cheerleader.
Jay
And do all these other things I didn’t care about…
Jay
Just because it supposedly fit your ideal of what a man should be.
Jay
And all this time, you’ve been…
Mr. Armstrong’s face drops.
Jay
— You’re a god**** liar!
Jay’s angry shout echoes in the empty hallway, making me jump.
Jay
You didn’t trust me with the truth!
Jay
And you know what? I wouldn’t have even cared!
Jay
You wanna do drag?! That’s great!
Jay
And I can’t believe you lied to Mom all those years, too!
Jay spits at his dad’s feet.
Jay
You were always so ashamed of me…
Jay
Now I’m the one who’s ashamed of you…
Mr. Armstrong’s face suddenly goes rigid with anger.
Mr. Armstrong
Watch your tone young man!
Mr. Armstrong
I’m still your father!
And Mr. Armstrong strides toward his son.
For a second, I worry things will get physical.
Jay
You can’t tell me what to do anymore!
Mr. Armstrong
While you’re under my roof—
Jay
You’ll never see me again.
And Mr. Armstrong just stands there…
After school, when I see Jay rush out his front door…
He adjusts his backpack and keeps walking.
So I hurry after him and grab his arm.
Raina
Please, just talk to me.
Jay
I gotta get out of here.
Raina
But where are you going to go?!
Jay
I would say a friend’s house.
Jay
But I don’t have many of those left.
And for a moment, I’m lost for words.
He continues on, impervious to my thoughts.
Jay
Doesn’t matter anyway.
Jay
Anywhere is better than here.
He keeps walking, but I grab his arm again.
Not when everything is my fault.
As if in answer, I get a brilliant idea.
Raina
Stay in my pool house!
Raina
It has a bed and a bathroom…
Raina
And I can bring you food and stuff.
He bites his lip, unsure.
Jay
What about your parents?
Raina
They won’t care, I promise.
Raina
I’ll explain the situation…
Raina
And I know they’ll understand.
Raina
They think “you’re such a good boy.”
He smiles a little at my joke.
Raina
It’s the least I can do.
If he only knew how true that was.
He turns to me, blows out a breath…
Raina
There are extra blankets in the closet.
Raina
And the TV has all the channels…
Raina
So you won’t get bored or anything.
He nods, but doesn’t respond.
And my mom wheels in a small fridge full of food.
Mom
Make yourself comfortable, sweetie.
Jay looks up sadly, but manages a smile for my mom.
She gives him a hug, and leaves.
We stand there in silence.
I rock back and forth on my feet…
But I sense he needs to be alone.
So even though I don’t want to…
Raina
If you need anything, you know where to find me.
But just as I go to turn away…
His thumb rubs the inside of my palm.
Jay
Your hands are freezing.
He takes both my hands in both of his and rubs them.
Sending a bolt of warmth up my arms.
He looks up at me, his gaze traveling across my face.
Jay
For being there for me.
Jay
You’re all I have left.
Jay
No, Raina, it’s everything.
Jay
The past two weeks have been the worst of my life.
Jay
I’ve lost my friends, my girlfriend, my father…
Jay
But I found you again.
Jay
And I don’t even deserve you.
Jay
After how I treated you the past three years…
Jay
You should want nothing to do with me.
Jay
But instead, here you are helping me…
Jay
When no one else will.
I don’t say the words, of course.
Jay
Everyone else has lied to me.
Jay
You’re the only person I trust.
Guilt tries to work its way back in…
But I forcefully shut it out.
It’s easy to do, when his eyes suddenly heat with passion.
Jay
And you’re the only person I want.
I feel a gentle tug on my hand…
I’m beside him on the couch.
Jay
Please tell me you want this too.
With joy, with relief, and sheer happiness.
Raina
Of course I want you.
Raina
But…you just broke up with Summer.
Jay
And despite what she did to me…
Jay
I don’t want to hurt her.
Jay
But I don’t want to wait either.
Jay
For now, we can keep things between us.
It’s what I’ve always wanted.
And I’m powerless to say no.
Raina
It can be our secret.
He gives me a lopsided smile…
Jay
Well, goodnight then—
I move forward and kiss him.
But he responds instantly.
And then I lay back on the couch…
Reveling in the feel of him settling over me.
And I don’t want to wait either.
So in the dark, with his body wrapped around mine…
I let go of all my guilt.
I don’t think about the locker, the pen, or anyone’s secrets…
I just think about him and me.
I turn from the locker I share with Briar…
And Jay’s there, hovering behind me.
I grin up at him, a secret smile…
Jay
You look great in that dress.
I’m wearing a dress I borrowed from Briar.
And for the first time in my life…
My insides are glowing with warmth.
His lopsided smile lights his face.
And that smile is only for me.
The air between us is on fire…
And all I want to do is pull him into my arms.
And we’re supposed to be keeping things private.
But apparently Jay’s forgotten…
Because his hands are on my waist, pulling me closer.
I laugh, swatting him away half-heartedly.
He buries his face in my neck, making me giggle.
I give in, pulling my chest flush with his.
Our lips connect at the same time…
And it feels like my life clicks into place.
At the cool kids’ lockers.
All my dreams have come true.
I feel a pair of eyes on me…
Summer is standing there at her locker.
She glances away as I look in her direction…
As if she’s afraid to make eye contact.
She’s wearing sweatpants and a dirty t-shirt…
And has dark circles under her eyes.
And the best part of all…
No one even seems to know she exists.
Summer Hart has become invisible.
She takes a book and a banana out of her locker and shuts it.
She stands there, leaning against her locker, all alone.
She peels the banana slowly, and takes a bite…
And then starts to skulk away.
I don’t know what possesses me in that moment…
But as cold power courses through my veins…
She freezes, and turns around.
Jay pulls on my hand as I move toward her.
I walk up to her in my heels, smiling sweetly.
Jay follows along reluctantly.
Raina
Why are you standing here all by yourself?
Raina
Don’t you have any friends?
Summer looks up at me with sad eyes.
I’ve never seen her look so defeated…
Raina
Oh yeah, that’s righttttt.
Raina
You chased them all off.
Raina
Or you slept with them.
I wrap my arms around Jay, and kiss him on the lips.
Jay looks uncomfortable, but he doesn’t fight it.
She just flicks her hair, turns around, and walks away.
Raina
God that felt good!
Raina
I’ve waited years to put her in her place.
I start walking backward, still staring at Summer…
My heel catches on something…
And I banged my forehead against the lockers.
Until I see what I slipped on…
I bend down to pick it up.
And on the back is a note in Summer’s handwriting:
"Enjoy my sloppy seconds."
I try to wriggle loose from Jay.
But he won’t let me out of his grasp.
Raina
She’ll never learn, Jay!
Raina
No matter what I do!
Jay
What are you talking about?
Just then, a cold wind sweeps by me.
Raina
I shouldn’t let her get to me like that.
Raina
We’re together now.
Raina
That’s all that matters.
After a beat, Jay gives me a kiss on the cheek.
He turns and starts to walk toward class, my hand in his…
But I suddenly pull back.
Raina
Forgot something in my old locker.
I arch up on my toes and kiss him on the lips.
He looks at me a little funny, but nods.
Jay
I’ll save you a seat.
I stand there smiling sweetly until he’s out of sight.
Then I take off my heels…
And march barefoot to my magic locker…
Muttering to myself as I go.
Raina
That ***** is going to pay for this.
Raina
I’m going to write her name in the locker…
Raina
With a big fat ‘X’ through it…
Raina
And a heart too, for good measure…
Raina
God knows who else she’s screwed.
I laugh as I reach my locker.
Raina
I’m going to ELIMINATE that skanky *****…
And reach into my backpack to grab my pen…
But my hand comes up empty.
In a panic, I dump the contents of my backpack on the floor.
Raina
Where the **** is it?!
Wait, when WAS the last time I had it?
When I wrote Mr. Armstrong’s name…
Right before the pep rally.
What could have happened?
Where could it have gone?!
The thought of someone else in possession of my pen sends me into a frenzy.
And the lockers feel like they’re closing in around me.
I take deep breaths and will myself to calm down.
Raina
It has to be somewhere!
Shelly
What are you doing here?
I look up and into Shelly’s eyes.
Her foul smell makes me even angrier.
Raina
Nothing, leave me alone.
I rummage frantically through my old locker…
Looking all around the floor…
I feel myself start to get hysterical.
Shelly
Did you lose something?
Raina
YES, I lost something!
Raina
Something very important!
Shelly
Maybe I can help you find it.
And keep muttering to myself.
Raina
I can’t believe this is happening.
Shelly steps closer to me.
Shelly
Do you need to borrow one?
Her smell fills my nostrils…
And I’m about to lose my mind.
I can’t help it — I laugh.
Raina
It can’t just be replaced.
Raina
It’s a very special pen!
Raina
It’s MY special pen.
I slide down my locker to the floor…
And put my head in my hands.
She looks at me like I’m crazy…
Then opens her own locker.
Shelly
I’m sorry you lost it then.
And see her locker is stuffed full of random crap.
I jump up, then shove her out of the way.
I start pulling stuff out of her locker and throwing it on the floor.
Shelly
Hey! What are you doing?!
Raina
It’s priceless, you thief!
Raina
I know you’ve seen it!
Raina
It’s a silver pen, with swirls etched on the side…
I search her locker frantically…
I fall on the floor again and start sobbing.
For long moments, Shelly is quiet.
And when I look up, she’s gone.
I rock back and forth for I don’t know how long…
Until a cold wind sweeps by me.
And feel a bit calmer again.
I start picking up my things from the floor around me and shoving them back in my bag.
Raina
I’ll turn the school upside down…
Raina
It’s got to be in this building somewhere.
Raina
I’ll start in homeroom.
Raina
Yeah, that’s a good idea.
I look up, thinking it’s Smelly Shelly again.
And then she says words that make my blood run cold.
Quinn
I know your secret.
Quinn’s words ring in my ears.
There’s no way she could have figured it out.
It’s magic for god’s sake.
With that thought bolstering me…
I wipe all emotion from my face and stand to meet her.
I cross my arms and raise a brow.
But her eyes are hard, determined.
Quinn
I know you’re the one behind all the revelations.
She points a finger at me.
Quinn
You’re the reason everyone’s been blurting out their secrets.
My pulse quickens in my throat…
But I don’t let my fear show.
Raina
You think I have the truth serum?
Raina
Where would I even have gotten it?
I jump when she stamps her foot.
Quinn
Girl, look at your face!
Quinn
Look at…all of you.
Quinn
And you’ve become more and more…
Quinn
Since all this began.
Quinn
I’ve been watching you the past few days…
Quinn
And you’ve been acting weird.
Quinn
I know you’re behind all this…
Quinn
And I want you to tell me how.
She doesn’t know anything.
A smile spreads across my face.
Raina
Don’t be silly, Quinn.
Raina
You said it yourself in your last article…
Raina
Whoever’s behind the truth serum is targeting all the popular kids.
Raina
All the football players and cheerleaders…
Raina
Why on earth would I do that…
Raina
When I’m dating the quarterback?
Jay
What’s going on here?
We both jump at the sound of Jay’s voice.
I turn around to see him frowning at me.
Raina
Why aren’t you in class?
Jay
I wanted to make sure you were alright.
He looks between Quinn and me.
Quinn speaks before I can.
Quinn
No! Everything is most definitely NOT okay!
Quinn
Raina’s been tricking everyone into revealing their secrets!
Jay blinks at her in surprise.
Then he slowly turns to me.
Jay
Uhh…what is she talking about?
I try and get ahold of the situation.
Raina
Let’s get to class.
He reluctantly starts to follow…
But Quinn’s voice stops him short.
Quinn
Jay, don’t tell me you haven’t noticed Raina acting weird lately?
Seeing she has his attention…
Quinn starts listing her evidence against me.
Quinn
Ever since all this truth-telling began…
Quinn
Raina’s been acting weird.
Quinn
And, I know for a fact she’s been near each victim…
Quinn
Every time a secret was revealed.
Quinn
And she even predicted a couple before they happened!
Raina
Do you even hear yourself right now?!
But Quinn can’t be stopped.
Quinn
Me, Ms. Akins, Briar, Vivi, Peter, Marcus, Mr. Armstrong!
Quinn
She was present for every single one!
His gaze contemplative and wary.
I know he’s thinking about that day in the hallway.
The day he blurted out his own secret.
I was there for his, too.
Jay
But…how would she be doing it?
Jay
It doesn’t make sense.
Raina
This is all crazy talk!
But they’re not paying attention to me anymore.
Quinn
I locked eyes with her just before I told everyone about my piercing.
Quinn
And did you see how she jumped to get your dad’s attention?!
Quinn
It’s like she wanted him to look at her!
Jay
It happened to me, too.
Jay
I locked eyes with her…
Jay
And then the words just came out.
Jay
Like I had no control over them.
Quinn
That’s exactly what I felt!
Quinn
I’m telling you Jay, she’s behind this somehow!
I appeal to Jay, my voice desperate.
Raina
I’ve got nothing to do with this!
Just pretends he doesn’t hear me.
It’s like the past three years all over again…
A cold wind stings my face.
I start shivering uncontrollably.
Quinn shoots me a look filled with determination.
Quinn
We’re going to figure this out.
Quinn
Right here, right now.
She suddenly looks over my shoulder and waves her arm forward.
I turn around, and my jaw drops.
Briar, Vivi, Marcus, Peter…and Summer.
They walk toward us, all of them staring at me.
Their gazes are filled with accusation.
Quinn
I told everyone to meet me here during class.
Quinn
Jay, I would have told you too…
Quinn
But I didn’t know you were one of her victims.
I thought I was panicked earlier…
But now my whole body runs cold.
But I’m frozen with fear.
It’s like facing each of my sins all at once.
Vivi steps forward first.
Vivi
We heard everything, scrub!
Vivi
If you’re behind this, you’re going to pay!
Briar joins her, her eyes narrowed with hatred.
Briar
How did you do it, Raina?
Briar
Did you drug us or something?!
Peter and Marcus don’t say anything…
But their anger is palpable…
Rolling off them in waves.
Everyone suddenly starts talking at once.
About how they locked eyes with me right beforehand.
About how they lost control.
About how their secrets tumbled out, unbidden.
Their voices grow louder, more fervent…
Until I can’t even hear myself think.
Raina
YOU’VE ALL GONE NUTS!
Raina
Do you even hear yourselves!?
Raina
Yeah, I was there! So what?!
Raina
So were a lot of other people!
A bell rings through the halls.
We all stare at each other for a second…
Wondering why it’d be going off during class.
But then there’s a sound from behind me…
And my locker door swings open.
Shelly comes out, looking stricken.
I gasp when I see what’s in her hand…
And then, I meet her gaze.
My eyes grow wide as they lock with hers.
The truth hits me in a nanosecond.
She must have written my—
A cold wind sweeps by me.
My mouth contorts out of my control and I hear myself start to speak—
Raina
I wrote each of your names in my magic locker…
Raina
So you would reveal your secrets to the entire school.
I slap a hand over my mouth…
As if I can somehow shove the words back inside.
A million feelings rush through me at once.
Because now I know how it feels.
To be forced to say something you didn’t want to say.
And it doesn’t feel good.
Shelly walks toward me on wobbly legs…
Holding the pen in front of her face.
Shelly
It actually worked!
Shelly
The…the locker wall…
Shelly
They’re written in her locker…
Shelly
And they’re glowing!
For a moment, no one says anything.
They’re torn between staring at me—
— Still stunned at what I said—
And at Shelly, who looks like she’s seen a ghost.
Quinn’s expression is full of skepticism when she steps forward.
Quinn
Girl, what are you saying?
Quinn
What do you mean our names are glowing?
Shelly stares at everyone in turn.
Shelly
I found it on the floor near my locker the other day…
Shelly
This is the secret…to all the secrets.
Shelly
I’ve been watching Raina.
Shelly
I saw her going inside her locker a lot with this pen.
Shelly
I didn’t realize what she was doing at first…
Shelly
So I decided to go in and see for myself!
Shelly
She’s been writing everyone’s name on her locker wall…
Shelly
And somehow…the locker has been forcing confessions!
Shelly
I wrote her name just now!
I let out a hysterical laugh.
Raina
Guys, don’t listen to Smelly Shelly.
Raina
I didn’t mean what I said — I was just kidding!
Marcus scratches his head, confused.
Marcus
How could writing a name on a wall force people to say things?!
Shelly stares into the distance.
Shelly
It must be because of Aunt Eleanor.
Shelly
This is the locker she died in.
Quinn
You’re related to her?!
Shelly
This was Aunt Eleanor’s pen.
She twists it around and points to it.
Shelly
See. Her name is etched onto the side!
Shelly
I bet this is the pen she used to write her killers’ names inside the locker…
Shelly
Right before she died.
Shelly
When the bell rang on the day she was found…
Shelly
The girls who put her in there spontaneously confessed their secret!
Shelly
Just like what’s been happening to all of you!
Shelly
Raina’s been using this pen…
Shelly
To force you all to reveal your secrets!
Peter
Okay, okay hold on…
Peter
What is Smelly Shelly trying to say?
Peter
That the locker and the pen are magic?
Peter
Forcing people to tell the truth?
Peter
I’m sorry but, that’s bull****.
Raina
That’s what I’ve been trying to say!
Shelly
See for yourselves!
Shelly
The locker is literally glowing.
Shelly
And all your names are there!
It’s like a scene from a horror movie playing out in front of my eyes.
I can only stand there and watch…
As one by one, everyone goes into my locker.
I want to run away and pretend this isn’t happening.
There’s nothing I can do.
Everything is crashing down around me…
Some gasp when they see the glowing names.
Vivi scowls at the heart around hers.
Others shriek in horror, in disbelief.
When he steps out of my locker…
Etched with a mix of betrayal and disgust.
And I know I’ve lost him.
There’s a sense of incredulity in the air.
Theories fly back and forth…
As if no one can believe what they’re seeing.
But the truth is literally written on the wall.
And I shrink in on myself.
Everyone starts shouting at once.
Briar
You humiliated me, Raina!
Vivi
You destroyed my friendship with Summer!
Peter
You ruined my life!
Marcus
What Summer and I did was none of your business!
I jump as each of them shout at me.
I try to find a friendly face.
But Quinn and Shelly are both glaring.
As if he can’t even get himself to look in my direction.
My head spins as all the people I’ve outed over the past few weeks…
Shove me into my old locker…
I look up to see all the names I’ve written…
Glowing harshly down at me.
The glow chills my bones…
And start to scream at the top of my lungs.
Raina
Let me out, please!
Raina
I didn’t do anything…
Raina
I didn’t do anything wrong.
Raina
LET ME OUT OF HERE!!!
Raina
YOU ALL DESERVED IT!!!
Raina
YOU'RE EVIL…ALL OF YOU.
Raina
I HATE YOU ALLLLL!!!!!
I start shoving my body against the locker door…
Raina
LET ME OUT OF HERE OR I WILL DESTROY YOU ALL!!!!
The locker door swings open and I spill out into the hallway.
I look up to see who rescued me…
And my entire body goes ice-cold.
Mr. Armstrong
In my office, now.
