4 unwanted ben and lib.., p.6
4 - Unwanted: Ben & Libby, page 6
part #4 of Ben & Libby Series
“We have a deal, then? I’ll help you and my brother get back together?”
“I don’t know if I should believe you.”
“Fine. We’ll meet next weekend. Rapetti royalty are having a party, and Ben gave me an invitation. Plus one. I told him I was bringing Eugenie but… I’m sure she’ll understand.”
“Um… won’t she take it the wrong way if you bring me instead?”
“Worry about what you will wear. This is Millie and Hope’s party, so… you must dress up.”
“Ugh. Everyone there hates me.”
“I don’t care. I’ll work out a plan and you need to worry about looking absolutely fuckable.”
“Arnie!”
“What? That sweatshirt get up is hideous.”
“Thanks for the input.”
Arnie didn’t get my sarcasm, or he ignored it and he stormed off. I left the library for a while to get a late (and lonely) dinner. The cafeteria staff were cleaning up, but I made enough friends to get a late dinner. I returned to the library to get some homework done and grabbed the study room I’d been in with Arnie earlier.
After homework, I ran into Eugenie, and we chatted about everything. I guess Arnie hadn’t told her I was his new plus one. Ugh. I climbed into bed kind of early, dreading Monday. Who doesn’t dread Mondays when there’s school to attend?
My phone buzzing woke me in the middle of the night. Who the hell was calling at midnight from an unknown number? I crawled out of bed and snuck into the hallway. Maybe it was Rita? It was only six p.m. her time.
“Hello?”
“Libs. It’s me. Marley.”
When Someone Has Your Sex Tape
“Marley? It’s late? Where are you?”
“I’m in Scotland. Doing work for your dear boyfriend.”
I bit down on my lower lip. Didn’t Marley know we’d broken up?
“We aren’t together anymore.”
“Yeah. Right. Not based on what I found.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Unless there’s another dark-skinned girl at your school… there’s a livestream of someone who looks exactly like dear Benjamin plowing into some girl in a classroom.”
“What?”
“Yeah. The school has security cameras everywhere. Looks like someone hacked into it and clipped the livestream, uploaded it to the dark web.”
“Are you serious?”
“I can send you the files but… be careful, Libby. I need to tell Ben about this, but I wanted you to watch your back.”
“Sure. Fine. I’ll watch my back.”
“I’m serious. The caption was disturbing.”
“What was it?”
“I’ll send it to you. Not your school email. Give me the address.”
I gave Marley an outside email address.
“Talk later. Your boyfriend’s blowing up my phone.”
“He’s not my boyfriend…”
“Yeah. Right.”
I hung up and felt sick. I walked to the bathroom and splashed water on my face. It was late, but there was only one person I could think of to message.
Me: Did you film me and Ben?
Arnie: So you had sex…
Me: Shut up…
Arnie: Sorry, love. Not that kinky.
Me: Love… ew.
Arnie: ;)
Me: I’m serious.
Arnie: So am I.
Me: So this isn’t part of your grand plan to get us back together.
Arnie: It’s late. Finishing history essay. England kicks ass.
Me: If you call colonizing most countries on the planet kicking ass…
Arnie: Cheers. Go to sleep.
Shit. My best hope was that somehow Arnie hacked into the cameras and posting the video to the dark web. He was dark. He was smart. That meant he knew about the dark web, right? And he was a liar. A known liar. But I believed him when he said he didn’t know. He wasn’t the sort to make your life a living hell unless he could gloat about it. He didn’t have much of a motive for filming us. But who did? I closed one of the bathroom stalls and unlocked my phone to check my email.
From: celloboy01@benfox.net
Subject: video + screenshot of caption
Libby, check it out.
Attachment: sex_video.mov
Attachment 2: screenshot_241243.jpg
Marley
P.S.
Ben will kill me for sending you this. RIP.
We weren’t exactly on good terms the last time we saw each other, but now that Marley was back in Scotland and apparently doing work for Ben that required him to be on Ben’s private email servers, I couldn’t help but appreciate him for this, even if it meant talking to Ben again, which I’d have to do. How could I have been so stupid? After all the incidents with Jess last year, after everything that happened… why didn’t I think of cameras?
Caught up in the heat of the moment, wrapped under Benjamin Fox’s spell, as usual, I’d plunged headfirst into danger. And what the hell was Marley’s email address? www.benfox.net? Someone pushed open the bathroom door, and I lifted my feet up onto the toilet seat so no one could see me. It’s not like there was a rule against the bathroom. Something about getting a video of your sex tape in your email inbox makes you a little paranoid, I guess.
A gross retching sound followed by the acrid scent of vomit wafted over the bathroom stall. I plugged my nose and waited for the mysterious midnight nausea queen to vacate the premises before I turned my sound off and watched the video. The guy in the video was obviously Ben. But it wasn’t so obvious that the girl was me. Except… I’m the only person with skin as dark as mine at all of Rapetti. And just my luck, the video was in color.
“Fuck…”
I opened the screenshot. I gasped, nearly dropping my phone in the toilet when I saw it. No, no, no… This was bad. This was terrible.
Ebony school slut gets plowed by a white athlete. What will happen if Oxford University finds out their star scholarship girl is a total slut who takes every cock she can get?
My stomach turned. Another email pinged on my phone.
From: celloboy01@benfox.net
Subject: update
Video down. But someone still has that file. I have an audition tomorrow. Talk to Ben.
You ok?
Marley
No. I wasn’t okay. I didn’t know if I’d ever be okay after what I saw. The video was only one minute long, but there were… noises. My noises. My moaning. And my body pinned beneath Ben’s as we had sex. We weren’t even together. This wasn’t fair. I wanted to cry. I wanted to delete the emails. But none of that would help. Marley was right. I had to find out whoever had the file, and I had to talk to Ben.
I snuck back into bed and tried to fall asleep. When you know someone has an illegally recorded sex tape of you they plan to release to your university, it makes it hard to think about anything else. In the morning, I waited for Eugenie to leave for breakfast so I could have one pocket of peace before my day started. A lump formed in my stomach with the realization that everyone at school could already have the tape. And they’d know it was me. And they’d call me a slut, even if Ben was the only guy I’d ever been with, no one would care. It would just be one more reason to bully me. One more reason to ruin my life.
I pulled on my plaid skirt, white button down, navy cardigan and hung my tie in a lazy, loose knot around my neck as I slid into white sneakers. Fuck it. I couldn’t stay scared forever. For now, this was out of my hands. I had to stay on top of things. For once in my goddamned life, I couldn’t let the Rapetti Academy bullies win.
The Reason My Best Friend’s Dead
Nothing seemed out of place when I walked into the caf. Whoever the mystery hacker was, they hadn’t sent the video to the entire school, so I was safe for now. I sat down at the regular art-freak table. Eugenie and Isla had an early morning class, so they left the table first.
Zack Lewis had giant dark circles under his eyes as he asked Arnie to review his essay.
“Your grammar’s shit, mate.”
“No, it isn’t, you twat.”
“There are commas everywhere. How bloody old are you?”
“Old enough to kick your arse.”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
“Don’t count on it.”
Arnie scribbled on the essay in a red pen with a flourish.
“You have about an hour to get this fixed. And your conclusion’s rather weak.”
“Fuck’s sake. Who decided we ought to learn this bloody language?”
“You mean English?” Marty says, “Mate, it’s better than learning Gaelic.Way easier.”
Marty smirked and turned to me.
“What’s wrong with you?”
“Me?”
“Yeah. You okay?”
“She hooked up with Benjamin,” Arnie blurted out.
“Arnie! Can you shut up!”
Marty snickered. Zack set his essay down, apparently giving up on his English grade to pursue boarding school breakfast gossip.
“So… does that mean you’re back in with the cool kids?” Zack asked.
“No. I’m not in with anyone. And Arnie shouldn’t have said anything.”
I elbowed him… hard. But he only laughed.
“Why did you ask me if I filmed you?” Arnie said.
My cheeks burned.
“Are you trying to embarrass me?”
“Listen,” Zack replied somberly, “We don’t kink shame around here.”
“Kink shame?! It’s not a kink!”
“I wouldn’t mind getting filmed,” Marty trailed off, “Except my cock’s not very big.”
I guess they would not linger on the subject for long.
“What’s the point of filming?” Arnie pointed out.
“Making your personal porno. Isn’t it obvious?”
Louisa sat down with a small bowl of oatmeal and with another girl present, the boys finally stopped giving me the “one of the boys” breakfast treatment and packed away their porno talk. Arnie waited for me to leave for class before he raced to keep up with me.
“We aren’t going to the same classroom,” I said harshly.
“Upset?”
“No. Not really. I know what to expect from you.”
“Ouch.”
My harshness didn’t deter him.
“Plan Benjamin’s under way. But there’s a problem.”
“What?”
“He’s bringing Yasmin as his plus one.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah… Don’t worry. I’ll take one for the team and distract her.”
“I don’t think I should have to steal Ben away from someone to get him back.”
“Come off it, Libs. Yasmin and her little minions are bitchy slags. You need not worry about them. Ben would never choose Yasmin over a good girl. He likes… I dunno… corrupting you.”
“That’s your opinion. Not a fact.”
“Well… we’re at your classroom and I’ve got to run. Getting illegal liquor delivered to campus by the crate.”
“You’re nuts. Warren’s been on the warpath, especially with the Year 13s.”
“Unlike you and my idiot brother, I won’t get caught. Especially not by Warren.”
“How the hell are we even friends?”
“We’re not, remember?” Arnie replied, “I have to prove myself to you first.”
Ugh. He was right. I let him get away with being a total prick because of the promise he’ll undo the damage he’s done. He’s Benjamin’s twin brother, after all. If there’s one person who knew Ben well enough to help sort things out, it would be Arnie. Even if he was annoying. Theo walked into class behind me with a scowl.
“Libs.”
“Hey. Everything okay?”
“Yeah. Haven’t seen you around much.”
“You’re only doing what your master commands.”
“I realize you didn’t snitch on me. I’m sorry for being a dick.”
“It’s okay. It’s been hard. Getting used to the single life and everything.”
Theo shrugged.
“Yeah. Charlie and I broke up.”
“What?”
“He got a job in America. He’s moving to New York next week.”
“Shit. I’m sorry.”
“We’ve been on and off for a while. It’s not meant to be.”
“Are you going to that party this weekend?”
“Are you?” Theo raised a curious dark eyebrow, raking his fingers through his messy blond hair.
“Yeah. I think.”
“No offense, but… who invited you?”
“Arnie.”
“Fuck.”
Theo turned red.
“What?”
“I don’t think I’m supposed to tell you this, but Ben’s taking Yasmin to that.”
“I know.”
“And you don’t have a problem?”
“Why would I have a problem?” I snapped, sounding super defensive, and like I definitely had a problem. If Theo noticed, he ignored me.
“I swear it means nothing.”
“I’m sick of people telling me Ben and Yasmin mean nothing. If they mean nothing, why the hell does he keep hanging out with her?”
“I’ve said enough.”
“Great. You know, I’m supposed to have friends who can give me a single straight answer.”
“Sorry.”
Class started, so I couldn’t chew into Theo any more than I wanted to. My day was so busy, I didn’t bother having lunch. After class, I went to the semester’s first choir rehearsal for the big Christmas show. We had to wear choir robes even during rehearsal and I felt like an old weird priest as I got ready alone. As soon as I walked into the school chapel, the choir girls stopped dead.
Yasmin stood in the center of the group. I scanned the room for Mikhail, hoping there was someone to break the ice. Hope stood on Yasmin’s left and Claire stood on her right. They snickered at me as I found my sheet music in the newly assigned choir lockers. I ignored them until Claire flicked her red hair out of her face and cleared her throat.
“Hey, Libby.”
“Hi, Claire.”
I shuffled the sheet music awkwardly, but eventually, I had to close my locker. The three girls surrounded me as the rest of the choir already filled the pews of the choir section. I was alone, cornered by the locker.
“So,” Yasmin snickered, “This is why Benji can’t get enough of me.”
Claire giggled. Ben hates people calling him Benji.
“She’s a slut,” Hope said, “She slept with his twin brother over the summer too.”
That wasn’t even true. Claire grinned.
“Jess tried to warn us about her.”
“Listen, bitch,” Yasmin continued, “You may have Mikhail wrapped around your finger, but if you don’t back off the Christmas solo, I will kick your arse.”
“I’m not afraid of you. And warm up’s about to start.”
They closed me off from my one avenue of escape.
“After practice, you’d better run out of here. Or you’ll regret it,” Claire said, “It’s your fault my best friend’s dead.”
Blood rushed past my ears. Did she know about Jess? No one knew except Theo, Charlie, and Ben. There’s no way any of them would have told Claire, Hope, or any of the popular girls.
“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Three Wicked Bullies
“Chloe died at your birthday party.”
“Wow. That’s fucked up,” Yasmin said, popping her hip, “I’m not surprised. My parents warned me about her people. Thugs.”
“Keep running your damn mouth and you’ll see how much of a thug I am.”
Yasmin turned her nose up as Mikhail came around the corner to ask what the holdup was. The three scattered and I stood in the soprano section as Mikhail led us through our warm-ups and our first song. On our break, he asked me to stay back after choir. Great. So much for blending into the crowd to avoid a confrontation with Yasmin, Hope and Claire.
I didn’t have a choice, so I approached the organ once everyone left as Mikhail idly thumbed the keys, sounding like Count Dracula. He leaned back on the organ.
“Liberty, we ought to have a serious conversation.”
“Am I in trouble?”
“Not at all. New girls on the choir have trouble fitting in and because of her background as a trained singer, I know Yasmin expected to have a bigger role. Unfortunately, Rapetti doesn’t work like that. Training is nothing to talent.”
“Oh. I don’t want to cause any problems.”
“Problems? I looked into your record with some faculty members. You’re rarely in trouble, unless you keep the company of athletes. That doesn’t seem to be a problem this year.”
“No. It isn’t.”
“Good. I’ll make sure the other girls leave you alone. But please, Liberty… don’t quit the choir on their account. You have a beautiful voice. Oxford would be lucky to have you.”
“Thanks.”
“Here’s some sheet music for the solo. If you can handle it, I’ll consider adding you to another duet. I want to be fair to the other students, but I have a feeling you’ll work harder than any of them. Take the music and we’ll talk.”
“Thanks, Mikhail.”
“I know how lonely it can be up here with all these conservative Brits. I’m originally from London and well… let’s just say it’s easier to be gay down there than it is here.”
“I bet.”
“See you tomorrow. Practice, practice, practice!”
I stuffed the music into my bag and left chapel. I was hungry, so I turned toward the dining hall. I could see three girls in uniform leaning against the lamppost ahead. Ugh. I guess they determined to make good on their threats. I turned around. Dinner could wait. I didn’t want trouble. I heard shoes hitting the pavement. Whatever. They could chase me, but I wouldn’t show fear.
I heard a thud and felt something on the back of my head. Then I collapsed. When I woke up, I was naked. Yasmin snapped her fingers in front of my face. I moved my hands, but they’d dragged me somewhere and tied me up. Was I in the Year 12 dorm? Fuck, my head hurt.
“Take the fucking picture,” Hope snapped.
