Behind a facade

13.

“Well, that’s a cheeky smile,”

“Cheeky my foot,” Dakota placed the mobile on the table, rolling her eyes at Josh, who is tapping on a calculus book. “That was Ryker,”

“Ryker? What’s he up to?”

“He and Dad are out of town. Something came up. So he let me know that they might come later tonight or tomorrow morning,”

“That means you are going to stay at my place until they come,”

Dakota nodded. “Apparently,”

“Lord, have mercy!” Josh faked a pitiful face. “My peaceful Saturday is flying away,”

“Dude, look at the bright side. Exams are coming up. I can help you with math all day Joshi Joshi…”

Josh falls onto his bed, pretending that he fainted. Dakota threw the tissue box at Josh while laughing out of her heart.

“Don’t take Carter’s orders to your heart. Are you my friend or Carter’s friend?” Josh huffed, sitting on the bed.

“If I have a choice, I would definitely choose Carter,”

Dakota’s answer made Josh’s jaws hang open for a while.

The entire morning, Dakota and Josh spend their time with math books. It was finally time to pay more attention to their studies in the semester, especially because of the red flags of finals. Josh and Dakota both had been participating in a lot of athlete activities and practice sessions during the semester. They had to put extra effort into academics since their schedules were almost all the time filled with athlete activities.

“Man… I can’t take this anymore,” Josh yawned and rose to his feet. “My brain is already rotten. If I continue this, it might disappear into thin air,”

Dakota tilted her head. “I feel the same. Let’s take a break,”

“Do you want a coke? I am going to get one,” Josh shouted, heading downstairs.

“No, I am good. Just bring some water for me,”

Dakota looked across the window. A souffle of gloomy clouds was intruding into the sky. The sun was hiding somewhere behind the heavy grey veil, applying an ominous touch to the surrounding. Some molten red leaves that were able to survive the harsh wind, hang silently on the trees while shivering slightly. Dakota wondered if it is going to snow already.

Somehow the dreary silence eventually pulled her to a hidden corner in her mind that she recently found illusional to some extent. After the bonfire night and the argument with Tessa last weekend, Dakota noticed a significant change in Tessa’s behaviour. She became more vicious towards everyone. It was as if she lost the last drop of humanity within her. Whenever they met face-to-face Tessa flashed a glance at Dakota that was filled with anger and disgust. Dakota tried to convince herself that Tessa’s outrageous attitude doesn’t matter to her. Yet deep down inside, it hurt Dakota more than she thought.

“Here,”

Dakota caught the water bottle that Josh threw at her. She took a sip of water while, directing a sideway glance at Josh who is looking at her with narrowed eyes.

“So what was that look?”

“What look?” Dakota raised one of her brows at Josh, who flop on the chair.

“I am talking about possessed Eeyore look,”

Dakota curved her lips weak manner. After struggling to find some words Dakota drew a long breath. “It’s nothing, dude,”

“I know who is responsible for this state of yours,” Josh let out a sigh. He directly look at Dakota’s eyes and remained silent for a few seconds. “Buddy, I know something is wrong with you,”

“Dude…” Dakota stated in a low voice.

“It’s not like you are going to listen to me, anyway,” Josh’s expression hardened. “DK, she is not worth it. Don’t let her hurt you more than this,”

A silence fell between them. Though she never doubted her feelings, recent events made Dakota question her capacity for endurance. No matter how much she endured, it always turns out useless. Without even an acceptable reason, she is the one who is always being judged. Dakota was fine with her unrequited love, but she wasn’t fine with baseless blaming or accusations.

“I don’t know Josh. It’s complicated,”

“Exactly! Honestly, dude, I don’t get why you are so in love with Tessa. I know one thing. This is not good for you. There is no healthy end in this DK,”

“I know,” Dakota tried to smile. “And it seems she hates me a lot recently,”

Josh scoffs. “Tell me a single person she doesn’t hate. She acts like she is the only one who matters in this entire world,”

“I believe everyone has their own circumstances,”

“You are awfully considerate when it comes to her circumstances,” a corner of Josh’s mouth lifted.

“Forget about my story,” Dakota directed, a mischievous grin trying to change the topic. “When are you planning to tell me about your story, Josh Rooney?”

Josh blink his eyes a few times. “I am afraid I can’t understand you,”

“Dude… who are you fooling, ah?”

“…..”

“Okay if you still want to pretend not to know… be my guest,” Dakota rotate the water bottle while leaning forward on the chair. “I don’t mind telling it loud,”

Dakota’s teasing words made Josh blush. “DK….”

“What! Am I not able to see how my friend looks at Emma Holt?” Dakota flashed a provoking smirk.

“There is nothing like that,”

“Yeah, I bet. I heard someone is even helping someone to keep up with workout sessions,” Dakota pressed her lips together, trying to hold the laugh inside.

Josh tried to hide his flushed face, rubbing the back of his neck. Dakota chuckled, seeing her best friend’s reaction. Even though she wanted to make fun of Josh, Dakota decided to patiently wait until Josh collect his thoughts.

“Well… I think she is… you know…. a real person…” Josh brushed his palms together. “You know… natural,”

“Ah ha…”

“What ah ha?”

“So you do like her?’

Josh closed his eyes for a second and nodded. “I think so,”

Dakota giggled. She genuinely felt happy for Josh. “I remember someone’s ideal type is so different. Who would think Josh Rooney is into a girl like Emma?”

“Look who is talking big! You have a thing for bitchy girls, isn’t it Dakota Kent?”

Both ended up laughing until their stomachs started to hurt.

Dakota’s phone starts to ring, interrupting their laugh. Emma’s name was on the screen. Dakota showed her phone to Josh, with a playful look on her face. “Speaking of the devil…”

The next second she answered the phone, enjoying the shy look on Josh’s face. “Hello Em…”

“Dakota….”

A male voice came through the phone, startling Dakota. She once again looked at the phone screen to check whether the person who is calling her is Emma. It was definitely Emma's name on the screen.

"Who is..."

"It's me... Miles,"

"Miles?" Dakota exclaimed. What is he doing with Emma's phone?

Josh rose to his feet and walked near Dakota while raising one of his brows. Dakota shrugged her shoulders expressing her uncertainty.

"Yeah, it's Miles here. Dakota where are you right now?"

“I am at Josh’s,” Dakota replied, trying to control her nervousness. She didn't miss catching the panicked tone that came through the phone. "But why are you calling from Emma's phone?"

"I don't have time to explain. Something happened, and Emma is not coming out of... she has locked herself inside... I mean she doesn't let us enter..."

What is Miles talking about? Us! Dakota couldn't help but think about Brian and the group. They are the people Miles usually hangs out with. Did they do anything to Emma? But then again... Miles sounds genuinely worried. Perhaps he is not with them.

"Calm down Miles!" Dakota rose to her feet. She took her jacket, which was on the chair, signing Josh to do the same. If Emma is in danger, she has to reach where they are as soon as possible. "Tell me... where are you guys?"

"At school... ground floor, washroom area"

...............................................................

Dakota tried to open the main door of the girls' washrooms on the ground floor. The door was locked from the inside. She ended up knocking while calling Emma's name. The only response Dakota got was Emma's sobbing sound.

"What the hell Miles! What did you two done to her?" Josh roared, glaring at Miles.

Dakota once again observed the terrible state of the two boys who are standing next to them. They looked exhausted as if they fought to the death. Miles's unusual behaviour added a burden to Dakota. There were hints all over his face that he is struggling to cooperate with his own inner frustration. He still shows signs related to panic and sudden shock. Luke's state was the worst. He was standing a few feet away from Miles, and Josh while shivering. His face was pale. There was an irregular pattern in his breathing. Why is he breathing hard? What made him drenched in this manner?

"We haven't done anything," Miles let out a sigh, trying to stop Josh who is fuming with anger.

Josh cursed. "Then what is this... "

"Josh wait..." Dakota pulled Josh backwards. "I don't think they did anything bad. What are you people doing in school at the weekend? Care to explain Miles?"

Miles sighed again. This time it was a long and painful sigh. "Others were here for drama practice rehearsals I guess. I came late... had a part-time,"

"It was Brian and others" Luke's voice came weakly, interrupting them. "Miles was trying to help us, but Dakota first we should get Emma out. She might freeze inside,"

Dakota nodded. Somehow, she sensed Emma's state might be similar to Luke's. "Let's talk about this later. First, we need to get Emma out, "

"What if she won't come out? We have to inform the janitor," Josh asked.

"No!!!" Luke cried out. His reaction made others frightened. "She is...I mean... she is not ..."

"What?" A line appears between Josh's brows.

Miles clears his throat. "Dakota, try to talk to her. Let's see, what we can do after that,"

After constantly trying for another ten minutes Dakota was able to make Emma open the door. When she was about to step inside Miles grabbed Dakota's hand and gave her an old sweatshirt and a towel. "Take these with you. This is all I could find. She probably needs it,"

Seeing Mile's serious and empathetic gaze, Dakota could assume Emma is in the same situation as Luke. She doesn't wait to question and entered the washroom.

Dakota's eyes found Emma who is trembling inside the open area of the washroom. She was sitting on the floor while hiding her face half manner. She was drenched and shivering. What she saw shocked Dakota until she couldn't utter a word for a few seconds.

"Who did this? Jesus Emma... " Dakota literally ran towards Emma and wrapped the towel around Emma's half-naked body. "Hey... talked to me... hey...What happened?"

Emma's tears ran down her cheeks again. There wasn't a single word. The silence was heavy. Dakota let her cry as much as she wants seeing Emma's pitiful state. It wasn't the time for interrogating. Emma looked like she is about to go insane.

Whatever happened, it wasn't simple and forgivable. Dakota could understand that much from the heavy silence.

"They... stole our clothes," Emma mumbled after some time.

Dakota narrowed her eyes. She could see Emma has calm down a bit. "What?"

"When we were changing... they took the clothes away...." Emma struggled to find words. She starts sobbing again. "And they..."

"And what? What did they do?"

"They.... they...."

"Emma... tell me. Josh and others are also here. We all can come up with something. Just tell me,"

Emma started to tell what happened from the beginning. Dakota couldn't believe what she heard for some time. Disappointment starts to make fun of her. She barely controlled her anger that was overflowing.