Obsession

The door opened as Alexis walked out feels not relieved before noticing all eyes were on her. “What?” “You wanna sit down for this.” Sony said. Alexis looked confused and us remaining silent and staring wasn’t helping. “Uhm, ooookay.” She went and sat down next to Sony.

“So, you remember Alex and Gabi and Ivan yes?” “Yea of course, I met Alex in that party last week and well no duh about Ivan and Gabs, c’mon now.” “Right, well they’re in trouble and they came to me for help.”

“Ha!” Alexis snickered before getting up and looking at us. “What did you guys do, break into the Principle’s office? I bet y’all didn’t notice the camera on did you? Hehe, not everyone knows about it after all but I gotta say you guys are pretty ballsy if that’s what ya did.” She looked around as we stayed serious with Gabs shaking her head. “But that’s not what happened is it? So what is it?”

“It’s umm, you wanna show him, babe?” I asked as Ivan nodded and pulled out the photo. “Here, I guess you kinda need to see this if you’re helping. Just don’t judge.” He said as she looked at the image. She stared at it, first with a curious eye before they grew wide and her pupils shrunk. Something inside her ticked as the realization hit, for a moment I regretted going with letting her in on this. If she suffered this before, and who knows if she still suffers from it today, why add salt to the wound by letting her know she’s not alone? It was a bad idea most likely, I was silently cursing myself as she pulled back.

“Hey, easy there. You okay?” Gabi asked, getting up and holding her arm and shoulder. She shook her head before motioning her to let go, making Gabi step back. “It’s.. no, and yes maybe? Ugh, I hate this. I hate this stupid photo because you guys are gunna know soon how it all goes, you’re gunna be in my shoes and they are not the kind you want to fill trust me. But at the same time, I’m relieved.” “Um, excuse me?” Gabi said with Sony raising her hand. “Let her finish.” “I’m relieved because I’m gone from it now, I’m done. There’s not going to be as much crap on me anymore now that you guys took over. Call me a bitch but you’ll know what I mean soon, when someone else takes the beating you’re going to feel great and awful at the same time, just like me.”

“How are you so sure that you’re out of it now?” I asked, partially curious and annoyed. She shrugged. “I guess I’m not entirely sure, but she is.” She replied, pointing at Sony. Oh great. “Well?” I asked, “Wanna tell us what’s going on?”

She rolled her eyes. “Drop the attitude please, I’m trying to help here. Look I know what I know because I’ve heard things like this before. I first heard about it from a student being targeted a month ago, but I don’t know if it’s been happening before that too. So far I’ve come across four people that were stalked and I know this much, when you’re the obsession there isn’t any other victim that I know of so you’re the focus. Now I hope you can keep a straight face and your emotions in check, because this guy likes to send some pretty fucked up shit about you in random periods.”

Alexis nodded. “For me, I kept getting texts about stuff I wasn’t proud of doing and a secret thing I was having, a sort of fling I guess. I would also get photos of myself constantly doing mundane crap like sitting in class or eating, the worst one I don’t wanna share. It would get worse when they catch you doing something bad, I don’t know how but they follow you through it. I’ve been on the spot for two weeks now, so forgive me for finding a bit of happiness with myself about it. I need to step out, I just-yea.”

She walked past us and exited the room as Sony sighed. “Well, she’s right about what she said and I’ll back her up on that last bit, to easy on her. You guys are upset today but she’s had that person on her ass for fourteen days now, try to have some empathy for her.” Gabi nodded with Ivan saying “I’m not mad at her, I just want to know what you mean about Alex being the one getting the text? Is he the one who’s really in trouble here?” She sighed before nodding. “Yea, yea he’s the real one in trouble here. You guys are more guilty by association but he’s the main target.”

“Good.” Everyone looked at me in shock at my response as I continued, “If someone’s taking the hit I’m glad it’s me. I mean, I’d rather not see you guys get hurt.” “You think we don’t care seeing you hurt?” Gabi asked back with Ivan agreeing. “You’re our friend too you know, you can’t just be happy with being the obsession here.” “Even if I’m not, tell that to our mystery guy. They’re the ones texting me.” “I’m not just letting you get hurt!” Gabi shouted, making me annoyed at how that came off. “What does it matter anyway if we don’t have a choice!”

“STOP! This isn’t what we need right now, we can’t just... just stop fighting!” Ivan shouted before getting up and rushing to the bathroom.

“Well that went well.” Sony regarded as Gabi sat back down crossing her arms and I rolled my eyes. “Fuck, I’m sorry I just... I’d rather it be me than you guys that’s all.” “Yea and so would I, so would Ivan. You don’t get it, you being happy it’s on you rather than us isn't gunna make us happy. It’s like being contempt with taking a bullet from us when it’s the whole situation that has me, has us just fucking worried.”

I hung my head down, this wasn’t getting us anywhere. “I’m sorry.” “No it’s... it’s on me I guess. I shouldn’t have raised my voice.” I nodded before adding, “I shouldn’t have yelled at you, I just I don’t know. I’m sorry, I guess I’m just really tense and nervous here.” “Aren’t we all?” Sony added.

I needed to go talk to Ivan.