I had never been so disappointed in Ellie in all of my life. I never thought her relationship with Zac was serious enough to sleep together! Even though my mind was considering possible punishments, my heart told me there was another way.
On my way to Ellie's room, I ran into Isaac, who was frantically looking around. "Where's Taylor?"
"He disappeared with Gabby somewhere," I answered. Isaac spun on his hell and ran off.
Ellie was sitting on her bed, pleading with Mia as she yelled at her. "How could you do this?" Mia's disappointed voice said. "You're not even 16!"
"Mom, listen…"
"Celine, what should we do?" Mia asked me.
"Let's give her a chance to explain," I said. "Go on, Ellie…explain."
"Last night, I couldn't sleep, so I ran outside to get some air. The storm started, and I got lost. I was yelling for Zac. Somehow, he heard me and found me. We ran back to the house, where I changed in the bathroom. I left my clothes there. Zac must have changed later. I swear…it's the truth!" Ellie rushed.
Mia and I looked at each other. "Sounds like something she'd do," Mia whispered. "Let's talk to Diana, and see if our stories match." I nodded. "Ellie, stay right here. Don't move."
Mia and I walked out of the room in search of Diana.
"Taylor!" I yelled. I needed to talk to him! "Taylor!!!"
"What?" Taylor asked, coming up behind me.
"Where's Gabby?" I asked quietly.
"Over there…" I dragged Taylor to the house and made him sit at my laptop. "Read."
Taylor started reading. "You haven't heard the last from me, Isaac Hanson. I'll have Gabby. You know I will. Back off."
"Who do you think it's from?" I asked.
Taylor scrolled up. "It says from…" Taylor paused. "Me…"
"You?" I screamed, outraged. "What in the hell do you think you're doing?!"
"I swear to God I didn't do this!" Taylor paused again. "It's Jeremy. It has to be."
My heart pounded. I had to sit down. "Tay…do you think she got something too?"
"There you are! I've been looking all…" Gabby stopped at the looks on our faces.
"Check your e-mail," Taylor said.
"Why?"
"Check it!" Taylor and I chorused.
Gabby took my laptop and got into her e-mail. She had one new message. I didn't want her to read it!
"It's from Isaac," she said mysteriously, glancing at me. She read the first line, her eyes rolled back in her head and she collapsed.
"Ellie, come quick!" I yelled, running into her room.
"I'm not supposed to leave, Zac," Ellie said angrily.
"You need to, now!" I said, grabbing her hand and pulling her to her feet. We looked right, then left, then rushed down the stairs.
"What is going on?" Ellie asked. I led her into the room, where Taylor was sitting with Ike's laptop, and Gabby was lying on the couch with Ike stroking her head.
"Gabby!" Ellie cried. Ike looked up. His face was as white as a sheet.
"She got an e-mail…she read the first line and fainted," Ike explained worriedly.
"What'd it say?" I asked.
"Read it, Tay," Ike said.
"You sure?" Taylor looked skeptically at his brother.
"Tay, she's out cold!"
"Will someone please tell me what is going on?" Ellie demanded.
"Hey, babe," Taylor began. My mouth dropped open. "I've been thinking of us alone and what we could do if we made up. I know you want me and I want you too. Remember, I love you. Hugs and kisses, Tootsie Wootsie."
I plopped down onto the ground beside Ellie. "Who's it from?"
"It says it's from me," Ike answered softly. "I would never…" His voice trailed off. Ellie and I looked at each other. He was whipped bad for Gabby!
"Ike got one, too, threatening him," Taylor said in the uncomfortable silence. "Whoever they're from know computers. They made it look like Gabby got one from Ike and the one Ike got was supposedly from me."
"You?" I asked. Taylor nodded. "It's Jeremy…who else could do something like this?"
"She's starting to come around. Tay, come over here and hold her," Ike pleaded.
"What?"
"She can't see me holding her! Come on!"
Quickly, Taylor and Ike switched places. Ellie grabbed my hand and squeezed it tight. Ike watched Taylor as he encouraged Gabby to wake up.
I opened my eyes and found myself staring into Taylor's blue eyes. "Taylor, what happened?" I asked.
"Shhh, it's okay," Taylor said, stroking my hair.
Suddenly, the e-mail popped into my head. Severe pain accompanied it. My head felt like someone was cracking it open. Too much, I thought. Too much pressure. I can't handle this!
"Do you remember?" Taylor asked.
"Yeah…oh, Taylor, my head really hurts. It's too much pressure. I can't take it anymore!"
"Calm down," Ellie's voice came.
"I want to read the e-mail," I said.
"Are you sure?"
"Read it!"
Isaac started to read it. I started shaking. I knew Jeremy had done this.
After Isaac had finished, the room was silent. When I realized I was still in Taylor's lap, I tried to get up, but the pressure in my head kept me on the couch.
"Ellie! Zac!"
Ellie and Zac looked at each other.
"There you are!" Mia said, standing in the doorway. Diana and Celine were close behind. It took them a few seconds to take in the scene.
"Gabby!" Diana cried, running to my side. "What happened?"
I put my hands on my head, willing the pent-up pressure to subside. Taylor pushed my hands away. Rubbing my temples, he whispered, "Shh, Mom."
"Is she sick?" Celine asked.
Isaac jumped in with a quick explanation. Celine, Mia, Zac and Ellie went to check out the e-mail.
"Here, Gabby," Diana said softly. "I brought you some water. Can you sit up?"
With Taylor's help, I was soon sitting on the couch, drinking some water.
"What are we going to do?" I murmured.
"We're going to confront Jeremy," Ellie said angrily. "I'll call."
"No, let me," Zac said. "You're too mad."
"You're just as mad as I am!"
"Let me do it." Isaac yanked the phone from Zac and went into another room.
As everyone gathered around, talking, I climbed to my feet and unsteadily followed Isaac. I didn't mean to…but I had to.
"No, Jeremy, you don't get it. Your sick joke made Gabby even more miserable!…How do I know?…I held her for a good 20 minutes before she came around…stop denying it…she doesn't want to meet you…Okay, you've gone too far now…I'll meet you…nine, the bakery, be there!"
Isaac slammed down the phone. I crept back into the room. I grabbed Ellie, Zac and Taylor.
"Isaac's going to meet Jeremy!" I hissed.
"He can't!"
"He is…tonight at nine at the bakery!"
"Gabby, you have to stop him," Taylor said.
"How? I'm not speaking to him!"
"Come on, Gabby. Don't let your pride get in the way," Ellie said.
"My pride? Don't think so. You've got to talk to him!"
"Isaac, what happened?" Celine asked. The four of quickly separated.
"He denied it," Isaac said angrily. "We'll have to find another way."
