Elements of a Shattered Past, Chapter 16: Decision
Story by FeuerfoxKA8 on SoFurry
Chapter 16: Coming across some very harmful information, a tough decision must be made.
Notes: Please be advised there is some racy content in this chapter. To head off questions about the content, everyone involved is over 18; for example Holly's birthday is January 17, 1983. I don't generally write or post adult content that often and that won't be the focus of the story, but it makes sense in context.
Harrison High School
Colorado Springs, CO
May 23, 2001
It was hard to concentrate, but at least I was alone. I wasn't really that concerned for myself; frankly, there wasn't much that Katie, Matt, or Ryan could really do to me that I couldn't bounce back from. I wasn't going to college so those threats were laughable. After graduation I was going to take over as manager of the Fountain store so I wasn't going to be cut out of a job, and Mrs. Callaway's word would go a long way to keeping any real heat off my back.
The problem was that they had threatened Holly. Katie's words ran through my head. 'Embarrass us and Holly's college dreams are going to vanish in the wind. She'll be lucky to get a career at Wal-Mart when I'm through with her.'
The bitch's inane laughter echoed through my mind as I got the laptops ready for reimaging; a flurry of activity on the test bench as I put floppies and CDs into drives and booted them up one by one. 'Don't worry; I'm sure I'll come up with some juicy dirt on you too, flower boy.'
“The fuck you are," I spat in response to the veiled threat, even if it was too little and too late. People like Katie skirted by on good looks, feigned innocence, and rich parents who didn't want to face the fact they raised a manipulative shithead instead of a decent person. The problem was that there wasn't really anything I could actually do about it.
Or was there? My thoughts carried me to the next part of the project; the digital cameras. More specifically, the digital camera that Mrs. Callaway took from Matt exactly a month ago. It was foolish to believe that he left anything on there that could be used against him, but I had to make sure. I hated thinking like this, but if I had some leverage perhaps I could get them to leave Holly alone. Yeah, I was aware that she had done some stupid things but she didn't deserve to have her future thrown away because of it.
I made my decision; plucking the camera he had checked out from its bag along with the attachment cable and the CompactFlash memory cards it came with. The one in the camera had the standard printed label DC026 ; it was the right one for the camera. The other card in the bag had a different label: DC011. I looked at the inventory sheet and found the other camera.
I blinked; this one had been checked out to Ryan Nichols, Katie's boyfriend. Upon inspection, this one also had its memory card. They looked identical; both were 256MB SanDisk cards. The only difference was the label. The legend DC011 was hand-printed on the card in fine permanent marker. This was suspicious. Frowning, I pulled out one of the laptops that I knew had been used by the yearbook class; this would have the correct software to look at the camera.
After booting up and logging in, I plugged Ryan's camera into the laptop and launched the software. I started looking through the card; a number of photos of the football team, Coach Bradley, and what looked like some candid pictures of them eating at Taco Bell were all I found. Nothing out of the ordinary; even the one of him and Katie standing in front of his old Camaro looked legitimate and benign.
Shrugging, I disconnected Ryan's camera and plugged in Matt's. The memory card that went with the camera showed more of the same except featuring the wrestling team instead of the football team. Meets, candid photos that wouldn't be out of place in the school newspaper, and all of that. I felt a little guilty at my frustration; I had secretly hoped to find something.
I plugged in the last memory card; the one with the legitimate label that went to Ryan's camera. This time, instead of a set of pictures I found a set of folders:
HCM18BDA
HM18BD
HJSB1
RKSB1
SBSD01
Curious, I opened the last folder. This time the contents were quite different. I recognized some of the faces; Katie, Matt, Ryan, Cassandra, Jennifer, Holly, and a few others. It was obviously one of their shindigs; I didn't recognize the house but the expensive furnishings and massive rooms were beyond the reach of most parents of Harrison students.
Several bottles of hard alcohol and plenty of beer cans littered tables and the kitchen; pictures of what I assumed to be pot and rolled joints were also damning. I tried to ignore the couple of scattered pictures of Holly drinking and partaking; this didn't look particularly good for her if someone else had copies of this. The datestamps on the files read a mixture of 3/17/01 and 3/18/01 ; these were taken during spring break. There had been rumors of what went on during these shindigs; I guess I knew now what kind of bullet I had dodged.
I went to the next folder in line; my face flushing deep red as I realized what I was looking at. Pictures of Katie in some of Victoria Secret's best; she was a manipulative shithead but she had the reputation of being one of the most attractive girls in school for a very good reason. The photos got progressively racier; a striptease soon involved Ryan and progressed from there. If there was a smoking gun to use against Katie, I had it. Closing the folder, I took a deep breath. Was I really going to consider blackmailing the school blackmailer?
I went to the next set, steeling myself for what else I could find. Guilt immediately washed over me as I recalled Holly's message. 'There are, well, pictures of me…' I had found them. I recognized the other person as Jennifer Ordway; the girl I had seen in the hall after Holly slipped me her contact info. Her lips were pressed against Holly's; her arms wrapped around my friend's waist. Like the set I saw with Katie and Ryan they progressed further as they wound up on a couch, Holly's hand on Jennifer's cheek and her eyes glazed over in a mix of intoxication and lust. I stopped right there; I now realized why Holly was concerned. “Fucking hell…" I spat.
Judging by the dates they were eighteen when this happened; Holly's birthday was in January and the rest were scattered between December and early March. Still, the photos made me feel like a creep; at the same time I wanted to make sure I knew the extent of what Katie and Matt likely had on Holly. Again, this wasn't good.
I took a few more minutes to clear my head before I went to the next set. This time it was Holly and Matt; in contrast to the pictures of Katie and Ryan these were different. Holly was on her knees, blindfolded; her wrists and ankles bound. There was a look of mixed anticipation and apprehension on her features; I wasn't sure what to make of that. I didn't go any farther; I was already seeing a side of her I wasn't sure she wanted me to see.
The last set was difficult to look at; I didn't progress past the first picture as I already felt like I was too much of a voyeur. This time it involved Matt, Cassandra, and Holly; the blonde jock with the frosted tips sitting between the two girls with his hands up each of their shirts. Cassandra was smiling while Holly's look was one of nervousness; the other girl's hand grasping hers. I closed the photo; I felt like I was betraying her trust by having seen these photos. I sat back and sighed; there was a major decision to make. It took me about an hour to make it.
Mrs. Callaway was in her office as I knocked on the door; with a confused expression she motioned for me to come in. “Adam," she remarked, “I didn't expect you to come back here today. Did you need Mr. Tindal's help with something?"
I shook my head, shutting the door behind me. “No, Mrs. Callaway," I responded. “I found something on one of the digital cameras that I think you need to see." I set the CompactFlash card on her desk.
“What is it?" she asked as she took the card.
“This is that second memory card from the camera you got back from Matt Sorenson," I stated. “The card came from one checked out to Ryan Nichols. There's a lot of photos on here; considering who are in them I don't want to get involved any more than this."
The librarian remained silent for a moment as she plugged the card into her desktop computer. I took a deep breath and tried to hold back a wave of nervousness as she scanned the contents; her face impassive. After what felt like an eternity, she spoke. “I see what you mean. Thank you for bringing this to my attention; I think I need to have a chat with Mr. Briggs," she paused for a moment and looked up to me. “I'll try to keep your name out of this. If you want to go home now that's fine; just try to get the rest of the equipment finished before next Tuesday."
I told her that wouldn't be an issue and left the library. I'm sure most other people would be relived; I most definitely wasn't. What I had just done would carry some severe repercussions for several people; myself included if things didn't go well.
I wandered across the school to collect my things from the storeroom. The intercom chimed; the school secretary's usually cordial voice carried over the speakers in businesslike fashion. “Mr. Briggs, please report to the library. Mr. Briggs, please report to the library." Those wheels were now turning; my die had been cast.
I collected my things and headed back to the main entrance. The intercom chimed again; this time it was the authoritative baritone of Mr. Briggs. “Mr. Hill, Deputy Tappett, please report to the library immediately. Mr. Hill and Deputy Tappett, report to the library." My blood ran cold; Mr. Hill was the school's security guard and Deputy Tappett's presence meant this was getting very serious.
I rubbed my eyes as I walked out to my bike; a frustrated sigh cast to the warm spring afternoon as I undid the lock and pulled away from the school. The fallout from this would be far from my proudest moment. I may have only had one week left before I was out into the real world, but school was trying to get one last hit in.
[5/23/01 4:47PM] Instant Message from JOrtega2725: ** Adam, it's Seth. I'm using Julie's computer because mine crapped out. Are you there?**
PaintedBlack05** : Yeah, I'm here. What's up? Did you need me to look at your machine?**
JOrtega2725** : Maybe later? Some really weird stuff happened today. Mr. Briggs got on the intercom asking for the security guard and the school's sheriff deputy. About ten minutes later the guard comes into my English class and pulls Sam Wilkins out.**
JOrtega2725** : Julie told me on the way back home that several students got pulled out of their classes by the guard, the deputy, or Mr. Briggs himself. Nicole told her that she saw the deputy walking Katie up to the front office. I think something happened to them.**
PaintedBlack05** : Yeah, something happened. I'm well aware of that.**
JOrtega2725** : What do you mean by that? What happened?**
PaintedBlack05** : I don't really think I should say any more than that.**
JOrtega2725** : Julie here. I think you should tell us because this looks very serious. Really, what happened?**
PaintedBlack05** : Julie, please don't take this the wrong way but you kinda let things slip to other people without realizing it. If I tell you, you need to keep this to yourself. Tell nobody, and I mean NOBODY. Not even Will or Holly. THIS IS IMPORTANT.**
JOrtega2725** : Alright, alright. Christ, if you're doing all caps, you're really fired up about something. I promise this stays between you, me, and Seth. What is it?**
PaintedBlack05** : Katie was blackmailing Holly with something, something that could wreck her chances of going to the college she wants to go to. Katie was using that to get me to not take her to the prom. I found what Katie was blackmailing her with.**
JOrtega2725** : What was she using to blackmail Holly?**
PaintedBlack05** : Julie, please don't. I don't want to be rude, but this is very private.**
JOrtega2725** : Okay, okay. I'll try not to pry. You know I'm inquisitive.**
PaintedBlack05** : Then stop being inquisitive about this. I already feel horrible about this entire situation.**
JOrtega2725** : Seth here. I can connect the dots, dude. You didn't give that blackmail stuff to Mr. Briggs, did you?**
PaintedBlack05** : I gave what I found to Mrs. Callaway.**
JOrtega2725** : The fuck, Adam? What the fuck's gotten into you? Don't tell me you screwed Holly over, too!**
PaintedBlack05** : No, I didn't. I was able to erase the material that involved Holly, so she should be clear.**
JOrtega2725** : Jesus Christ, Adam. You know if they catch wind of you doing that you're fucked, right?**
PaintedBlack05** : Yeah, I know. It's not perfect. Look, Holly told me how they treated people and screwed their lives over. I had the opportunity to stop them from doing it to other people, so I took it.**
JOrtega2725** : Julie here. I get it. Queen Bitch and her merry band of little shits had it coming for a long time. But, this is a lot of risk for someone you keep calling “just a friend".**
PaintedBlack05** : Julie, Holly really is just a friend. I'm not doing the whole romantic interest thing. She was going to throw herself to the wolves if I hadn't done this.**
JOrtega2725** : Seth here. You keep telling yourself that. Just in case you're blind, Holly is crushing on you hard. What do you think is going to go through her head when she finds out that you just dropped a damn nuke on those people in her defense and consider her 'just a friend'?**
PaintedBlack05** : I don't know. I really don't know. I had the opportunity to do something about it, so I took it. I know that's not like me, but what Katie said to me pissed me off. She tried to use me like her fucking puppet, and I wasn't having any of it.**
JOrtega2725** : Yeah, you obviously weren't. Look, we've been friends since freshman year and I've tried to get you to stand up for yourself. You did just that. Perhaps a bit over the line, but you did.**
PaintedBlack05** : Yeah. I'm not proud of this. There's other things going on that I'm not going to talk about, but I guess what's done is done. You know I'm not doing the college thing, especially right off, so I'm not worried about what happens to me from an academic standpoint.**
JOrtega2725** : Julie here. Yeah, this was kind of a stupid move but it most likely worked. You're a good friend. I kinda think your feelings for Holly go a bit deeper than you want to admit, but you'll stand up for us and that's what counts.**
PaintedBlack05** : So, what now?**
JOrtega2725** : You need to tell Holly what happened. In person, tomorrow. I'll get her to meet you at lunch, and I'll keep the rest of us out of it.**
PaintedBlack05** : I'm not sure that's wise. There's some other things that make it complicated and awkward.**
JOrtega2725** : Then uncomplicate it. Holly is going to be scared to death that she's next. That's far more important than your feeling awkward.**
JOrtega2725** : I'm not giving you a choice. You're talking to Holly tomorrow, whether you like it or not. I'm dead serious.**
PaintedBlack05** : There's going to be some fallout from this. I'm not sure how she's going to take it.**
JOrtega2725** : That's on you, Adam. You're the one who threw the hand grenade into the outhouse, you shouldn't expect to come away squeaky clean. We need to go, Seth and I are about to go to McD's to get some dinner.**
JOrtega2725** : We expect to see you at lunch tomorrow. Get something nice from the a la carte line for both of you, because I also expect you to find somewhere to talk to her. Good luck. Again, we'll see you tomorrow.**
[5/23/01 6:12PM] JOrtega2725 Signed Out