Kate walks into the computer lab, settling into her usual spot between Oscar and Maggie. As she fires up her machine, Kate leans over to Maggie, “I just had the strangest lunch.” Kate says, quietly.
“Wait a minute. Isn’t this is lunch with Nick day? I don’t wanna hear anything kinky.”
Kate rolls her eyes. “The caf was a zoo so it was lunch with a whole herd.”
Maggie grins. “That’s why we went downtown. Much more civilized.”
“You may be better at planning than I am, Maggie, but I’m still better at digging up dirt.”
“Ooooh,” grins Maggie, “Sounds like I missed something good. What’s the scoop?”
Just then Jake and Krystal come in and Kate freezes. Maggie says, “What?” Following Kate’s line of sight she realizes the subject of the gossip has just entered.
Jake? The rapist? Hard to believe. No way. Impossible.
It’s got to be something else. Something with Krystal. How did Kate find out about Krystal? If anybody in CSIS had any brains, they’d be recruiting Kate. Begging her to sign on ’cause that girl would make an awesome spy.
Better keep it under wraps, it isn’t something Krystal needs spread around. Maggie taps her keyboard and Kate nods an acknowledgment. They can discuss it in a private IM chat.
Jake sets down Krystal’s laptop across the aisle in her usual spot beside Adam’s place. Maggie wonders where Adam is. It isn’t like him to miss class. This’d be his second time. What’s going on with that guy?
Krystal smiles brightly, “Thanks Jake.”
Jake says, “No problem,” with nonchalance belied by the tell tale grin spreading from ear to ear as he leaves the room.
Maggie sets up the chatroom while Kate settles in, firing off invites to Oscar and Kate to participate just as the professor makes her appearance. Krystal has been plugging in her laptop but looks up as Gates announces the class can use the time to do project work or meet with her for individual consultations.
As Gates settles in at her desk, Krystal roots through her bag and pulls our a tattered paper notebook and heads over to join the line that’s already forming She perches on an empty desk to reread some notes while she waits.
Maggie:
whazzup k8?
Kate:
You’ll never believe it. I had lunch with Adam + his pal Dave.
Oscar:
Right, Adam brought him along the other night.
Kate:
Dave has a weird story to tell. He grew up in a small town, everybody knows everybody, and kids from the nearby towns are bused to Walkerton for high school.
Maggie:
I hv work 2 do K8. This going somewhere?
Kate:
Big time. Seems a redhead named Chris from small town Paisley told people she was dying so they’d tell the guy she was hot for.
Maggie and Oscar exchange glances, then they all look over at Krystal talking to Professor Gates.
Oscar:
So he’d pity her and give her a tumble?
Maggie:
There’s never been any question that the blonde is out of a bottle. I thought it was a fashion statement not a disguise.
Oscar:
Jake argued with Jose whether it was real blonde.
Maggie:
Poor Jake.
Oscar:
What happened? She get the guy?
Kate:
Sort of worked, somebody told the guy, but instead of dating her he went to pray with her mom, and the mom set him straight.
Maggie:
Holy shit that’s… just…
Kate:
Sick?
Oscar:
Stupid, really. Y try it on again? Didn’t work the first time.
Maggie:
Different time, different place.
Kate:
Nick says this is way beyond a prank. Only a sociopath would try to pull a scam like this. Twice.
Maggie:
So Oscar told you?
Oscar:
Guilty
Maggie:
Just can’t keep a secret, can you Oz.
Kate:
Just as well. Y do u think Adam decided to cut.
Maggie:
Maybe this Dave guy is just trying to do her dirt?
Kate:
Can’t see any reason he’d have to lie.
Maggie:
Cold chills. I think I believe it. Need 2 hear it from her tho.
Kate:
I wanna confront her. This is my last class today
Oscar:
Can’t believe I fell for it.
Maggie:
It’s funny, we weren’t really friends until she was dying.
Oscar:
I rather doubt we were ever really friends at all.
Kate:
You guys believe it’s all been a lie? even without talking to her?
Maggie:
Yeah, I do.
Oscar:
How could you lie about something like this. Inconceivable.
Maggie:
You’d pretty much have to be a pathological liar to pull this off.
Kate:
Word Nick used was sociopath.
Maggie:
it’s not something that a friend would do, that’s for damn sure.
Kate:
She mustn’t think very highly of us.
Oscar:
I’ve helped her with a bloody lot of school work.
Kate:
Me too.
Maggie:
I guess between us we’re probably getting her pretty good marks.
Kate:
And poor Jake… it’s not just the mooning over her, he’s been like her servant, you know… She’s coming back. What now?
Maggie:
Shh then. Talk to her after class. I’m sure as shit am not leaving this room until I know for sure. And she isn’t either.
Oscar:
Sounds like a plan. Back to work kiddies.
Krystal resumes her seat and finishes setting up her work area. She glances at her friends, but they are all pretty wrapped up in what they’re doing.
