The Newcomer (Thunder Point #2)(32)

“Listen, I’m not up on this internet stuff like I should be—but isn’t this against the law? Isn’t it harassment or something?”

She shook her head. “I don’t think anyone ever gets caught. Not really.”

“Have you called Downy? Could he have done this?”

“And called me ‘Downy’s ex psycho slut’? Wouldn’t he have said ‘My ex psycho’?”

“Ashley, this is almost the nastiest, meanest thing I’ve ever seen. Can Downy really be okay with this? Have you called him?”

“He won’t take my calls. I called Landon. He’d already seen it—that’s how fast this stuff moves. It came over his texts. He said he’s going to call Downy and tell him to shut it down. But Mom, it’s too late!”

“Listen, listen. You just laugh if you can and say, no one in their right mind would ever believe that’s me. Like those are my boobs? Gimme a break! His new girlfriend is obviously very threatened and has gone to a lot of trouble to try to make me look bad! Can you do that, Ash? Because it’s not you! It’s not! It’s her!”

Ashley looked straight at Gina, tears pouring down her cheeks. “If you think I’m ever going to school again, you’re crazy,” she said in a whisper.

* * *

Landon called Downy the minute he hung up from talking to Eve. Downy answered, “Dupre! ’Sup, man?”

“You really have to ask, Downy?” Landon countered. “Ashley’s pretty much destroyed! What the hell, Downy?”

“Aw, I didn’t do that. That was Selena, just screwing around, that’s all.”

“That’s all? She sent it to everyone! Everyone on your phone directory and posted it on Facebook! A picture of Ashley looking like she just had the sex of her life, her na**d boobs hanging out!”

“Yeah, my mother got that,” Downy said. “I had to tell her it was a practical joke—that someone on the team did it. I texted everyone and said it was just a bad joke and I didn’t do it.”

“Right. And before anyone got that text, I’m sure they forwarded the picture to everyone they knew....”

“But man, it wasn’t me! And Selena said she’s sorry. So tell Ash, we’re sorry.”

“We’re sorry?”

“Yeah, see, we had a little fight. She wanted me to get all my old pictures of Ash off my phone and I just didn’t do it fast enough and it pissed her off and... Listen, it’s no big deal. Everyone knows it’s just a crank, it’s not real....”

“Are you brain-dead?” Landon said. “Jesus, Downy, you’re killing the girl! As it is, Deputy McCain saw it when Eve asked him if it was against the law, if it was something you could be sued for! I think he’s gonna call your dean, your coach!”

“Aw, man, why’d you do that? Why’d you show him that?”

“Because if you’d done that to Eve, I’d be on my way up there to beat the shit outta you, you stupid ass**le!”

“Why would I do that to Eve?” Downy asked. “I didn’t even do it to Ashley! But come on, I told her we broke up and she wouldn’t let it go and Selena—she doesn’t like seeing another girl on my phone, you know? But she’s over it and she said she won’t do it again.”

Landon was stunned quiet. “Let me see if I have this right,” he finally said. “You asked Ash to go with you, right? To be your steady girl. To take off her clothes for you, to do private things with you, and you promised to respect her. Promised to take her to her prom, promised to be faithful, said you loved her, and now because you f**ked some girl at State, now you want her to just go away quietly?”

“I woudn’t’ve put it exactly like that, but I guess that’s sort of right. Look, we grew apart....”

“Grew apart? One week you spend nine hours on the phone with her and the next week you grew apart?”

“Dupre! Back off. It didn’t work, okay? And it’s not that big a deal—everyone knows that picture was doctored! Everyone knows it’s not real! Lighten the f**k up!”

Landon just shook his head. “I don’t believe you,” he said. “You know what you are, Downy? You’re a prick, that’s what you are. A stupid prick with his brain in his dick. I hope Selena dumps your sorry ass!”

Landon hung up. Then he called Eve. He could hear the tears in her voice when she answered, but this was not just about Ashley. She was having her own terrible day—her long-lost mother had suddenly reappeared and she was struggling with that.

“Hey, babe,” he said. “Look, I know you’re not in good shape right now, but would you do something for me? Would you show your dad that picture, tell him Downy admits it’s faked and ask him if there’s anything he can do? Like, I don’t know...I suppose life in prison is a little harsh... Could he call the dean or the coach or something...? Because Downy’s girlfriend got her hands on his phone and did that. And that is just wrong.”

“You talked to Downy?” she asked.

“Yeah,” he said, his voice full of disgust. “He said it was no big deal and Selena did it, but she said she wouldn’t do that again.”

“Oh, that’s comforting,” Eve said. “I’ve been calling Ashley. She won’t even answer my call,” Eve said. “Oh, Landon, I think everything is falling apart all over the place.”