"I recognize the make," Amy joined in as she nodded and chuckled softly.
At the mention of her dad, the expression on Steph's face changed to sadness.
"My parents are getting divorced. They told us about it yesterday," Steph said with a faraway look on her face. Amy rushed to hug her, and after a while, Steph said, "I knew they had problems but thought they could work past them. I mean, they have done it before. What's so different now? Mom doesn't want it, but dad does, and I so much f*cking hate my dad right now."
"He says he has had so much he can't take it anymore and that, at times, it's important to look for oneself. Really, what about us, his kids? Is he just going to turn his back on us right now? Our family has already gone through so much, yet the sadistic him thinks he is the only one who has suffered. He says mom can have custody of the kids, yet mom is also so evil, like the devil himself. His reasoning stinks, and I can't even believe he is my dad anymore. I mean, I have looked up to that man my entire life, and he ruined all that in less than five minutes of his speech," Steph ranted as Amy continued soothing her softly on the back.
"Ohmygoodness!" Amy exclaimed in shock as she slowly moved away from the embrace to look into her best friend's eyes.
"What is it?" Steph asked in confusion as she slightly tilted her head.
"Let's get inside the car, please," Amy said as she led the way to Steph's car.
They sat in silence for a while, with Amy silently wondering whether or not it was right to tell Steph the truth.
It wasn't an easy thing to do, but it was better than letting Steph hate Max for his honesty and loving and praising Victoria for her dishonesty.
"Your dad isn't at fault, Steph. He is the hero in all these. He and Travis are alive because of his acts, not your mom's, and I know it's so difficult for you to believe that, but it's the truth," Amy said after what seemed like a century.
"What are you talking about? How do you know about that when it's my family, and I don't know anything? Wait! Are you reading lies online? Oh, God! Amy, you know some of those sites are just for clickbait. There is no authenticity in them!" Steph argued as she continuously shook her head in disbelief.
"No one ever wants to believe their parents aren't who they think they are, but we forget they are human. You've heard so much in mind that it's only normal for you to want to subconsciously hide other bad things, but it doesn't do any good."
"I think one of the cops shared the findings with a friend or family who ended up publishing them online. I threatened to sue him if he didn't pull down the article, but I have screenshots of the same," Amy said cautiously, and Steph scoffed and asked her if she was serious.
"Let me see," Steph said as she stretched her hands for Amy's phone. Bile slowly rose within her as she read the screenshots, and when she was done, she was so angry.
At herself for nothing and everything in particular, at Amy for telling her the truth, at the cops for not keeping the information confidential, at her parents for not sticking to their vows, and at fucking everything.
"Get out!" She shouted at Amy.
"What!"Amy asked in shock as she tried to calm down Steph.
"Just get the fuck out right now!" Steph shouted as she repeatedly beat the steering wheel and hooted, attracting attention towards themselves.
"Ok, you're creating a scene Steph."
"Am I? What if I did this?" Steph asked as she started crying loudly and wailing.
"This is going to be on campus news, and you know what that means. We can talk about this calmly in my place or yours," Amy tried reasoning, but Steph could hear none of it.
"Just get the fuck out. Which part of our don't you understand? Leave me alone! Go to hell for all I care," Steph continued shouting, and Amy hurriedly stormed out of the car and rushed to hers.
She saw photos of her get clicked, and Steph hurriedly left the compound and knew her biggest concern was to go after her.
She stepped onto her accelerator and threatened to step on the students who were still capturing them on video.
'Please, God. Keep her safe for me,' she mumbled as she drove fast after Steph.
Xxx
Max's mobile phone chimed, and he hurriedly put it upside down to avoid destruction.
He was working on a presentation he was to make the following day, and he didn't want to mess it up because it seemed that meeting would either make or break his career.