Chapter 18 - GOSSIP PT 2

3rd person's pov

Marco is already fuming mad when he saw the post. Matthew is dealing with the website whereas Dylan is tracking the IP Address of the person who posted it.

"If we caught who did this, I won't be sorry for what I would do." He angrily said. Dione was silent because she doesn't know what she could do to make his friend calm.

"Got it." Dylan/Matthew said in unison.

"I took down the account." Matthew cracked his fingers.

"I got the person responsible for the post." Dylan said. "It was Marie. One of Jenna's friends." He revealed. Marco wasn't impressed by the revelation.

"My life can't be peaceful if Jenna continues to keep up with her delusions." Dione felt sorry for Marco.

"Why don't you confront her?" Dione unintentionally spoke. She covered her mouth. "Sorry."

"I talked out to her several times, and she said she would stop it. But this is getting out of hand. I don't even like her, let alone date her." Marco was frustrated that when their order came up, he quickly ate and said to take care of the matter once and for all and left.

"I hope he can resolve it." Dione sighed.

"Don't worry, it's Marco we're talking about, he can do it." Matthew confidently said.

"The exams are approaching, any ideas where to hang out to study?" Chloe asked.

"We can rent a house or a staycation." Elijah suggested.

"Seriously? Why do I think that we are going on a vacation rather than going to study?" Chloe complained. "Not that I'm complaining, but it will be a distraction if we have a staycation."

"Or we could rent one of Alice's coffee shops." Paul suggested. Alice also agreed.

"Omg! I didn't think about this. We had a newly renovated coffee shop just around the other town, we could just rent it because it offers a nap section." Alice clapped.

"It's settled then, but when will we start studying?" Elijah asked. "I also need to finish a plate."

"We have a drafting table there." Alice replied. Elijah looked happy.

"Anyway, will there be free charging station and Wi-Fi? I still have many presentations to do." Chloe also asked. Alice nodded.

"There's no problem. I think our only problem is when will we study." Alice replied.

"we'll just see it after the try outs."

A few days later…

"Congratulations!" They all cheered. Alice, Dione, Elijah, and Paul threw a mini celebration as they had agreed.

"good thing I didn't get in, I might bawl my eyes out of sleep deprivation if I ever get into sports again." Dione sighed in relief. She realized that having a sport and her course can not be matched because she doesn't want to be disturbed or interrupted when she has started designing something.

"Me either, although the coach said that we could come and play sometime." Alice chuckled.

"I didn't even believe that you both didn't get in." Elijah sighed. "Are you sure that's alright with you?"

"Yeah, we were originally on the line up but we backed out because we just played for fun. After we knew that trainings will be more prioritize, we agreed not to pursue it anymore." Dione explained. "I'm more surprised that you and Paul could balance basketball and architecture."

"We just liked the sport, if things get busy, I might sub out also." He chuckled.

"Anyway, let's dig into our cake!" Alice excitedly said. Paul was frowning at his phone.

"Alice, look at this." Alice took a peek at Paul's phone. Her eyes widened.

"Oh my gosh. Dione, look at your phone." Dione immediately looked at her phone and saw a bunch of notifications.

'What is going on?' she thought and opened the notifications to see a picture of her and Elijah with captions.

'Elijah Anderson and Dione Cloutier, dating?'

DIONE'S POV

"What the? We looked sweet here." I gasped. Elijah also investigated my phone and his face was shocked.

"Who took a picture of this?" Elijah asked.

"Chloe's going to be mad at me." panicked. Elijah looked at me.

"You knew?" He asked. I curiously looked at him with small eyes.

"Knew about what?"

"She confessed to me, courting me. But I can't reciprocate her feelings." He sighed.

"But do you like her as a friend?" He nods.

"She's fun to talk to. But I just can't disappear my lingering feelings for you." He looked me in the eyes. I felt guilty.

"I'm sorry, but I can't return what you felt." He let out a soft smile and ruffled my hair.

"I know, that's why I'm backing off for now. With Chloe messing up my admiration for you, I think we'll continue to be best friends." I smiled at him.

"So you now admit that Chloe's entering your heart now, huh?" I teased him. He playfully glared but is smiling at me.

"Don't tease me, like you're the one to talk, you and Marco looked like a long term couple," My eyes widened.

"No, we are not. We're only friends." I defended. But Elijah's teasing look made me nervous.

"Yeah right, whatever you say." He surrendered.