Misty knew that wouldn’t be enough to stop the circulation of the pictures, though. This kind of thing could take on a life of its own. She was probably lucky someone hadn’t decided to take it a step further and fake a video. Even a post that was taken down in minutes could go viral.
Her hands shook as she logged on to her computer and went to the social-networking site. One glimpse of the pictures made her gag with disgust.
“Oh, Katie, don’t let Kyle see them,” she pleaded, figuring this would just about doom that secret crush she had on Katie’s brother. It wasn’t much of a crush, because he was older and didn’t even know she was alive. Unlike Katie’s other brother, Ty, who was this major sports superstar, Kyle was quieter and a bit of a nerd. But he had a wicked sense of humor that made Misty laugh. “Please, Katie. I’ll never be able to look at him again.”
“Misty, it’ll be okay,” Katie said. “Kyle was as furious about this as I am. The minute I told him, he said he was heading home. He knows this isn’t you and, most of all, that it isn’t your fault. I pity whoever did it, if he figures out that part.”
Misty was surprised it wasn’t obvious. “It wasn’t Annabelle? You’re sure?”
“Not unless she’s started some other page and online identity. Her old page is completely gone. I checked there first. I don’t know enough about technology to figure out where this started, but maybe Kyle will.”
“How am I supposed to even show my face tomorrow, much less speak?” Misty asked wearily.
“You’ll do it because you aren’t going to let these idiot bullies win. If you need me to, I’ll stand on that stage right beside you. I can get some other kids to do the same thing. We’ll present a united front, so everyone knows you’re not in this alone.”
“I know you’re trying to help, but the truth is I am alone,” Misty told her, feeling utterly defeated. “That’s my name linked to those awful pictures, not yours or some other girl’s. No matter how many times I tell people it wasn’t me, that image will stick in everyone’s head.”
“It won’t,” Katie said with feeling. “We won’t let it. But you have to speak tomorrow and show everyone how strong you are, that you’re not going to let this destroy your reputation.”
“I don’t feel strong,” Misty said miserably. “I know I didn’t entirely believe it would be over once Annabelle was caught and suspended, but everyone kept saying it would be. I let myself start to hope they were right. Now, this. How am I supposed to go through this again, especially when I don’t even know who’s behind it this time? All I want to do is crawl into bed and hide.”
“I’m telling you Kyle will figure out who did this, or the police will. The second I show these to Helen, you know she’s going to be all over it. And Chief Rollins will be, too. His sisters are in school with us. I know he’s terrified that the same awful thing could happen to Carrie or Mandy, so he takes it personally. I heard him tell Helen this wasn’t happening in his town, not on his watch.”
Misty almost managed a smile. “You almost make him sound like some sheriff in the Old West.”
Katie giggled. “I guess in a way that’s what it’s like around here. Chief Rollins considers every single crime like an attack on him. He’s fair, but he doesn’t even take misdemeanors lightly. I heard my mom, Dana Sue and Helen saying that they’d have been locked up for sure if he’d been in charge when they were teenagers. They got into mischief all the time.”
Misty actually chuckled at the image of the three women locked up. “Helen would have hated not being able to wear her stiletto heels in jail,” she said. “She has a shoe wardrobe that’s the envy of every woman in town. One pair probably costs as much as all my school clothes last fall.”
“Yeah, Helen does love her Jimmy Choo’s.”
Surprised that she’d been able to find anything at all to laugh about, Misty sighed. “As bad as this is, I’m glad you told me, and I’m even happier that you’re my friend.”
“Always,” Katie told her. “Now, I think I hear Kyle downstairs. Let me get him on this right now. I’ll call you back after he’s handled it and after I speak to Helen, okay? Or do you want to come over? Maybe hang out for a while?”
The thought of facing Kyle after he’d seen the pictures online was way too depressing. “Not tonight.”
“But I will see you at the rally tomorrow, right?” Katie said.