A Midsummer Night's Scandal

Thurs, May 11 at 3:42 pm

Vice Principal Struss: Why does your car look like a Valentine’s Day parade float?

Mark Mason: What?

Vice Principal Struss: Your car is covered in hearts, flowers, streamers and a giant sign that says - The course of true love never did run smooth.

Image sent.

Mark Mason: Seriously!?

Vice Principal: Friends playing a prank?

Mark Mason: I don’t think so

Vice Principal Struss: Is that a quote? The course of true love . . .

Mark Mason: It’s Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. We’re reading it in my grade 12 classes.

Vice Principal: A student did this?

Mark Mason: I don’t know.

Vice Principal Struss: You better figure it out.

Vice Principal Struss: We had a teacher who had to leave town a few years ago because of a student.

Fri, May 12 at 11:36 am

Tilly: What was that?

Cassie: What?

Tilly: Mr. Mason. . .

Cassie: What?

Tilly: Leaning over you - um, perv much?

Cassie: Jealous?

Tilly: Jealous of a married 40-year-old man looking down my shirt - uh - no.

Cassie: He’s not 40. He’s 27.

Cassie: And he’s not married.

Cassie: And he’s hot.

Tilly: You think he’s hot?

Cassie: Uh, ya. You don’t?

Tilly: He’s ok.

Cassie: January and Ashley think he’s a 7.5, but last week he talked about cooking a turkey, so now it’s a solid 8.

Tilly: Half a point for being able to cook?

Cassie: At least. I hate cooking.

Tilly: Is this going to be another Mr. Taylor situation?

Cassie: Who?

Tilly: Mr. Taylor - grade 9 Spanish.

Cassie: What about him?

Tilly: You had a crush on him.

Cassie: No, I didn’t.

Tilly: What!? You totally did. You were in his room every lunch hour until he started leaving school at lunch. And then, didn’t you try and get in his car once?

Cassie: OMG - no. That was you.

Tilly: Me? Why would I get in his car?

Cassie: IDK, you tell me. Maybe because he was always gushing over you. What did you get in his class, 110% or something?

Tilly: Actually, it was 104%.

Cassie: I see, and what do you have to do to get 4% extra credit?

Tilly: You don’t want to know, lol.

Cassie: If you say so.

Tilly: Seriously tho, what did Mr. Mason say about after class?

Cassie: I have to stay.

Tilly: Why?

Cassie: My essay.

Tilly: You handed it in on Tuesday. We both did.

Cassie: I meant the book review.

Tilly: We did that together, and I handed it in online.

Cassie: I think he just has some questions for me.

Tilly: But not for me?

Cassie: I guess not.

Cassie: He probably wants me to tell him how much of your part of the book report is AI.

Tilly: Hilarious

Tilly: How long are you going to be? I want to go get a lavender matcha at lunch.

Cassie: Go - I’m not your keeper.

Tilly: Uh…how am I going to get there? Teleport?

Cassie: Get Sophie to drive you.

Tilly: If I ride in Sophie’s car, I’ll be high by the time I get back. Her brother borrowed her car all weekend.

Fri, May 12 at 11:53 am

Tilly: I am soooooooo bored.

Tilly: This class is such a joke. Mason is a total crap teacher.

Cassie: No, he’s not!

Tilly: Yes, he is. We’ve been texting all class, and he hasn’t said a thing. Ethan is sleeping, and Jacey and Isla left 20 minutes ago, and he didn’t even notice.

Cassie: Who cares?

Tilly: Ummmm, he should. We watch movies 3 days a week, and on the other two days, we read Shakespeare.

Tilly: He doesn’t even explain the play, so no one knows what’s going on. We might as well be reading an instruction manual to build a fax machine.

Cassie: What’s a fax machine?

Tilly: EXACTLY

Cassie: Ok, so having an easy class is bad?

Tilly: I can watch movies at home. I’m doing an English major at uni, I’m going to need more skills than watching movies and reading.

Tilly: And no one even watches the movies he picks. Ashley yaps the whole time. If I have to listen to her tell another story about how she got sooooooo drunk she doesn’t remember anything, I’m going to tell her being an alcoholic isn’t a flex.

Cassie: Whoa - judge much?

Tilly: I’m not judging - someone needs to tell her or she’s going to end up like half the idiots in this loser town.

Cassie: So you’re leaving, and now everyone here is a bunch of idiots?

Cassie: And drinking alcohol makes you an idiot now? I guess my mom is a real moron then.

Tilly: I never said anything about your mom.

Cassie: Not today, but you’re always making comments about her. She can’t help it. She’s had a lot going on lately.

Tilly: I never said she didn’t. But honestly, your mom always has a lot going on.

Cassie: Yah - well, your dad isn’t any better.

Tilly: What is your problem?

Cassie: You judging everyone is getting old.

Tilly: I’m not judging. I’m stating facts.

Cassie: Really, cause ever since you got that scholarship, you’ve been strutting around here like you’re so much cooler than us.

Tilly: Are you for real?

Cassie: Forget it, I’m just pissy today.

Tilly: Clearly

Cassie: I’m pissed that you’re getting out.

Cassie: And I’m trapped, probably working at some greasy diner, living in the trailer with my mom and 20 cats.

Tilly: You can move after grad, you know. You don’t HAVE to go to university to move.

Cassie: And do what?

Tilly: IDK, but you can get a crap job and 20 cats anywhere.

Cassie: That’s helpful. Thanks.

Tilly: We’ll figure it out. I’ll come back every other weekend. I’ll be here so much you’ll get sick of me.

Cassie: I’m already sick of you.

Tilly: Asshat.

Cassie: jk

Cassie: IT IS crazy that Ashley has the same story every weekend.

Tilly: Right! There’s no way it’s all true. I bet it happened once, and now she’s lying because she thinks it sounds cool.

Tilly: And Luke and Zari molesting each other at the back of the room - wtf.

Cassie: If she gets pregnant in this class, she should have to name it Lysander or Helena.

Tilly: Or Puck, lol.

Tilly: But seriously it’s shocking he doesn’t make them stop.

Cassie: Mason’s cool. He’s not 1000 years old like every other teacher.

Tilly: Ok, but there's being cool, and then there's just being really bad at your job.

Cassie: Well, I think he’s a great teacher. I have a B+ and I’ve never had a B in any class, everrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Tilly: Is it his teaching? Or is it your new collection of low-cut tops?

Cassie: Don’t hate just cuz you don’t have anything to show off.

Tilly: No shade. It’s cute that you have a crush or whatever. I’m glad you're getting back out there after the whole Dylan thing.

Cassie: Whatever, I’ll meet you in the parking lot.

Tilly: K.

Fri, May 12 at 1:00 pm

Tilly: Where r u?

Fri, May 12 at 1:05 pm

Tilly: Hello? Cassie…

Fri, May 12 at 1:10 pm

Tilly: JJ is giving me a ride. I’ll get you a drink.

Fri, May 12 at 1:35 pm

Tilly: Where are you?

Fri, May 12 at 1:40

Tilly: Cassie, seriously. WTF? Where are you?

Tilly: Hello?

Tilly: Going to class.

Fri, May 12 at 2:57 pm

Tilly: Meet you at your car.

Fri, May 12 at 3:10 pm

Tilly: What is going on? You left? I thought you were giving me a ride?

Tilly: Cassandra Evelyn Mitchell!

Missed call

Missed call

Fri, May 12 at 5:18 pm

Tilly: Cassie?

Missed call

Fri, May 12 at 5:47 pm

Tilly: January - Did you talk to Cassie after lunch?

January: No, well, not really.

Tilly: What do you mean?

January: I saw her at the end of lunch. She was going to her car.

Tilly: Did she go home?

January: IDK. Probably - she looked like she was crying.

Tilly: What? Why?

January: I don’t know. I tried to talk to her, but she blew right past me.

Tilly: Ok, thanks. Let me know if she texts you.

Sat, May 13 at 10:12 am

Tilly: Cassie - what’s going on? Text me back.

Cassie: Hi - what’s up?

Tilly: OMG - you’re alive!

Cassie: A little dramatic, are we?

Tilly: What happened yesterday?

Cassie: Nothing, I just didn’t feel like talking.

Tilly: Why did you leave at lunch?

Cassie: I had a headache.

Tilly: You were supposed to give me a ride.

Cassie: Seriously? I’m not your chauffeur.

Tilly: What?

Cassie: I have things going on, too, you know.

Tilly: Like what?

Cassie: F U

Tilly: Cassie - don’t be like that. I’m not being rude - I am asking what is going on.

Cassie: I have a lot going on. Things you don’t even know about.

Tilly: Then tell me.

Cassie: . . .

Cassie: . . .

Tilly: Cassie?

Tilly: OMG - GROW UP!

Sat, May 13 at 11:19 am

Missed call.

Voicemail: Good morning, this is Officer Ramirez. I am calling regarding the information you gave us this morning. As I mentioned, I need specific names to move forward. Call me back as soon as you get this message.

Saturday, May 13 at 1:32 pm

Tilly: Cassie, I don’t want to fight.

Tilly: We've been best friends since kindergarten.

Tilly: You were there for me when my mom left.

Tilly: And I was there for you last year when Daisy Hunka got you kicked off the cheer team because of her fathead bf, Dylan.

Tilly: Like this is high school - of course your bf is going to cheat on you, dummy. If it wasn’t you, he would’ve found someone else.

Cassie: We were a week away from going to Nationals . . .

Tilly: I know. I still don’t understand how Struss believed Daisy and actually thought you were selling steroids.

Cassie: He believed her because he’s an idiot.

Tilly: We got through that, Cassie. And we can get through this.

Tilly: That’s what friends do.

Cassie: Yah

Tilly: So tell me what’s going on.

Cassie: You can’t leave.

Tilly: What?

Cassie: You can’t leave me here.

Cassie: alone

Tilly: I’d bring you if I could - you know that.

Cassie: Would you? You can’t wait to get out of here, and you can’t wait to get away from me. You’re just like my dad and everyone else that I’ve ever known.

Tilly: Cass - that’s not true. Besides, you’ll get out of here, too.

Cassie: I thought I would, but now I know I’m stuck here - FOREVER. Cleaning up after my mother, who can’t even keep a job for more than 3 months. I’ll probably die in this stupid town.

Tilly: Cass, it’s going to be ok. I promise. Let’s go for a drive or something.

Cassie: Can’t - I’m taking my Nana to get her hair done.

Tilly: I’ll come with you.

Cassie: It’s better if it’s just me. She gets confused.

Tilly: Could you take her tomorrow?

Cassie: I’m not blowing off Nana!

Cassie: I only get to see her twice a week, to get her hair done and when I bring her groceries.

Tilly: Does Brenda still let you pay for her hair by doing her yard work?

Cassie: Yah

Tilly: I can help.

Cassie: If you want. I am going over there around 5. I’ll pick you up.

Tilly: Crap - I forgot I’m supposed to meet Ava Hill tonight. You should come.

Cassie: Why are you meeting Ava Hill?

Tilly: We’re going to be roommates. We thought we should hang out or something.

Tilly: Come with me.

Cassie: No, have fun with your new best friend.

Tilly: Cassie - don’t be like that.

Tilly: Please

Tilly: Cassie . . .

Saturday, May 13 at 1:55 pm

Missed call.

Voicemail: Hi, this is Officer Ramirez calling. Sorry, I just missed your call. Call me back as soon as you get this message.

Sun, May 14 at 11:45 am

Tilly: Cassie, did the police talk to you about Mr. Mason? Call me.

Missed call.

Missed call.

Mon, May 15 at 8:47 am

January: Tilly, where are you? Are you coming to psychology?

January: Hello?

January: Cassie, do you know where Tilly is?

Cassie: At home - I think.

January: We’re doing our big presentation in class today. Like right now.

January: Is she coming to school?

Cassie: I doubt it.

January: She isn’t answering my text.

Cassie: Her dad took her phone.

January: Really?! Why?

Cassie: IDK - I haven’t talked to her. But my mom saw her and her dad coming out of the police station, and he was losing his mind.

Mon, May 15 at 9:54 am

Ashley: Holy Duck! Cassie, did you hear about Mr. Mason?

Cassie: NO

Ashley: Jacey told me she saw him talking to the cops.

Cassie: Was he arrested?

Ashley: I don’t think so.

Cassie: Doesn’t surprise me - he’s a total perv.

Ashley: Apparently, he was having a relationship with a student.

Cassie: Who?

Ashley: IDK - this is so crazy!

Mon, May 15 at 12:21 pm

January: Is it true?

Cassie: What?

January: About Tilly and Mr. Mason?

January: Were they really . . . together?

Cassie: IDK - she didn’t tell me, but she thinks she can do whatever she wants -so maybe.

Mon, May 15 at 3:20 pm

283-994-8714: Why are you doing this?

283-994-8714: I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings.

283-994-8714: You’re going to ruin my life.

283-994-8714: Tell them the truth.

283-994-8714: Please.

Missed call.

Missed call.

Missed call.

Tues, May 16 at 11:18 am

Ashley: OMG - did you hear?

January: WHAT?

Ashley: Tilly is pregnant.

January: WHAT!? OMG - no way.

Ashley: Yah - so much for uni.

January: Are you sure? Did she tell you?

Ashley: Cassie told me.

January: HOLY MONKEY BARS!

Ashley: Ya

Wed, May 17 at 10:51 am

Tilly: January, I’m coming to school tomorrow. Ms. Panachuk said we could do our psychology presentation at lunch.

January: Ok

January: Are you ok?

Tilly: Ya.

January: I heard the news.

Tilly: What did you hear?

January: Everything. Everyone is talking about you and Mr. Mason.

Tilly: It’s not true.

January: It’s not?

Tilly: No

January: Whose baby is it then?

Tilly: WHAT?!

Tilly: Now I’m pregnant too. OMG, this town sucks! I can’t wait to get out of here.

January: So, you’re not pregnant?

Tilly: NO!

January: Ok, sorry. I’ll meet you at Ms. P’s at lunch, ok?

January: Tilly?

January: Ok, sorry, Tilly.

Thurs, May 18 at 10:08 am

Tilly: Where are you, Cassie?

Cassie: At home.

Tilly: We need to talk.

Cassie: Ok.

Tilly: I’m coming over after first period.

Cassie: You can’t.

Tilly: Why?

Cassie: My mom, it’s a whole thing.

Tilly: Did you tell Ashley I was pregnant?

Cassie: No - why?

Tilly: She said you told her that on Tuesday.

Cassie: She’s lying.

Tilly: Why would she lie?

Cassie: She lies all the time. You said it yourself.

Cassie: Did you do it?

Tilly: Did I do what?

Cassie: Sleep with him?

Tilly: Are you kidding?

Cassie: Seems like you can do whatever you want.

Tilly: Yes, I finally got a ticket out of this butthole town and I decided I wanted to ruin it by sleeping with some loser teacher.

Tilly: You really think I’m that dumb?

Cassie: Sometimes you can’t help who you love.

Tilly: OMG - I didn’t love him. I didn’t even like him.

Cassie: You said he was hot.

Tilly: No, you said he was hot. I said he was ok. Maybe you slept with him?

Cassie: Definitely not.

Tilly: So, I got more good news this morning.

Cassie: Oh?

Tilly: Mrs. Li, the guidance counsellor called me into the office today. They pulled my scholarship.

Cassie: WHAT!?! Really?

Tilly: Yah, apparently they don’t want to deal with any scandals.

Cassie: Even though you told them it wasn’t true.

Tilly: They said it’s bad publicity. It’s done. Nothing I can do.

Cassie: That sucks.

Tilly: Yah, I walked out of her office and slammed the door so hard the window cracked.

Cassie: You should have ripped the door OFF.

Cassie: You ok?

Tilly: No

Cassie: Sorry

Tilly: thx

Cassie: Ashley said she saw Mr. Mason leaving the school last night with a bunch of boxes.

Tilly: Apparently, he’s moving out of town.

Cassie: They didn’t fire him?

Tilly: For what? Because some jerks started a bunch of rumours.

Cassie: Well, he’s clearly not innocent; otherwise, the cops wouldn’t have done anything. Maybe your name just got mixed up with it all.

Tilly: Great, so my life is ruined by mistake.

Cassie: Not ruined. You still have me. We can open the plant/book/coffee/snake store we talked about when we were kids. You don’t need a university degree to own a business.

Tilly: . . .

Cassie: You’ll see. This might be the best thing that ever happened to you.

Tilly: I gotta go to class.

Cassie: K.

Fri, May 19 at 11:45 am

Cassie: OMG, Till - did you see the new English teacher?

Tilly: The one in for Mr. Mason?

Cassie: Yup.

Tilly: No, who is it?

Cassie: His name is Mr. Reynolds.

Tilly: AND

Cassie: Um… he looks like a great teacher - that’s all.

Tilly: Yah, right.

Cassie: Want to get a lavender matcha at lunch?

Tilly: Yah, meet you in the parking lot.

Cassie: K

Fri, May 19 at 12:34 pm

Missed call.

Voicemail: This message is for Cassandra Mitchell. This is Officer Ramirez. Miss Mitchell, I’ve left several messages. I need to speak with you regarding the information you gave us. It’s very important you call us back as soon as possible. Giving false information is serious. This isn’t going away. Call me back.