“Basically, we can’t be public,” she ends.

“I got it,” I sigh.

She notices my slight disappointment and scoots closer to me. “You know,” she says leaning in closer, “there don’t necessarily need to be rules in private,” she whispers against my ear.

I shudder and nod my head, forgetting the witty comeback I was planning to say.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next day I sit down with Madison in the quad. This is my chance to chat with the master of scheme plotting.

“Madison, I need your help and I think you’ll like helping.”

She looks up from the book she’s reading questioningly.

“I know how much you hate Aiden, which is why I’m asking for your help,” I begin.

“I do hate Aiden,” she states unnecessarily. “Anything that hurts him I’m up for doing.”

“Aiden slipped a roofie in my friend’s drink but she’s not pressing charges. I want him to learn that he can’t do that and get away with it, so I wanted to know if you could help me think of some kind of payback.”

Her face is grave. “Really? I hate that kid… and I’d love to punish him.”

I take a seat next to her.

“Time to brainstorm,” I say, while her eyes sparkle with mischief.

“The criteria is 1. It must inflict pain, 2. Humiliate him, 3. And be legal-ish.”

“Legal-ish?”

“Yeah because we have to take pictures,” I explain.

“Let me think, then. That just eliminated ninety percent of my ideas,” she says with a straight face.

She has a contemplative look for about five minutes.

“I got it!” she exclaims. “He’ll never be able to live this down,” she chuckles evilly.

She whispers the plan in my ear.

I gasp. “Madison, I love the way you think. You are an evil genius!”

“We can do it tomorrow,” she suggests. “I can have everything ready by then.”

“Sounds good,” I say, as the bell dismisses us to class.

At lunch, I can’t help but engage Aiden in conversation. I know Ashley wasn’t lying, but my better half tells me to get the other side of the story before I completely trash his reputation.