Ricki knew her expression showed so much, she probably looked ill. God knew she felt ill. This drama could turn ugly really quick. Did she regret what she did? Fuck no. She and Gabe had both been pissed at David, and to be honest, at the time, Ricki had a bit of a crush on him. Now though, she was certain it was in the past, but whoever snapped that photo clearly had a problem with both her and Gabe. 

At least she knew one thing, it was a female. Very few men were this underhanded. Most felt the need to recognized for their work, but girls... girls were sneaky bitches. Krista nudged her when Dancy ran out of the room, and she looked at her phone. Gabe again. David was fighting Hector South? The kid that did the announcements?

"Oh shit." She said, showing the message to Krista and Maureen.

"He's out for blood, babe." Krista commented, and the knot in her stomach tightened. 

"Rick? You feeling okay?" Maureen asked. What a loaded question, but she then looked down to her sketch pad and saw why she asked. Normally, Ricki could just mindlessly doodle, but her page was near blank. 

"I feel sick." She admitted. "I May ask Dancy if he'll pull me out of my next two classes to work on the backdrops for the drama club's play."

Krista nodded, but soon screaming came from down the hall adjacent to the art room's hallway and the small class filed out and saw David, though vaguely, punch Hector in the face. Dancy and Sullivan managed to get to the front of the crowd, but the damage was done, and briefly David caught eyes with her before looking away. 

Ricki headed back to the class and slumped.in her seat. When Dancy finally returned.she walked.up to his desk and after a few brief words, he allowed her the request of working on the backdrops. She left the classroom and headed just.up the hall into the third art room where.the.other art club members from the class joined her as she pulled.on her painting apron.

--

Lunch could not have come quickly enough, and Ricki had her ear buds in, so she didn't notice when Gabe came in until he set down a tray near her. She jumped and looked to him. "Thanks." She said, placing her brushes in the sink and drawing warm water for them to soak in. She then took off her apron and sat at the empty table with him and soon Krista and Maureen came in. 

"I hope this doesn't take long, I have a lunch date with Carl." Maureen teased, but both Ricki and Gabe shot her.looks.

"God, you two look worse than when I caught you in the act." Krista said, and Ricki sighed.

"Well considering we thought this was going to stay in the past, yeah. Not to mention that Gabe has Heather now, and it's all coming out after I dumped David. Someone has beef with both of us." Ricki said, and Gabe nodded.

"Well, Amber, the girl who sent me the message said it had only been sent out to a few people and she was nipping it at the bud after she sent it to me." Krista said.

"Its got to be a girl." Gabe said, and he received multiple looks that were along the lines of no shit, Sherlock. "Sorry, I haven't been in this kind of situation before."

"Well, who would have it out for you?" Maureen asked. "And was around on Fourth of July."

Ricki and Gabe looked at each other and looked away, a little too quickly. "It happened after that too?" Krista asked, and Gabe looked.to Ricki.

"I thought you told them." He said. 

"No, not after Krista caught us." 

"So, who all was around?" Maureen asked.

Then it clicked. "Erin." Gabe said, and Ricki looked to him.

"Your ex?" She asked.

He nodded, but Krista looked at them. "Guys... it's getting sent out to everyone now. Tyler just told me He got it, and David did too."

Ricki sighed. "I'm leaving the school, like, now."

Gabe shook his head. "No, no, no, Pretty Ricki. I can explain this to anyone who asks, but let's not give Erin the satisfaction." He said, and she gave him a look.

Krista nodded. "You're sliding into the.skid?"

Ricki shook her head. "Gabe, that's not a good idea." She said. "David is pissed as it is, and you can't get suspended for fighting. Its hockey season."

"I won't fight back." He said, But his face said he was just as mortified as she was.

Maureen pulled Ricki up. "We've got your back, babe. We'll get them back."

Gabe threw his arm over Ricki who pulled out her phone that was non stop blowing up. She looked up to Gabe. "We made.or bed, now we have to lie in it."

"Bad pun," she grumbled, and once they got to the lunch room, Ricki went to turn and.leave, but.Maureen and Krista pushed her back.

Let it begin.