ELAINE – PRESENT DAY

Through the entire ride back to Harvard, none of us says a word. Eric keeps staring through the window, with an occasional glance at Adora who drives like a lunatic. She hasn't slept through the night and it shows. Her eyes are bloodshot, teary, and laced with panic.

A part of me fears she's going to drive us over the bridge, just so she doesn't have to face Mark, who somehow found out about her and Eric.

Josh refuses to talk to me, especially since he's found out the police want to see me again.

The moment we stop by the bank of Charles River, the tension building up in the car unravels. My nerves crack as Adora hits the brakes.

"Fuck." She whispers.

"You need to talk to Mark." Eric bumps his head against the window.

"I know."

"What the fuck is going on here?" Josh's laugh is dry and tense, when he looks at me, his eyes are full of judgement and disbelief. "Are you going to tell me why the police want to talk to you?"

Eric's head spins around, "Are you going to tell me how the fuck everyone knows about Adora and me?"

Josh lifts his head, "I didn't tell anyone, man!"

"How do we know that?" Adora turns around, too.

It takes all the strength I have not to roll my eyes, "Come on, Adora, he wouldn't tell anyone."

Josh glances at me, a peculiar expression on his face, "Elaine's right. Hell, I didn't even know until last night!"

"You could have told someone." Eric pushes.

"You had plenty of time and reason." Adora adds.

"Dude," Josh chuckles, "I was in your house and you're fucking insane! You think I'd spread that kind of rumour while in your reach?"

"He does have a point." Eric shrugs. "Maybe someone saw us in the Druid? Or-"

"I don't believe you." Adora's lips thin, her gaze shoots through Josh.

I have neither time nor energy for Adora's drama. I open the car door and slide out, ignoring Adora's protests.

"Where do you think you're going?" She unfastens her seatbelt and steps out.

"To talk to the police." I sigh.

Nervousness churns in my stomach at the mere thought. Something about talking to the police makes me feel like a criminal even if I did nothing wrong.

"What are you going to tell them?" Adora's eyes slightly narrow.

Everything I've held back last night slams into me at once. My hands begin to shake, my heart is hammering against my chest, I'm flushed and out of breath.

"There's nothing to tell." I answer, unable to look into her eyes. "They probably found out I'm pregnant because everyone knows."

Eric steps out of the car, "Adora, I'm going to talk to Mark."

"Wait, wait." Adora's expression tightens, she looks like she's about to crack. "We need to figure out what to tell him!"

"How about the truth?" Eric offers.

Josh slams the door behind him, "Elaine, I think we need to talk."

"Shut up, all of you." Adora pinches the bridge of her nose. "We need to figure out what's going on. Someone is out to get us, for whatever reason. We have to find out who."

"No," I shake my head, "We need to deal with this properly. I'm going to talk to the police and you need to talk to Mark."

Adora looks at Eric, "What do you want to tell him?"

"The truth." Eric sighs. "We fucked up, alright? We should face the consequences."

"No!" Adora shouts. "If we agree on what to say and what not to-"

"Adora." Eric's voice turns sterner. "You fucked me because you wanted to destroy your relationship-"

"No, that's not-"

"And now that you've successfully ruined your relationship, you want to fix it. It doesn't work that way!" Eric begins to walk away from her.

"Eric, stop!" Adora is falling apart. I can see it in her eyes, in her tight jaw. She doesn't know what to do and I can't help her. I'm done with her.

But Eric still doesn't leave.

"I have to take a shower and change." I grip my bag tightly.

"We have to talk." Josh reaches for my forearm but I pull away. "Come on, I deserve to know what's going on!"

We're arguing by the side of the road. People are beginning to look at us, it's only a matter of time before someone we know walks by.

"Can we not talk about it here?" I'm nervous and sweating.

"She won't talk to you." Adora intervenes, as always.

"Fucking stop talking in my stead!" I snap.

Adora offers a smug smile, "You're the one who said you can't deal with any of this and if anyone asks any questions, I should talk instead."

"I can deal with this!"

I can't. I'm going to break apart. I need Zoloft.

Josh interrupts, "I have to know what happened!"

"Everyone can hear us here." My heart is pounding too quickly.

Eric begins to walk across the street, to the darker, narrower street nearby. As we follow him, I can hear Adora laughing.

"What's your deal?" I mumble.

"We're gonna cross the street like that's gonna solve all our problems." She shakes her head and laughs some more.

I think she's losing it. Then again, so am I.

Once we're slightly more out of sight, Josh begins pacing back and forth in the street. He doesn't look so good. Fear covers his expression. Maybe he's afraid Eric and Adora will kill him. I'd fear that, too.

"Tell me what's going on." He demands. "Tell me what happened to Graham."

"We don't know!" Adora says. "Tell me why everyone knows about me and Eric."

"Adora..." I sigh.

"Don't you fucking 'Adora' me." She raises her finger and Eric immediately comes closer to her, as if wanting to be near in case she snaps. "Someone told someone!"

"Adora," Josh slaps the brick wall. "Nobody fucking cares about you and Eric."

"Of course you'd say that." Adora smirks. "You're probably the one who snitched anyway."

She's completely unhinged. She hasn't even combed her hair, which now sticks out at weird angles, probably due to rolling in the sheets with Eric last night.

"Can someone, please, tell me the truth!" Josh shouts again, his eyes find me. "Did you or did you not kill Graham?"

Defences kick in, "Do I look like I'm capable of murder? Why are you asking me?!"

"You're the one with a motive!" Josh's manic eyes search my face.

That's it. I'm done. I'm snapping. I can't lie anymore.

"Adora had a motive, too!"

As soon as my voice dies out, silence settles between us.

Eric is the first to speak, "What?"

Adora simply stares at me, anger sparkling in her diluted eyes.

Josh looks at her, then me, then her, "What do you mean?"

"Elaine." Adora murmurs a warning, a threat.

I look at Eric, "Graham knew about the two of you! He saw you!"

Eric takes a step back. The look of complete and utter disbelief crosses his face.

Adora closes her eyes momentarily and breathes in, like she's trying to calm herself, keep herself in check.

"Graham Koch knew about us?" Eric whispers.

"Yes." Adora breathes out.

Eric doesn't say anything else, he doesn't wait any longer. He simply turns around and walks away. Adora stands in the street, breathing in and breathing out.

Josh looks like he's on the verge of crying, but there's also just a smidge of relief in his eyes, like he's glad someone else beside me might have killed Graham. I don't know how to feel about it.

"Adora..."

"Shut up." She cuts me off. Her eyes are still closed and when she finally opens them, they settle on Josh. "We don't know what happened to Graham. Someone's fucking with us, probably someone who knows what happened."

Josh looks like he doesn't believe her, but he also doesn't speak.

"I have to..." She turns around, then back to us. "I have to go."

"Adora..." I sigh, too tired to care if I hurt her.

"I was your only friend." She lets out a strained laugh. "Your so-called friends left you the moment they found out you were pregnant. I stayed by your side."

Our eyes meet. Tears blur my vision.

She's right, but she's also wrong. She thinks she's my friend, but she would have never talked to me if it hadn't been for this unfortunate series of events.

"How do you think people will react when they find out you cheated on Mark?" I spit out, angry, tired and frustrated. "You think Katie and Melissa will stay by your side? They will choose Mark. You might have been my only friend, Adora, but I was yours, too."

Adora's shoulders slump.

Before she walks away, she raises her finger one more time, "Do not talk to anyone without a lawyer."

She leaves me alone with Josh.

I sigh and lean against the wall. Pain is pounding in my head. I don't know what happens now, I don't know how to deal with anything anymore. Despite everything, Adora was my anchor, she's the one who kept me sane.

Josh looks at me, questions in his eyes, but I somehow doubt he'd believe any of my answers.

"Did Adora kill Graham?" He sighs, like he's not sure whether he wants to know anymore.

"No." I shake my head. "We don't know what happened to him."

"Elaine, please..." Josh tries again, but gives up soon.

"I have to go." I push myself off the wall and head down the street without another word.

Another conversation with the police awaits.