"So, let's see..." Newt gets to work after he gets the database file in his desktop computer. Abby and I sit side by side on his bed, because there's nothing else we can do to help him. "Wonderful Scar... registered to Abigail Scarburo? That's not how you spell it. And the email is [email protected]... So nothing interesting there."

"What about my fake account?" I ask, still not ready to give up.

Mrs. Newton enters the room with a tray, and three cups filled to the brim with ice-cream, topped with chocolate sauce, and I have a quick flashback to Martin's disgusting pizza choices. She gives a cup to each of us, leaving the room again without a word.

"Man, I missed this so much..." Abigail says, taking the spoon to her mouth. Her eyes close as she savors it. It's more like she falls in love with it. "Mrs. Newton's homemade ice-cream used to be a staple of Maple Heights. So good."

"It's really good. Try it, John," Newt encourages, his gaze still fixed on his screen.

I scoop some of the one that looks like chocolate, and when I take it into my mouth, the experience is indescribable. It's like taking a bite of actual chocolate, and a really good one, too, except it's ice-cream. A creamy, soft one that makes my tongue dance in bliss while demanding to eat more.

"Goodness! What is this?!"

Newt takes some, and a happy sigh escapes through his nose. "Chocolate. I believe it has peanut in it, but I'm not sure."

"And you say this is homemade?"

"Yup. Mom's had an ice-cream store downstairs."

"This is freaking awesome," I say, taking another spoonful, this one so big it barely fits in my mouth. It's total rapture of the senses.

"Well, well. Someone isn't trying to hide anything here," Newt says, going back to his screen. "Foster44's account is linked to [email protected]. It's almost the same as the other one."

"Can you search for other emails starting with 'etc' in the database?" I suggest, taking another huge spoonful of ice-cream.

"Already on it," he replies, and a few seconds later, his screen shows a list with three items. "There's [email protected] here."

"Belonging to whom?"

Newt chuckles lightly. "Edmond Terrence Carter."

We all know who that is, but it is Abby who says the name out loud. "Fucking Potato."

He's at it again. What a surprise.

"But why, though?" Newt asks, confusion bringing his brows together in a frown.

"That's the kind of dung he does," Scar replies, rolling her eyes.

"But why would he try to pitch you guys against Amanda? What does he get from this?"

I dial the one person who can help me find out. "Lyle? It's me, John."

I put him on the speaker.

"Newt told me about the forum dung, man. Not cool."

"Not cool at all," Newt replies. "But we figured out it is Potato's doing."

"Potato? How did he do that?"

"He just created some fake accounts," I explain. "Long story short? We figured out it was him because he's an idiot."

"What are you going to do about it?"

"That's why I called you, Lyle. I have a plan," I say, and a smile breaks across my face. "I'll need you to bring Potato somewhere for me."

"We aren't friends anymore, though," Lyle says. "We don't even speak to each other."

"Just message him to join you at the town square. Tell him you miss him or something. We'll be waiting for him there."

Simple plans are always the best, really. The sun is already setting down as Abby, Newt and I wait in Sad Aloha for Lyle to summon Terry. He may never stop being a mischievous fuck, but at least I'm going to get some answers out of him.

"If he's in his house, he should walk past Aloha on his way here," Newt points out. We took one of the booths closest to the door, to be ready whenever Terry shows his ugly face. Dad is busy serving customers, so he doesn't pay us much attention this time, even though he seems curious about Newt, probably because it's pretty much the first time Newt is out with me.

Lyle sends me a message.

Tango Nine acquired. Collision expected at 1800.

If I know Lyle a little, this means Potato is coming. In five minutes.

"He took the bait," I tell my friends.

"Okay. What's the plan, now?"

"We make him talk," Abby and I say in unison. Newt smiles, rolling his eyes at us.

I elaborate my plan, "We wait until he shows up, and then we ambush him."

"And then we beat the dung out of him!" Abby completes, squeezing an imaginary neck.

"No, we can't do that." I tell her. "We'd get in trouble at school if we do, and I'm already on probation there."

"Right." Abby rolls her eyes. "Maybe your precious Eugene will bail you out."

"I don't know what your problem with Eugene is, Abigail," I start, but I don't have the chance to press further, because Potato just walks past Sad Aloha in his way to meeting Lyle. "Let's go."

We walk outside, keeping a good twenty yards between us and Potato, who's headed straight to Lyle in the center of the square. Lyle waves at him, which keeps him from noticing we're trailing behind. I give Abby a nod, and then we rush forward, hanging an arm around Potato's neck, one on each side, startling him.

"Wh-what the hell is this?"

"Oh, you cute thing. Did we scare you?" Abby says, producing a fake pout.

"We are SO glad to see you here, Terrence," I say, using his full first name to hint at what we know. "Why don't we just have a seat?" I add, pointing my palm at a bench, and we drag Potato there, where he plops down. Lyle sits at his left, Abby props her foot to his right, and I complete the circle standing in front.

"What do you want from me, Foster?"

"Foster? Man, I'm wounded now," I say, and Abby smiles. "I thought we were chums, Terry. Or should I say etc12?"

"What is this even about, Foster? I don't have time to play mind-games with you!"

"Okay, here's the deal. While we're no longer friends, you only address me by Foster44," I say. Color drains from Terry's face, but he still doesn't say a word. "Also known as etc14, was it?"

"Indeed," Newt replies. "There's also an etc13 account, apparently belonging to Scarborough here."

"That would be me," she says, producing a wide and girly smile. "Also, thank you for the compliment. I sure have a wonderful scar."

"All three etc-something accounts were accessing the school's forums today, and what a surprise it was when I figured out all three of them used the exact same IP address," Newt adds. He's probably making this one up, but it works, as now Terry looks ready to faint.

"So, Edmond Terrence Carter," I say, giving Potato a smile. "You know identity theft is punishable by jail, right?"

"I don't... I don't know anything about that! I swear!"

"Now, now. Let's try again." I reach forward and pinch one of his nipples, giving it a hard twist. Potato winces, but doesn't allow a sound to come through his lips. "I'll ask again, and it will be the last time I'll do so nicely. Why did you do that?"

Potato shrinks in pain, but makes no effort to take my hand away. He also stays silent, which finally makes me lose my temper. I twist harder, and this time he grunts.

"It was Amanda..." he whispers through his teeth.

"Come again?" I ask, twisting his nipple as hard as I can.

"It was Amanda! She asked me to do it!"

I let go of his nipple, and he hugs himself to cover them from me. "Why?"

"I don't know! I swear I have no idea!"

"What did you get from doing it?"

"I'm not telling you that!"

"Well, taters. Here's the thing," I say, sitting on my heels to see him at eye-level. "You do remember how I had my fight with Rude?"

"What about it?"

"Remember I broke his fucking cheekbone and severed his knee before leaving him unconscious on the street?" Potato nods frantically. "Do you want to see what I can do to your greasy ass if you don't SPILL THE FUCKING BEANS RIGHT THIS INSTANT?!"

Potato's jaw hangs slightly as he processes what's going to happen to him. Tears run down his cheeks. "She promised me sex if I did that. I don't know her intentions, but I followed her instructions just the way she planned it. I only had to go into the forums and start the rumor. I swear this is all I know! Please! Please don't hurt me!"

"Sex?" Lyle asks in disgust. "Why would AMANDA RIGGS have sex with you, Terry?"

"It's supposed to be my reward for spreading the rumor!"

"Dude, honestly," Abby says, now standing straight and crossing her arms. "Nobody is going to have sex with you while you're... well... you."

"Ouch," Newt says behind me.

"Look," I say, standing again and bending forward. "I'm going to pretend that you're telling me the truth here, because I'm really sorry for you."

"Oh, thank you, John. Thank you so much, man!"

I lift my right leg and stomp his groin. He lets out a pained wail, but I pay no attention to it. "I'm not done, you flabby piece of dung. This is the second time you try to get me in trouble using your filthy tricks. And there won't be a third."

"Absolutely not! I promise!"

"If this ever happens again, you won't be fucking Amanda, or anyone else, because I'm going to cut your dick and shove it up your asshole. Are we clear?"

"Yes! Crystal clear! Please!"

I lift my foot, releasing him. "Now get the fuck outta here."

He can't get to his feet fast enough, but heck, I'm not done punishing this motherfucker. I lift my foot, making him trip and fall flat on his belly. Then I launch forward, grabbing his hair and yanking his head backwards.

"I'm not fooling around, Potato. I'll make you pay if you do shit again."

Then I let him go, and he runs away, crying like a bitch. I look around and find a small stone, which I lob at his retreating ass, nabbing him on the back instead. If this doesn't scare him enough, nothing will.

I turn back to my friends, finding a group of dumbfounded people with hanging jaws. Lyle is the first to speak.

"Dude. Didn't you go too far there?"

"Hate to agree with Lyle, but you look like Rude doing that kind of dung," Abigail adds. "It's scary."

"Newt?"

He takes a deep breath. I notice he's shaking. "I'm just glad I'm not your enemy."

This is when it first occurs to me I might have gone a bit too far. I take a deep breath myself, trying to give him a warm smile. "Sorry to scare you, people."

"I mean, he deserved worse," Abby says in my defense. "I say he had it coming."

"Now, do you guys believe a word he said?" Lyle asks, finally bringing the real question to consider.

"Not for a minute," I reply.

"I don't see Amanda offering him sex for something she could do herself just as easy, and without getting caught," Newt offers, making a valid point.

"You guys clearly don't know her well enough," Abby says, sitting on the bench. "She wants people at school to believe we're worst dung than Rude was."

"By inciting a coup d'état against herself?" I reply. "How does that make any sense?"

"People like underdogs, John," Newt replies. "Think about sports. Unless you have a favorite, you'll always root for the underdog. And right now, Amanda is the underdog at school."

"So, do you think she actually did that?"

"No. Like I told you, it makes no sense to have Potato do that for her when she could have done it herself," Newt gets lost in thinking as his gaze drifts to the now setting sun. "Something doesn't add up."

"Well, you can bet I'm confronting that bitch tomorrow and demanding an explanation," Abby spits, crossing her legs. "I'll find out if she did anything or not."

"Even if she didn't, we should talk to her to let her know we had nothing to do with this," I counter, and Abby frowns at me. "I'm sorry, Abby, but I don't believe she'd do this. I'm with Newt; it doesn't make sense."

"You're more stupid than you think, John," Abby frowns. "But let's play it your way, see how you fail at that."

"You just want to believe she did it, Scar," Lyle protests, throwing his arms in the air. "Found a good excuse to rekindle that fight of yours."

"Shut the fuck up, Lyle! I'll ask for your fucking opinion when I want it."

"Guys, guys!" I say, trying to bring back some order. "We'll talk to Amanda tomorrow and find out if she actually had anything to do with this."

"While you're at it, why don't you just invite her to be our friend, so we can walk hand in hand and grab a bite at your Dad's fancy restaurant, too?"

"Sarcasm isn't going to get you anywhere, Abby," I reply, lightly rubbing her arm in an attempt to help her calm down. "Although I could eat some pizza, to be honest. Who's with me?"

None of them say no to that.

Later that night, I get a message from Eugene, asking if we found anything. I call him immediately to explain what we found and how we proceeded, but he's not pleased with my story.

"Again, John?"

"How else were we supposed to handle it, Boss?"

"Should've told me, and I'd have talked to him at school in the morning."

"You can still do that," I propose, nonchalant. "Newt has all the information you need, if you even need it. Terry knows what he did anyway."

"And I will," Eugene replies, turning a bit more Mr. Sunderland. "It doesn't mean I condone what you did to him, John. You acted rashly. Went for the violent approach once again."

"The same way Terry got me in trouble once, before the fight with Rude, and here he is, doing the same thing again," I return. "Look, I understand what I did wasn't optimal. But Terry had it coming, Eugene. Don't make me regret telling you."

He sighs. "We'll talk about this some other time."

Then he hangs up.