Viral by Alex Van Tol

not.
    I want to see this jerk fry.
    But then I think of how Lindsay said it would destroy her if the cops got hold of it.
    It’s a pretty raw deal. Making it with Josh at the party would have been something to talk about. Shag ’n’ brag. Her friends would envy her for that. One more notch in her belt. A big one.
    But now that there’s actual video footage of her little party trick…that changes everything. Whether it’s fair or not. There’s a fine line between hooking up with a popular guy…and becoming a Paris Hilton porn star. And unfortunately—with Bryce’s thoughtful help— Lindsay crossed that line without even knowing it.
    She’s right. With this footage, the whole game changes. She’ll be labeled a whore once people find out it’s her. The worst part? After the initial gossip dies down, Josh will be more popular than ever. It’s like some sick cosmic joke. He’ll be the stud, she’ll be the slut, and the world will continue to spin.
    I skip my last class to think.
    It’s a tough call. I want to take this to the cops. I want that scumbag to be busted wide-open for what he did to Lindsay. I want him to pay a big ugly fine, or do a few years in jail, or pull some heavy community service or whatever they do with creeps that film themselves screwing girls at parties.
    But like Lindsay says, if this goes to the cops, they’re going to want evidence. All kinds of statements from people. It’ll get out. And it’ll wreck her reputation, which is impossible to recover from. She’ll have to move schools. And even then she might not get away from it. It’s so frustrating. I’m beginning to understand how hard it is for girls who find themselves in situations like this. Their choices are limited to Bad or Worse.
    But I can’t just do nothing . If he doesn’t get busted for this, Josh could easily take advantage of some other girl. And who’s to say his friends won’t start doing it too—especially if they know they won’t get caught?
    I can’t let him get away with it.
    But if I turn him in, Lindsay’s reputation will be killed—and so will our friendship. She’ll see this as the ultimate betrayal. I will lose her forever.
    But if I don’t do something…I might lose her anyway. The last thing she said to me on Tuesday before she stormed off. That bit about how she’s a slut. She’s going to start to believe it. I’m worried she’s just going to get worse. More drinking. More drugs. More sex.
    More of what she never stood for.
    I think back to Tuesday’s conversation. I see Lindsay’s point. She can’t go to the cops without this whole thing coming apart at the seams. But I don’t want her world to fall apart either.
    I decide to take matters into my own hands.

Chapter Fifteen
    I don’t have to go to the police. I don’t have to blow this whole thing wideopen. I can deal with this myself.
    At least I can try.
    It scares the hell out of me, but I can confront Josh about the video.
    The last bell has rung, and students are pouring out of the main doors. I know where to find Josh. He’ll be hanging around the portables out back. He and his little band of emo drama freaks like to hang out there after school. Maybe they read Chaucer and Yeats. Smoke up and challenge each other to fake duels. I don’t know.
    I decide to go now, before I can chicken out. My heart is racing and I have to keep wiping my palms on my jeans. I try to think about what I’m going to say.
    I spot him leaning against the railing of the stairs to one of the portables. He’s alone. I’m glad. I still have no idea how I’m going to handle things.
    As I approach, I realize how tall he is. Much bigger than me. That’s okay. I’m not going to be intimidated by him. I’m the athlete, not him. He might beat me in a Shakespeare smackdown, but I’d