Chapter 2 - The Joke That Left the Restaurant
"Take it down."
Daniel's voice was so quiet that Ryan immediately stopped talking.
Lauren held the phone between them.
The video had been posted less than twenty minutes earlier.
It already had thousands of views.
The clip began with Emma arriving at the restaurant.
Someone had filmed from behind a decorative plant.
Emma could be seen checking her phone, smoothing her dress, then sitting at the table alone.
Text had been placed over the footage.
WHEN YOUR FRIEND THINKS HE'S GETTING A MODEL...
The next clip showed Daniel entering.
Then Emma.
Then a freeze-frame of Ryan grinning.
The video ended before Daniel took Emma's hand.
Before he moved tables.
Before he defended her.
Whoever edited it had deliberately removed the part where the joke failed.
Emma stared at the screen.
Her face emptied.
Daniel recognized that expression.
Shock had become something colder.
"Who posted it?"
Nobody answered.
Daniel looked at Ryan.
"Who?"
Ryan swallowed.
"Ben."
Every head turned.
Ben was still sitting at the original table.
He looked ready to run.
Daniel started toward him.
Emma caught his sleeve.
"Don't."
Daniel stopped.
"I need to know where he posted it."
"Then ask him. Don't hit him."
"I wasn't going to."
Emma raised an eyebrow.
Daniel exhaled.
"Fine. I was thinking about it."
Despite everything, the corner of her mouth moved.
They approached together.
Ben immediately raised both hands.
"I already deleted it."
Lauren shook her head.
"Deleting the original doesn't delete reposts."
"I didn't know it would spread."
Emma stared at him.
"You filmed me without telling me."
Ben's face reddened.
"It was just for the group."
"Then why did you edit it?"
He said nothing.
"Why did you add text?"
Nothing.
"Why did you post my name?"
"I didn't."
Emma's expression changed.
"What?"
"I swear. I didn't add your name."
Daniel looked at Lauren.
"Can someone else edit the caption?"
"Not unless they reposted it."
Lauren searched.
Seconds later, her expression became grim.
"Someone did."
"Who?"
"I don't know."
Emma took out her phone.
There were already notifications.
She opened one.
Then another.
Daniel watched the blood drain from her face.
"Give me the phone."
"No."
"Emma."
"I need to know."
"You don't need to read strangers insulting you."
Her jaw tightened.
"They're talking about me. I get to know."
Daniel understood.
So he sat beside her.
And stayed.
The comments were ugly.
Some mocked Emma's body.
Others criticized Daniel without knowing anything about him.
Some claimed the entire scene was staged.
A handful defended Emma.
Then a different kind of comment began appearing.
People had found her workplace.
Emma froze.
"No."
Daniel saw it.
COLLINS? Isn't she the librarian at Westbrook Elementary?
Another comment followed.
My kid goes there.
Then another.
Daniel felt genuine fear for the first time that evening.
"Emma, we're leaving."
She didn't argue.
Daniel paid the bill while Lauren helped Emma gather her things.
Ryan approached.
"Daniel—"
"Don't."
"I can fix this."
"You've done enough."
"It wasn't supposed to go online."
Daniel turned.
"That's your defense?"
Ryan looked toward Emma.
"We just wanted to mess with you."
"You used a human being as a prop."
Ryan flinched.
Daniel continued.
"And now strangers know where she works."
The weight of that finally seemed to reach him.
"I didn't think—"
"Exactly."
Outside, Emma stood beneath the restaurant awning.
Her hands shook.
Daniel offered to drive her home.
She hesitated.
Then nodded.
During the drive, her phone continued buzzing.
Eventually Daniel said, "Turn it off."
"I can't."
"Why?"
"My principal might call."
As though summoned by the words, the phone rang.
Emma stared at the screen.
PRINCIPAL HARRIS.
She answered.
"Hello?"
Daniel couldn't hear the other side clearly.
But he watched Emma's expression.
"Yes, I saw it."
Pause.
"No, I didn't know they were recording."
Pause.
"I understand."
Longer pause.
Emma closed her eyes.
"Of course. I'll come in Monday morning."
She ended the call.
Daniel waited.
"What happened?"
"Parents are already emailing."
"About what?"
"The video."
"You're the victim."
"That doesn't matter to everyone."
"It should."
Emma looked out the window.
"Parents don't like drama around their kids."
"You didn't create it."
"Again. Doesn't matter."
Daniel tightened his hands around the steering wheel.
"What did your principal say?"
"She wants to talk Monday."
Daniel didn't like the sound of that.
They reached Emma's apartment building twenty minutes later.
He walked her to the entrance.
Emma turned.
"You don't have to keep rescuing me."
"I'm not rescuing you."
"It feels like it."
"Then I'm doing it wrong."
She looked surprised.
Daniel smiled.
"I was hoping I was just walking you home after dinner."
Emma studied him.
"After the worst blind date in Chicago history?"
"I thought dessert was decent."
She laughed softly.
Daniel relaxed.
Then Emma's smile faded.
"You know you can walk away now."
"From what?"
"All this."
She held up her phone.
"People are going to talk about you too."
"I'll survive."
"You don't know that."
"Emma."
Daniel waited until she looked at him.
"I asked if we could call tonight a date."
Her expression softened.
"I remember."
"I'd like another one."
She blinked.
"You're serious?"
"Very."
"Why?"
Daniel smiled.
"Because you hate olives, love murder mysteries, and have a dog named Winston who apparently snores like a chainsaw. I need more information."
Emma laughed.
Then she cried.
Not dramatically.
One tear.
Daniel stepped closer.
"Can I hug you?"
She nodded.
He wrapped his arms around her.
Emma held on longer than either expected.
When they separated, she whispered, "Goodnight, Daniel."
"Goodnight, Emma."
He waited until she entered the building.
Then his phone buzzed.
A message from Lauren.
CALL ME. NOW.
Daniel called immediately.
"What happened?"
Lauren was crying.
"I found something."
"What?"
"The group chat wasn't the beginning."
Daniel went still.
"What does that mean?"
"Ryan had another chat."
"With who?"
"I don't know everyone."
Daniel heard frantic typing.
"But they've been planning tonight for almost two weeks."
His stomach turned.
"Send it."
"I am."
Screenshots arrived.
Daniel opened the first.
Ryan had written:
Carter hasn't dated anyone seriously in two years. Let's test whether Mr. Nice Guy is actually nice.
Another person replied:
Find someone completely outside his type.
Then Ryan:
Lauren knows a girl.
Daniel's breathing slowed.
Another screenshot.
A photograph of Emma.
Taken from social media.
Then a message:
Perfect.
Daniel felt sick.
Lauren whispered through the phone.
"There's more."
"Send everything."
"I don't know if I should."
"Lauren."
A long pause.
"Daniel, Emma wasn't randomly chosen."
He stared through the windshield.
"What are you talking about?"
"Somebody specifically suggested her."
"Who?"
"I don't know. The account uses initials."
"What initials?"
Lauren answered.
Daniel stopped breathing.
He knew them.
And so did Emma.
Across town, Emma had just reached her apartment door when her phone buzzed.
A message from an unknown number appeared.
DON'T TRUST DANIEL CARTER.
Below it was a photograph.
May you like
Emma opened it.
And dropped her keys.
