Cyber Heroes and Zeros

•••Envy Unleashed•••

The warm light from the bedside lamp bathed Janice's room in a cozy glow, accentuating the plush decor. Perched on her neatly made bed, Janice's expression revealed a mix of envy and determination. Veronica had been getting a little too cozy with Janice's self-proclaimed boyfriend, Austin, but Janice wasn't going to let it slide. She was gearing up to put a stop to it once and for all.

Picking up her phone, Janice dialed Celine's number, a mischievous glint in her eyes as she plotted her next move. Celine, always eager to indulge in a bit of gossip, answered on the second ring, her voice filled with curiosity.

"Hey, Janice! What's up?" Celine chirped through the phone.

"Hey, Celine. I need your help with something," Janice replied, her tone hushed but urgent. "I've got some juicy gossip about Veronica that I think we should spread around."

Celine's interest was piqued, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Ooh, spill the tea, girl! What's the scoop?"

Janice leaned in closer to the phone, her voice low as she divulged her plan. "I overheard Veronica talking to Austin the other day, and let's just say she was being a total pick-me girl. I think it's time everyone knew the truth about her."

Celine gasped in faux shock, playing along with Janice's scheme. "Oh, that's good! We have to let everyone know. Should we start with a post on social media?"

A devious smile tugged at the corners of Janice's lips as she nodded, even though Celine couldn't see her. "Yes, let's start there. I'll draft up a post, and I need you to share it with as many people as you can. We need to make sure everyone hears about this."

As the plan took shape, Janice felt a surge of satisfaction wash over her.

With a few taps on her phone, Janice crafted a cunning post, planting the seeds of doubt and jealousy in the minds of all who would see it. The stage was set, the players in position, and Janice was ready to watch her carefully orchestrated rumor take flight.

As she hit the 'Share' button, a thrill of anticipation raced through her veins. The game was on, and Janice was playing to win.

•••Unraveling the Rumors•••

Austin awoke with a sense of contentment lingering from the wonderful date he had with Veronica the night before. The memory of her infectious laughter and sparkling eyes brought a smile to his face as he reached for his phone to check his social media.

As he scrolled through his feed, his smile quickly faded into a frown of disbelief. Numerous pictures and videos of himself and Veronica from their date were plastered all over social media, accompanied by a flurry of derogatory comments targeting Veronica. The comments labeled her as a "pick-me girl" and accused her of seeking validation from men.

Shocked and confused, Austin's mind raced with questions. How could something so private and special between them have turned into a public spectacle filled with hate and judgment? Determined to get to the bottom of the rumors, Austin immediately dialed Zach, his closest friend and confidant.

"Zach, we need to meet up right now," Austin said urgently over the phone. "There's something going on, and I need your help to figure it out."

Zach could sense the worry in Austin's voice and agreed to meet him at their favorite coffee shop. After a few minutes, Austin arrived, he spotted Zach sitting at their usual table, a concerned look etched on his face.

"What's going on, man?" Zach asked as Austin slid into the seat across from him. Austin quickly briefed Zach on the situation, showing him the posts and comments that had taken social media by storm overnight.

Amber178🌸: OMG, the quiet types are always like that, so desperate.

Kate09: Who would've thought that little Ms. Geek would be a boy-crazy pick-me. It's the quiet ones we should be careful of. 🫣

Minion888: Ooo the Golden Boy wants to try something new, but why though, she's a thot.🍆💦💦💦

Summer1🌼1: I thought our Campus King is dating Jan? Somebody give me the 411, I'm not updated!

Kimmy: @Summer - 411 is our school geek is a skank. She's promoted to a Pick-Me Girl 💦

Tisha💋: Annoying, she's not only a pick-me but she's also not a girl's girl. Crazy B 😡😡😡

Tanner😈: Yo, I saw the 2 of them at Blitz! The real question is did he score or not? 😗 I think my man, did the deed. He scored! Congrats, bud!

Zach's expression darkened as he read through the hurtful remarks about Veronica. "This is messed up, Austin. We need to find out who's behind this and set the record straight," Zach asserted, his voice filled with determination.

Austin could feel the weight of his emotions lifting slightly, knowing that he had someone in his corner who understood and cared.

He then proceeded to say, "Zach, do you know anyone who can trace where this message started?" Austin asked with a serious tone, his eyes reflecting a mix of determination and concern.

Zach nodded thoughtfully, recognizing the gravity of the situation. "I might know someone who can help us with that," he replied, a steely resolve in his voice matching Austin's determination. "I'll reach out to a contact I have in cybersecurity. They're good at tracing back online footprints and uncovering the source of messages like these."

"Thanks, Zach, I appreciate the help," Austin said with a sigh of relief, gratitude evident in his voice as he looked at his friend with a sense of reassurance.

Zach returned a reassuring smile, his eyes reflecting a sense of camaraderie and shared determination. "Of course, man. We're in this together," he replied, his tone filled with unwavering support and loyalty.

With a firm handshake and a nod of understanding between them, Austin and Zach prepared to face the next phase of their mission with renewed resolve and a shared commitment to uncovering the truth about this senseless rumor.