Chapter 3

“The police are on their way, Carla Fox. Get ready to have your name dragged through the mud.”

A flicker of malice crossed the corner of Leona's mouth, and before I could catch it, Dean Chavez spoke up from below the stage. “This is something we can handle ourselves. There's no need to get the police involved.”

“Making a scene won't reflect well on the school.”

Leona put on a pitiful face. “Sir, it was Carla who wanted to call the police. Maybe she still... won't admit anything until she's cornered.”

Dean Chavez frowned. “Carla, you're a young woman. Blowing this up won't do you any good either. Let's settle it privately.”

I shook my head. “Sir, I'm not afraid.”

Dean Chavez shot me a glare. I pretended not to see it. If I gave in to them now, who knew what uglier stories would spread later.

The crowd below began to trickle out, though some stayed, waiting to see what would happen when the police arrived.

I stepped down off the stage. My friend Alexandra Harding handed me a bottle of water, her voice full of concern. “Carla, sit down, drink something, take a break.”

“Lester is such a lowlife. You were so good to him, and he actually did something like this.”

Alexandra looked righteously furious. Anyone watching would have thought she saw me as a true friend.

But the words scrolling across the screen sent a chill straight through me.

【Don't drink it. Your friend drugged the water.】

【Once you drink it, the drug will kick in and you'll make a fool of yourself in no time.】

【Then they'll use the chance to have someone destroy your reputation, filming a video that actually damages you and spreading it everywhere!】

My hand froze on the cap I'd just twisted open, my fingertips trembling.

Alexandra still wore that worried look. “What's wrong, Carla? Why aren't you drinking?”

I shook my head and screwed the cap back tight. “It's nothing. I just suddenly need the restroom.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught the flicker of displeasure on Alexandra's face, but she pressed on right away:

“Want me to come with you?”

“No need, I'll go by myself.”

With that, I headed for the auditorium restroom alone, but I stopped at the corner.

Seeing me gone, Alexandra turned and walked off in another direction.

I steadied myself and followed her.

She'd been my closest friend since high school. I really didn't want to think the worst of her.

She reached the top of the stairs, glanced around, and only when she saw no one did she slip furtively down.

I followed, ducking against the wall, and quietly started recording on my phone.

“Well? Did she drink the water?”

“No.”

“Did she catch on to something?”

“Impossible.” Alexandra said it with certainty. “I didn't slip up anywhere.”

“Tch, lucky her. Then we go with Plan B.”

“Right, but if this blows up, how do we clean it up?”

“Coward, what are you scared of? Someone's got our backs!”

After that, it sounded like the two of them were about to leave, so I quickly slipped away without a sound.

Hidden in the restroom, I clutched my phone, fear settling in afterward. Who could I even trust anymore?

But more important than all of this, there was one thing I still had to do.

I steadied my nerves and dialed a number.

“Hey, it's Carla Fox. There's something I need your help with...”

The call ended, and I let out a long breath. My heart finally settled.