“It’s been shut down multiple times,” Colton sighs, leaning back into the chair. “It always comes back stronger than before. And unless we find out who owns it, it’s impossible to punish them.”
“There’s got to be something that could indicate who owns it,” I say. “Have you tried tracking down the IP address?”
“Yes, but the IP address doesn’t point me to the exact dorm where the site’s being used. It’s somewhere on the campus.”
Ellie wipes her tears, and briefly, my attention is turned to her. She looks like a mess, not looking at me or Colton. She looks broken, and I feel bad that she’s getting fired because of me.
For fuck’s sake.
“Ellie,” Colton says, his voice softening a little. “You can wait here until the next class starts, to avoid the eyes of the students.”
She nods. “Thank you.”
“And you,” he turns to me. “You’re dismissed. Go pack, you’re going home.”
With a deep breath, I stand up and head out of his office, slamming the door shut behind me. Blood boiling in my veins, and I’m very close to knocking someone’s teeth out. It doesn’t help that wherever I go, whispers and stares follow. They’re not subtle, either, and I fucking hate being mocked.
I stop dead in my tracks when that stupid, obnoxious laughter fills my ears. I snap my head to the side, spotting Sophia leaning against the wall, chatting with Damien again.
Her eyes find mine, and she smirks, then offers a small wave.
Realization hits me like a ton of bricks, and I start shaking withrage. She’s not hiding it — she wants me to know it was her who sent the site the video. The taunting smirk doesn’t leave her lips, and the angrier I get, the wider her smirk becomes.
Oh, you bitch. You’ll regret this.
SIX
Sinners & Saints.
The name of the website has always been the hot topic. No one knows who the mastermind behind the screen is, or who sends in reports, gossip, or anything of the like. Though once signed up for the website, we all get emails with the newest, juiciest gossip on campus.
From small things, such as who went on a date, to the most scandalous, reputation-tarnishing information on the rich kids. Even the high school in Saint Valley, which is miles away, has access to the website.
“Who do you think did it?” Grace asks, still scrolling on her phone, carefully reading through the article on Soren. She hasn’t taken her eyes off the screen since we all received emails, and it’s been fun watching their expressions — which I did my best to match.
“It could’ve been anyone,” I shrug, glancing at my laptop, the article wide open. “Allegedly, this happened during the library party. You stormed out, Grace. Didn’t you see or hear anything?”
She shakes her head. “I went in the opposite direction, to therestroom,” she groans. “I wish I’d taken the longer route.”
“No, but this is serious, guys,” Lila chimes in, her pale, bubblegum pink hair falling down her waist, the fringe framing her soft features perfectly. “Ms. Ellie got fired. Soren’s been suspended.”
“And whose fault is that?” Avalon scoffs, reaching under her bed to pull out a box. The rest of us watch her with a raised brow when she pulls out a couple of bags of chips, tossing a bag to each of us. “He’s a man. Of course, he’ll want to sleep with anything with a pulse. But she is his professor; she should’ve known that would’ve cost her the job if the word got out.”
“Even still,” Lila says, opening her bag of chips and stuffing a handful into her mouth, chewing on it, then swallowing it down. “It’s illegal.”
“Unless they find the person who sent the video — which I highly doubt they will — there’s no one to sue.”
Lila sighs, sprawling on the bed. “I bet Soren will find a way to find them.”
My ears perk at that, and I put the bag of chips away, pushing a strand of hair behind my ear. Slowly, I look at Lila, smirking a little. The girls don’t know it’s me who sent it — of course — but I do think Avalon’s suspicious.
“Why do you say that?”
Lila scoffs. “Just think about it for a moment. Soren’s family will not just allow their only son to be dragged through the mud. Someone’s bound to leak the video to the general public at some point, just out of pure spite. Ford’s are one hell of a family, and definitely not someone I’d mess with.”
“Well, sure,” I shrug. “If he does find out who leaked it, he should hold them accountable.”
Even without looking at Avalon, I can feel the way she rolls hereyes. Silence falls around us, and then Grace looks up from her phone, shutting it off and setting it aside.
