In the hallway, I noticed Zane stepping out of a classroom.He grabbed my arm, and I winced in pain.
“What the hell are you doing?Let me go!”I yelled, furious.
“Wait!”he shouted back.
“No, let me go!”I insisted, struggling to break free, but he tightened his grip on me.
“There's no recording,” he said firmly.
“What?”I stared at him, bewildered.
“It was a joke.Nobody recorded anything,” he repeated.
“I don't believe you.”I tried to wriggle free again, but he was stronger than I had anticipated.
“You have to believe me; it's true,” he insisted, but I wasn't so sure.
“Why would you tell me?”I demanded, my eyes flashing with anger.
“It was just a prank, I told you,” he replied quietly.
“Leave me alone.You're all twisted pricks; tomorrow I'm going to the principal and telling him everything,” I threatened, finally breaking free from his grip and running off searching for Emily.
“Em?”I called out as I got to the restroom door.“Are you in there?”I added, hearing her muffled sobs.“Emily, please…” I pleaded.She opened the door, standing there with tears streaming down her face.
“I can't take this anymore…” she said, shaking her head in despair.
“Listen, nothing happened.Clous didn't play any recording of you.Zane just told me the recording doesn't even exist; it was all a prank.I want to believe him, and I really think he's being honest,” I assured her, trying to sound comforting, but it
was clear she wasn't reassured, or that there was more to it.“It's alright; you don't have to worry about it anymore.”I stepped closer, arms open for a hug, but she recoiled instead.
“I just can't… I can't…” she sobbed, her voice breaking.
“Emily, what's going on?Didn't you hear what I just said?”I asked, bewildered.
“Just leave me alone…” she said, curling up on the floor, hugging her knees.
“Leave you?What's happening?I don't get it!”I exclaimed, frustration boiling over as her behavior left me utterly baffled.
“I… I… If I… you won't want to talk to me again,” she stammered, her voice trembling.I knelt beside her.
“Please, talk to me.What is it that's bothering you?”I pressed gently.She seemed to be holding onto something heavy that terrified her to reveal.
“I can't… if I do, it will ruin everything between us…” she whispered, her guilt palpable.
“What could possibly be so bad that you'd think I'd walk away?”I urged.“You can tell me anything; we've known each other forever.There's nothing that could make me turn my back on you,” I said, trying to convey my sincerity.
“Are you really sure?”She lifted her gaze, searching my eyes, desperate for reassurance.
Her look was so piercing that I nearly doubted my words.
“I'm certain!Just tell me!”I insisted.
“I… I'm so sorry.I didn't mean for it to happen.I feel awful.Please forgive me!”she begged, her voice cracking with emotion.
“Forgive you for what?”I shouted, feeling drained by her insistence on regret without any context.
“I kissed Marco,” she finally uttered, burying her face in her knees.My mind raced, caught off guard by a mix of confusion and an unexpected emotion.“It happened when you two first broke up.I went to check on him to see how he was doing.We were friends; we used to hang out all together.It was just me wanting to support him.We talked, he mentioned you, and then… in a moment, we kissed.I swear nothing else happened; I left right after.I meant to tell you, but then you two got back together, and Marco asked me not to say anything because he wanted another shot with you.”She paused, breathless from the rush of words.I felt a wave of shock wash over me, but strangely, I didn't feel anger—neither towards her nor Marco.Jealousy was absent.“But there's more…” she said, her voice trembling.
