CHAPTER 97: I THOUGHT I’D GET CRUCIFIED

Monday Morning – Blackwell Academy

I took a deep breath as I stood in front of the school gates.

The wind felt colder than usual, or maybe it was just my nerves again.

My palms were sweaty, even though I’d wiped them on my pants several times. My bag was heavier than it should’ve been. Or maybe that was just me too.

After everything that happened last week....Liam’s situation, the hospital, the hearing, the sex, the confession, I thought this would feel easier.

But, it didn’t.

I still expected to walk in and feel eyes on me.

Still expected someone to whisper,

"That’s the boy who pushed Liam off the roof."

Still expected to see the shame in people’s faces when they looked at me. Or worse, fear.

I took one step in.

Then another.

The hallway buzzed with voices, lockers slamming, sneakers squeaking on the tiles. And then...

"Hey Ash! Welcome to school!"

A girl smiled and waved before passing with her friend, both of them giggling.

Wait, what?

Someone else...some guy I barely knew, reached out and shook my hand.

"Glad you’re back, man."

What the hell is happening? What the helly?

I blinked. My chest tightened, like maybe I was still asleep and dreaming this.

A group of juniors waved from the lockers.

Why weren’t they looking at me weird?

Why weren’t they whispering?

Why are they all being nice?

I glanced down at my clothes, nothing was stick to my back. No weird stains. My zipper wasn’t down. I wasn’t naked.

I glanced around and pinched my arm.

Ow.

Okay. I’m not dreaming.

What the hell is going on?

Then I spotted Marcus near the vending machine. Relief flooded my chest and I practically jogged to him.

"Hey Marcus! You good?"

He turned, his eyes lighting up. "Dude! Ash!" He fist-bumped me. "How’s Alia? I couldn’t get in touch yesterday. My phone died on me. Finally got it fixed though."

"She’s doing okay," I said, still distracted by the fact that people were actually smiling at me. "But... Marcus. Why is everyone acting so weird?"

"I mean, people are saying hi. They’re smiling at me. I thought I’d walk in and get crucified."

He laughed, already pulling his phone out. "Ohhhh... you haven’t seen the Blackboard, have you?"

I gave him a blank stare. "The what now?"

He groaned. "Right. I forgot you’re not the social media type. Blackboard...it’s Blackwell Academy’s private gossip network. Students only. Mostly gossips, but sometimes... it’s chaos. June’s on it every day, you seriously don’t even lurk?"

I shook my head. "I didn’t even know it was real. I thought June just used it to stalk hot seniors."

"Well," he smirked, "you might wanna get on it now."

"Why?"

Then he unlocked his phone and shoved it into my hands. "Because this is blowing up. Read this."

It was a post.

From Dominic Vale.

And it had thousands of likes.

"This is for everyone still blaming Ash Rivera. Watch the footage and shut up. He never pushed Liam. He tried to help him. Maybe if people had listened to him that night, Liam’s real killer would’ve been found. Stay safe. And stop spreading bullshit."

(Attached: 31-second video)

My throat closed.

My heart started pounding.

I tapped the video.

It was the same footage he gave the detectives in the station.

My hands were shaking.

"He posted this?" I said slowly.

"Yeah," Marcus said. "Midnight. Went viral in like an hour. You’re cleared, bro. People are even apologizing in the comments."

I checked the comments. It was exploding.

"So he was telling the truth..."

"Yo, I feel bad for blaming the scholarship kid now."

"That hoodie guy is sus as hell."

"I can’t believe we turned on him like that."

"Dominic posted this?? Damn."

I handed the phone back to Marcus.

"Hey... you okay?" Marcus asked.

"Yeah," I lied. "Just... overwhelmed, I guess."

Marcus grinned. "You’re off the hook, bro. You should be happy. I mean, Dom went nuclear for you."

Why didn’t Dominic tell me he was going to post this?

What if the person in the hoodie...whoever that was, saw this and thought I leaked it?

What if they came after me again or him? Or Alia?

"Dominic didn’t even tell me he was going to post this video." I said, scratching the back of my head.

I didn’t deserve to be surprised. I wasn’t the one living this.

"Why would he? He probably found it recently. Or maybe someone sent it to him." Marcus shrugged. "Point is, you’re in the clear now. People believe you. Isn’t that what you wanted?"

I wanted to feel happy.

I really did.

I should have been relieved. But instead...all I felt was this weird feeling.

Like someone had turned on a spotlight. And suddenly, everyone could see everything I’d been trying to say.

"He should’ve told me," I said again quietly.

Marcus blinked. "Huh?"

I looked down at the phone again.

"I don’t like Dominic or his friends. But, Ash he tried to help you."

"I know, I know. What if it paints a target on my back?"

Marcus was silent for a second.

"You’re scared."

I looked up at him.

"You’re scared because this made things real again."

I didn’t know how to explain the pressure sitting on my chest.

How the post, while kind and protective, also made me feel exposed. In a way I wasn’t sure I was ready for. The secret that haunted me was now public, dissected by strangers behind phone screens.

But I didn’t say all that.

Instead, I glanced at Marcus and forced a shaky smile.

Marcus was still watching me like he expected a big reaction. I could tell he was excited for me...maybe even relieved, but I was too caught up in the thousand new worries forming in my head.

Then I heard it.

Squealing.

No...screeching.

And the pounding of fast footsteps.

"ASHHHH!"

I looked up just in time to see June practically flying down the hallway.

Before I could react, she launched herself at me.

I stumbled, almost falling, but caught her in a hug.

"Oh my God, you’re back!" June squealed, nearly choking me in a hug. "I missed you, you absolute drama magnet!"

"June," I coughed, "air..need it, lungs failing."

She finally let go, stepping back with the biggest grin on her face. "You look good. Like, glowing. Suspicion-level glowing."

"What the hell is ’suspicion-levelglowing’?" I asked.

"It means you’ve either been getting sleep, sun, or sex."

Marcus choked on his drink behind us.

"Omg, June," I widened my eyes.

She waved me off, already bouncing on her feet. "Guys! Have you seen the notice board?!"

Marcus raised an eyebrow. "Which one? The murder board or the gossip board?"

"The real one, idiot!" she clapped her hands. "In front of the admin block. They just posted it this morning."

I stared at her. "Posted what again?"

June turned to me, her eyes kept sparkling like she was about to drop the most important announcement ever. "Blackwell is hosting a talent show In two weeks. And the winners...listen to this, they get straightA’s."

I blinked. "That’s... not how grades work."