The next day at school, as I walked through the hallway, all eyes turned to me. Whispers floated around, and students pointed some hiding behind their phones, others not bothering to hide their stares.
My stomach twisted. What the hell is going on?
When I reached my locker, I nervously checked my reflection in the small mirror stuck to the door. No lipstick on my teeth. No wardrobe malfunction. My makeup was subtle, not overdone. I looked fine. So… why was everyone looking at me like that?
Then my phone buzzed, again. A flood of notifications from group chats and the school gossip site.
I frowned. "What's happening?" I muttered, unlocking my phone.
My heart dropped. Right there, in the group chat, was a video, the video. The one Pink took the night I got drunk. The one she promised she deleted. The one she swore she'd never post.
But now it was everywhere.
My cheeks burned with shame. Laughter echoed around me. I didn't need to look up to know they were laughing at me. Pointing at me.
Humiliated, I turned on my heel and rushed down the hall. I couldn't face anyone. Not like this.
I hid in the janitor's closet until the hallways emptied. When the final bell rang, I crept out and slipped back to the locker room where I took out my bag. I wanted to go back to the hostel, hoping to confront Pink. But she hadn't even come home last night.
So, I waited.
When school ended and the crowd thinned, I made my way to the basketball court where the cheer squad usually hung out. Sure enough, there she was, Pink, lounging on the bleachers with a smug smirk, lazily twirling a pink lollipop between her lips. Clary was beside her, and Eska sat just a bit further, looking uncomfortable.
"Pink!" I called out, my voice shaking with anger. I stormed toward her, holding out my phone. "What the hell is this?!"
She looked up slowly, eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "Oh, that," she said, smirking. "Finally saw it, huh?"
"You said you deleted it," I hissed. "You promised!"
She licked the lollipop, then shrugged. "I'd say it's what you deserve, bitch."
My heart clenched. "If this is about what happened Saturday night… I'm sorry, okay? I didn't mean to..."
"Oh please," she scoffed, laughing bitterly.
Eska stood. "Pink, that's not cool. You promised. Even if you hate her now, you gave your word."
Pink pulled the lollipop from her mouth and turned to Eska, eyes cold. "Did I ask for your opinion?"
Eska opened her mouth to argue, but Pink raised a hand, silencing her.
"Unless you want your nudes floating around next, I suggest you shut the hell up."
Then she turned to me, eyes sharp. "And you? This is only the beginning." She stood and walked off, Clary trailing close behind like a shadow.
I stood there, heart pounding, trying desperately to keep my tears from falling. Eska looked at me with no readable expression. Summer hovered silently in the background.
It's happening all over again.
...
The next day, I stayed in the library, hiding behind tinted glasses and a face cap. The thought of walking through those halls again made me sick. I just wanted to disappear.
I stared blankly at my phone screen, scrolling through gossip threads. The comments stung. My mind raced.
Has Jesse seen the video? Oh God…
I buried my face in my hands. What do I even do? How do I fix this?
Part of me thought maybe Jesse could talk to Pink, help her understand. She still liked him, right? But he wouldn't.
Gosh, this is frustrating.
By the time recess came, I stood and stretched. I couldn't eat in the cafeteria, no way I was facing those people. I'd brought lunch from outside, so I decided to eat by the basketball court where it was quiet.
As I was leaving, I spotted Zack sitting alone at the far end of the library. My heart sank.
Guilt crashed over me. I should talk to him.
But what if he didn't want to hear it? What if I just made it worse?
Still… I might not get another chance.
I took a deep breath and walked over.
"Hey, Zack," I said softly, giving a small wave.
"Hey" he repiled
"Erm... can I sit?"
He didn't look up. Didn't smile. Just said, "Suit yourself," and gestured to the seat across from him.
I sat down, heart pounding. "I… I just wanted to say I'm sorry. For that night. I didn't mean to hurt you. It wasn't..."
"What are you babbling about, Terra?" he cut in, voice sharper than I'd ever heard. It shocked me. Zack was the calm one, the kind one.
Now I could see it, he and Jesse were related.
"What're you apologising for? for ditching me? Or making out with my brother?" He stared straight at me.
So he knew. Of course he did. Pink must've told him everything.
"Both," I whispered, eyes downcast. "I'm really sorry, Zack. I didn't mean for any of that to happen, it just..."
"Save it," he snapped. "I don't want to hear it. Just leave me alone."
"Zack, please. I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry too," he said bitterly as he stood. "just avoid me"
He walked away without looking back.
The tears came fast, hot and silent. I wiped them quickly and returned to my seat. My appetite was gone.
This week had been the worst of my life. I started skipping classes. Some days, I didn't go to school at all. I told myself I'd wait it out, let the video fade.
But just as I was beginning to recover, another bomb dropped.
A photo of the kiss surfaced.
The new narrative? I was forcing myself on Jesse.
The bullying got worse. Slut-shaming, threats from jealous girls, anonymous DMs… It was overwhelming. And relentless.
Then One morning, something felt off the moment I stepped into school. Whispers followed me down the hallway like shadows, but I was getting used to that by now.
Then came the voice over the intercom.
"Terra Tunes, please report to the principal's office immediately."
My stomach dropped.
I walked the halls with heavy steps, heart pounding like it knew something I didn't. When I stepped into the office, the principal was already waiting. Her expression was the kind of forced calm adults wear when they're about to ruin your life.
"Ms. Tunes," she said, voice clipped with fake sympathy. "I'm aware there are... a lot of rumors swirling around you lately."
"They're just rumors, ma'am," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "None of it's true. That's not what happened."
She folded her hands like she was praying for me. "I understand. But perception matters, Terra. And right now, you've become... a disruption. To the school. To your peers. To the balance of things."
Then came the blow.
"I'm suspending you. Two weeks. Effective immediately."
My world tilted.
"What? No. You can't do this," I said, my voice cracking with disbelief.
"I am doing this," she said, softer now. "And trust me, it's a favor. Take this time to breathe. Step away. Let everything settle. Rethink a few things... before something worse happens."
Something worse?
Her eyes lingered on mine for a beat too long. There was something in them, something she wasn't saying. But I didn't have the energy to question it.
I left the office like a ghost, each step mechanical. No one stopped me. No one even looked up.
At my locker, I grabbed my bag in silence, barely registering my own hands. The walls felt tighter, the air thinner.
Maybe she was right. Maybe I needed to disappear for a while.
I headed back to the hostel, packed the little I had, and left without saying a word. Not to Pink. Not to Clary. Not to anyone.
And just like that, I was leaving Caveroop behind.
I never thought I'd be going back to Oxville. I swore I'd left that town in the rearview mirror of my life.
But maybe… just maybe, it's time to go home.
To where it all started.
To where everything I've been running from still waits in the dark.
At least I'll get to see my mom again.
If that even still feels like comfort.