The week at Wemberg High dragged on like a slow, restless storm. Whispers filled the corridors, every conversation circling around the same question — What really happened between Tiana, Calvin, and the video?
The once-bustling hallways now felt charged, every glance sharp, every smirk heavy with gossip. Posters for the upcoming Science Fair covered the walls, but even that excitement couldn't drown the tension simmering beneath.
At the far end of the courtyard, Calvin leaned against his sleek black Porsche, arms crossed, eyes distant. The bruises from Dave's punch were fading, but the heaviness in his chest was not.
Then Tiana appeared — hair tied loosely, her school bag slung over one shoulder. She looked effortlessly composed, though exhaustion shadowed her eyes.
"Hey," Calvin greeted softly.
"Hey," she replied, standing beside him. For a moment, neither spoke. The wind carried faint laughter from the field, the sound of a world still spinning, unaware of theirs standing still.
"How's your mum?" Calvin asked gently.
Tiana let out a humorless laugh. "Still thinks I'm the disgrace of the century.
They both chuckled. The tension between them had begun to melt over the past few days — replaced with a quiet understanding, a shared pain that somehow felt comforting.
Tiana turned toward him. "It's weird, isn't it? We barely talked before all this, and now it feels like you're the only person who actually gets it."
Calvin met her gaze, and for a fleeting second, something unspoken passed between them. "Yeah," he said softly. "It's weird… but kind of nice too."
Before either could say more, a sharp voice cut through the air.
"Calvin Stallion?"
They both turned. A girl in a crimson jacket and ripped jeans stood a few feet away. She was tall, striking, with dark curls and an expression that screamed confidence — Cersie Laurent, one of the smartest and most mysterious girls at Wemberg.
Calvin frowned. "Cersie? What's up?"
She glanced at Tiana briefly, then fixed her gaze on him. "We need to talk. Alone."
Tiana stepped back slightly, eyeing her suspiciously. "I'll wait by the car."
Cersie walked closer, lowering her voice. "I have something you're going to want to see. But it comes with a condition."
Calvin folded his arms. "What kind of something?"
Cersie smirked. "A video. Recorded during detention. It shows Sophie and Chloe — talking, confessing everything. About the video, the setup, all of it."
Calvin's heartbeat quickened. "You're serious?"
Cersie nodded. "Very. But I don't give away evidence for free. You want it — you'll be my prom date."
Calvin blinked, startled. "Wait, what?"
"Simple deal," she said smoothly. "You take me to prom, and I give you the truth that clears your name. What's it going to be?"
Calvin didn't even hesitate. "Deal."
A slow smile spread across her face as she handed him a flash drive. "Smart choice, Stallion. Don't lose it — that's your freedom right there."
Without another word, she walked away, her red jacket swaying behind her like a flag of victory.
Calvin didn't waste a second. He jumped into his Porsche, engine roaring to life. His thoughts burned hotter with every passing streetlight — Sophie, the one person he trusted, the one who claimed to love him, had been part of it.
He drove straight to Tiana's neighborhood, parking in front of her villa. She came out minutes later, wrapped in a sweater, surprised by his urgency.
"Calvin, what's wrong?"
He tossed the flash drive into her hands. "Cersie found this. It's Sophie and Chloe — confessing everything. She said it proves they set us up."
Tiana's eyes widened. "Are you sure?"
"I haven't watched it yet," he admitted. "I couldn't. I was… furious. I didn't trust myself not to throw something."
Tiana exhaled slowly, gripping the flash drive. "Then let me handle it. I know what to do."
He looked at her — truly looked — and for the first time in weeks, hope flickered behind his tired eyes. "You're really going to expose them?"
"Yes," she said, her voice firm. "At the Science Fair tomorrow. Everyone will be there — the teachers, the board, the students. If the truth is going to come out, that's where it should happen."
Calvin nodded, determination hardening his features. "Then let's make it count."
The next morning, Wemberg High buzzed with excitement. The Science Fair had always been a major event — students showcasing months of hard work, judges walking from booth to booth, parents crowding the auditorium. The entire hall shimmered with colorful displays, projectors, and nervous anticipation.
Behind the main stage, Tiana worked quietly, her laptop connected to the school's media console. She glanced around — no one seemed to be paying attention.
She pulled out the flash drive and plugged it in. The screen blinked to life, revealing folders labeled "Detention Cam Footage – April." Her hands trembled slightly as she navigated through them.
Calvin had texted earlier: "You got this. Be careful."
Her lips curved in a faint smile. I will.
From the stage, she could hear the principal's voice echoing through the speakers. "Welcome, everyone, to Wemberg's Annual Science Exhibition!" The crowd erupted in polite applause.
Tiana took a deep breath, setting the video to queue for projection. Once the fair began, the footage would automatically play on the large screen behind the stage — right in front of the entire school.
"Almost there…" she whispered.
But before she could reach for the cable to confirm the final connection, something moved behind her. A faint shuffle — quick, deliberate.
She froze.
"Hello?" she called out softly, glancing over her shoulder. Nothing. Just the hum of equipment.
She turned back to the console. Click.
The sound came again — this time closer.
Before she could react, a shadow loomed behind her. A cold rush of air swept over her neck — and then crack!
A metal rod struck the side of her head.
Her breath hitched as pain exploded through her skull. She staggered, her vision blurring, reaching for the table to steady herself. The laptop's screen flickered — then went dark.
The last thing she saw was a pair of gloved hands pulling the flash drive from the port.
Her knees buckled, and she collapsed to the floor, everything fading into black.