I found my parents waiting, their faces a mix of relief and concern. "Mom, Dad," I

lking about, Elena?" my mother asked, her voice sharp with disbeli

o meticulously cataloged his football stats, who knew his favorite coffee order, who kept a small, worn photo of us from kindergarten tucked inside her diary. I was the girl who ch

was letting

te sound. Tears streamed down my face, but they were different now. Not tears of pain from his betrayal, but tears of mourning for the girl I used to

early admission scholarship. As I settled into my seat, my eyes scanned the room. And then I saw her. Gigi

at sheet from her sleeve. She glanced up, her eyes meeting mine for a split second, wide with panic.

her test papers to her chest. "Elena, please," she pleaded, her voice barely above a whisper. "You won't say anything, will you? My

et out a theatrical sob, drawing the attention of several students still milling around. "I'm so sorry, El

upted, sharp and cruel. "Look at her, the fat pig. Always causing trouble." "I heard she's o

owed by the rising tide of their contempt. The room seemed to shrink, closing in on me. I

rtlessly handsome, even now. He went straight to Gigi, who was now openly sobbing, burying

asked, his voice calm, but with

"Elena... she saw me... she was going to tell everyone I cheated

his true?" he asked, not a trace of the old familiarity i

nd. "No, Damian!" I cried, my voice cracking. "She's lying! She

t night, aren't you? It's not fair to take it out on her." He paused, then delivered the final blow.

pers, louder now. "See? I knew it. She's de

e wouldn't believe me. He had already chosen. His eyes, usually so warm a

d, his voice flat. "Apologize to G

Not for them. "Apologize?" I asked, my voice trembling but firm. "I didn't do

of the cameras. "No, please! Don't do th

learly distressed. And frankly, Elena, you're making a scene. I told you, there's nothing between us. I could never... I could neve

crowd. My tears, which I' d fought so hard to hold back, final