Chapter 1
Chapter 137
Sofia’s POV
Nicole tilted her chin, the smirk widening as whispers circled around us. “Go on, Patel,” she said mockingly. “Pick up my things and don't waste my time. I've got other things to do.”
I froze, my hands hovering above the scattered books. I'd rather let the floor swallow me whole than do what Nicole requested but everyone was watching. My chest heaved, my throat burning.
“Why does it always have to be you?” I whispered before I could stop myself. “Why do you always have to be so hard?”
The smile dropped from her face, twisting into something darker. She took a step closer, her hand curling into a fist. “What did you just say to me? Say it again. I dare you.”
I straightened and gulped down nothing, muttering. “I didn't say anything.”
But I barely had time to move before her hand shot up, aimed straight for my face.
“Enough.”
Chelsea’s hand caught Nicole’s wrist midair. The sound of the impact and their skin colliding snapped the hallway into silence. I straightened
Gasps erupted, and the students lurking around froze in shock. Nicole blinked, stunned that anyone had stopped her.
“Chelsea?” Ariella whispered from somewhere behind, disbelief written all over her face.
Nicole yanked her hand, but Chelsea’s grip didn’t budge. Her voice cut through the silence, loud and clear. “Back off, Nicole. I won't stand still and watch you bully by best friend.”
From the corner, Alicia Baker and the rest of Nicole’s crew appeared, striding in like they owned the hallway. Alicia’s eyes flashed, her voice rising when she saw what was happening. “What the hell is this, Chelsea? How dare you think you can just grab her?”
Nicole tried to shake Chelsea off, snapping, “Mind your business, Chelsea. This doesn’t concern you the last ”
The sound came before anyone expected it.
Smack.
Nicole’s head snapped to the side, shocked and terrified. The echo of Chelsea’s slap hung in the air.
“You bitch!” Nicole hissed, her face already flaming red.
Chelsea’s chest heaved, her eyes blazing. “That’s for throwing Sofia’s things after she apologized. I saw everything so don't try to deny it.”
The crowd rippled with shocked murmurs. Nicole blinked, stunned, but she recovered quickly, her fist balling again as she lunged forward.
Another slap landed before she could reach me. Louder than the first.
“And that’s for humiliating her,” Chelsea spat.
Nicole stumbled back this time, her hair disheveled, and her lips parting in disbelief. No one ever touched her like that. The Nicole I knew wasn't easy to deal with. The hallway buzzed with the weight of what just happened.
I rushed forward, panic breaking through the fog in my chest. “Chelsea, stop this. Let it go. That's enough.”
I didn't want Principal Carter to get to know about this and I knew of he eventually did, it'd be the end of me and picking up my grades.
But she didn’t move. Her eyes were locked on Nicole, like fire.
Nicole roared and lunged again, but Chelsea was faster. She shoved her hard, throwing her straight into Alicia’s arms.
“There! Meet your bitches!” Chelsea snapped.
Nicole crashed into her own crew, stumbling as laughter and gasps rolled through the students watching.
Chelsea crouched, grabbed the rest of my books with shaking hands, stuffed them into my bag, and shoved it into my arms. “Come on.”
I clutched it close, dazed. Chelsea stormed away, dragging me with her. I caught a glimpse of Nicole boiling with rage as Chelsea deliberately stepped on her fallen stuff, grinding it under her shoe without a glance back.
Nicole’s scream echoed down the hall, fury rattling the air.
By the time Chelsea pulled me into a quieter corner outside, my body was trembling so hard I thought my knees would give out. She pushed me gently against the wall, her eyes softening. “You can start crying now.”
The dam inside me broke instantly.
Tears spilled hot and fast as I dropped the bag and covered my face. My body shook with sobs I’d been swallowing for weeks. “I’m sorry,” I choked between gasps, “I’m sorry… for letting go. I'm really sorry. I didn’t mean to. It's just too hard. Too difficult.”
Chelsea crouched down in front of me, confusion and worry flashing across her face. “Sofia… what are you talking about? Letting go of what? What is it?”
I shook my head wildly, crying harder, my words spilling in broken whispers. “I should’ve held on tighter. I shouldn’t have… I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. I can't hold it back anymore. I'm going insane.”
Chelsea reached out to me, gripping my hands, And pulling them away from my face. Her voice trembled. “Don’t do this to yourself. You're killing me too! Stop apologizing. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
But I couldn’t stop. The guilt sat heavy on my chest, drowning me. Every words from Lily, every picture burned into my mind, every word Carter had spat, and every humiliation I had endured, everything poured out in those whispered apologies.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”
“Jeez, Sofia.” Chelsea’s own eyes glossed with tears as she held me tighter. “You’re breaking my heart right now.”
The sound of footsteps echoed in the quiet, heavy and unhurried.
A familiar voice drifted through, low and edged with smoke. “This is exactly what I warned you about.”
Chelsea’s head jerked up. I froze, my sobs catching in my throat.
We both turned toward the direction of the voice which came near the wall.
Trey appeared into view, a stick of cigarette dangling between his fingers as smoke curled lazily around his face. His eyes landed on me first, unreadable, then shifted to Chelsea, then back to me.
My heart thudded painfully.
Chelsea stiffened, her hand tightening on mine as she whispered in disbelief. “Trey?”
Trey blew out smoke. “You didn’t listen. And now look at you.”
