By morning, the video had already spread through half the school.

Roxie knew before she even reached her locker.

It was a very different kind of attention.

A girl near the stairs lifted her phone, saw Roxie coming, and shoved it against her chest like Roxie had walked in on her stealing. Two boys by the vending machine stopped talking mid-sentence. A sophomore cheerleader stepped out of Roxie’s path too quickly, then pretended the club posters on the wall had suddenly become fascinating.

Roxie kept walking.

The whispers followed her anyway. They rose behind her, thin and quick, then died the second she glanced back.

Her scalp pinched when she turned her head too fast. Kendall’s fingers had left soreness under her hair, hidden unless someone looked closely, which was convenient for Kendall and annoying for Roxie. Invisible evidence. Perfect.

Angela was waiting by Roxie’s locker with her arms crossed. Karen stood beside her with a packet of gum in her hand, quiet for once.

Karen being quiet meant someone was about to suffer.

Roxie stopped in front of them. "How bad?"

Karen made a face. "Do you want comfort first or honesty?"

"Honesty."

Angela held out her phone. "Then please don’t throw this. My dad just bought it."

Roxie took it.

The video started in the middle, because of course it did. Kendall was already screaming. Roxie had one hand twisted in Kendall’s hair. Marissa was yelling in the background. Tori’s camera shook, then Zac came out of the gym and pulled them apart.

The clip skipped everything that mattered.

Kendall blocking her in the hallway. Kendall opening her mouth. Kendall grabbing her hair first.

All gone.

The caption underneath sat there like someone had typed it with a smile.

Cheer captain finally snaps over Prescott drama.

Roxie stared at it for one more second, then handed the phone back before her fingers got any ideas.

"This is bullshit," she said.

Angela’s face softened. "Roxie."

Karen opened a packet of gum. "We can always hire a hitman. I’m sure someone in this school knows a guy."

Roxie almost smiled.

Then the hallway speaker crackled overhead.

"Roxxane Jones, please report to the vice principal’s office."

The hallway reacted at once. Heads turned, lockers paused halfway open, and someone near the water fountain whispered, "Oh damn," like this was a show and Roxie had just missed her cue.

She shut her locker.

Karen pushed off the wall. "We’re going with you."

Roxie adjusted the strap of her bag. "You’re staying here."

Angela pulled her own bag higher on her shoulder. "We can’t let you go in there alone."

Roxie looked at both of them and forced her mouth into something close to a smile. "We’ve been friends since sophomore year."

Angela held up one finger. "Freshman year, actually. I told you that during—."

"Yes, I remember." Roxie pointed at her before Angela could start a full documentary. "And I know you both mean well, but I’m already the girl in the video. I can’t walk into that office with backup. It’ll make me look weak."

She gave them a quick wink, like that made any of this funny.

Karen opened her mouth.

Roxie lifted a hand. "I’ll ask for help if I need it."

Karen studied her face. "You better."

"I will."

Roxie walked away before either of them could argue again.

The office hallway felt longer than usual.

The secretary at the front desk glanced at her over the computer. A freshman outside the guidance office stopped swinging his feet.

Roxie kept her eyes forward.

God, even here.

Outside Mrs. Delgado’s door, Roxie saw her own reflection in the narrow window. Her chin was up. Her hair was still perfect. Her face looked normal enough, which had always been half the job.

She fixed the strap on her shoulder and stepped inside.

Kendall was there with her mother.

What a fucking spoiled brat.

Kendall sat in one of the chairs with her hair loose around her shoulders, tissue folded in one hand, and a faint bruise near her cheekbone.

Roxie’s eyes went straight to it.

That bruise had not been there yesterday.

Her mother was tall and thin, with glossy brown hair tucked behind one ear and a cream blazer that probably cost more than Roxie’s whole outfit choice. Her eyes moved over Roxie once, slow enough to be rude.

Mrs. Delgado looked up from the folder on her desk. "Roxxane. Come in."

Roxie stepped inside and sat in the empty chair. She kept her bag on her lap, both hands wrapped around the strap.

Mrs. Whitlock looked her over. "So this is the girl who attacked my daughter."

Roxie’s fingers tightened. "I didn’t attack her."

Kendall made a tiny sound into her tissue.

Roxie looked at her.

Kendall kept her eyes down.

Smart of her.

Mrs. Delgado folded her hands over the folder. "We’re going to discuss what happened yesterday after school."

"What happened," Mrs. Whitlock said, "is that my daughter was assaulted."

"She grabbed my hair first," Roxie said.

Kendall finally lifted her head. Her eyes were red, but her voice came out soft and clean. "I was trying to get away from you."

Roxie stared at her.

The lie came out so smoothly it almost deserved applause.

Mrs. Whitlock pulled out her phone. "I have the video." 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

She played it.

Roxie kept her eyes on the edge of Mrs. Delgado’s desk while the sound filled the room. Kendall screaming. The camera shaking. Zac’s voice cutting through when he came out of the gym.

The video began at the ending and acted like that was the whole story.

When it stopped, Mrs. Whitlock leaned forward. "I want her expelled from school and removed from the cheer squad."

Roxie’s fingers slipped on the strap, then dug back in.

Mrs. Delgado took a breath through her nose. "Mrs. Whitlock, I understand your concern."

"Concern?" Mrs. Whitlock’s hand tightened on Kendall’s shoulder. "Look at my daughter." She pointed at Kendall’s cheek. "She has a bruise on her face. Are we really going to pretend she did this to herself? Be grateful we’re not pressing charges."

Mrs. Delgado went still.

Roxie saw it.

Kendall saw it too.

Mrs. Whitlock sat straighter. "My husband and I are prepared to file a formal complaint if this school refuses to protect our daughter."

The room went quiet.

Kendall kept the tissue under her eyes, but her mouth relaxed just enough for Roxie to notice.

There it was.

That was why Kendall looked so calm.

Mrs. Delgado cleared her throat and looked at the folder again. "Roxxane Jones, you are suspended from all cheer activities for two weeks while we complete the investigation."

Roxie stood so fast the chair scraped behind her. "No. What?"

Mrs. Delgado’s face did not change.

Roxie gripped the back of the chair. "I can’t be suspended. We have the pep rally on Friday."

"Suspended," Mrs. Delgado repeated. "I will inform Coach Miller myself."

Roxie looked at Kendall.

Kendall dropped her eyes, but she was too late.

Roxie saw it.

That fucking ugly little smile.

Mrs. Whitlock sat back with a satisfied lift of her chin. "I knew you would see this for what it is." Her gaze slid to Roxie. "This girl is trouble. I’m sure you’ll agree expulsion is the only answer."

"You can’t be serious," Roxie said.

Mrs. Delgado’s expression tightened. "Roxxane."

"You watched half a video."

"We are reviewing the situation."

"After taking me off the squad?"

"This is temporary."

Roxie’s laugh came out once, dry and sharp.

The pep rally was in two days.

Temporary gave Kendall everything she needed.

"I told you she grabbed my hair first," Roxie said.

Kendall lifted her face immediately. "I didn’t."

"Stop lying."

"Roxxane," Mrs. Delgado warned.

Roxie turned to her. "She’s lying."

"That’s enough."

The room went quiet.

Roxie could hear the faint buzz from the lights above them.

Kendall held the tissue under her eyes like she was posing for sympathy.

Roxie’s nails pressed into the leather strap of her bag.

"You don’t care what happened," Roxie said.

Mrs. Delgado stood. "Go—"

The door opened before she could finish.

Everyone turned.

Zac Prescott stood in the doorway with his phone in one hand. The video was playing on his screen, loud enough for Kendall’s scream to fill the office for half a second before he paused it.

Roxie froze with one hand still on the back of the chair.

Mrs. Delgado straightened. "Mr. Prescott. What brings you here?"

Zac stepped inside like he had not just walked into the middle of a disciplinary meeting. His eyes moved to Roxie first, quick and sharp, then to Kendall, then to Mrs. Whitlock.

"My mom’s a bit unhappy," he said, lifting his phone. "I got posted without permission."

Mrs. Whitlock’s mouth tightened.

Zac looked back at the screen. "In a fight video. With my face in it." His gaze moved to Kendall. "In a scandal."

Kendall stopped crying.

Mrs. Delgado cleared her throat. "Zachary, this is a private matter."

His eyebrows lifted. "Is it?"

The room went quiet.

He held up the phone again. "My name’s in the caption. My face is in the video. Half the school thinks this happened because of me." He looked at Mrs. Delgado. "So I’m pretty sure it became my matter the second someone posted it."