Chapter 95: I hate her

\[Margo's POV\]

I stared at the headline : CLASS 3C STUDENT INDULGES IN EXAMINATION MALPRACTICE.

The picture in the post is mine. The name right there is mine. But how? How did it get there? Then I remembered I had thrown my phone away. Shit. I didn't remember to get it back at that time. Now, what would everyone think of me?

'That's just silly. Who's the idiot that published this? Of all people to target, it's Margo, an Alan Queen.' Rose scoffs and pockets her hands.

'They're probably a bunch of losers.' Stacy laughs and pockets her phone.

'Margo and exam malpractice? That can't be true.' Adira laughs and winks at me.

'I know, right?' Matty nudges her arm and she laughs out loud.

Good. They don't believe that nonsense. I hope whoever found my phone isn't some wierdo.

From the stairs, I see Levi storming down with Charlotte behind him. Uh-oh. What now?

'Have you heard Lin's message in the groupchat?' Levi settles on the pink plush armchair, looking, more like, glaring at me.

Charlotte sat on his lap. Still can't get used to seeing that.

'What's going on?' Mikey breaks the silence.

'Check the groupchat.' Levi said briskly.

What message did Lin leave in the group? We all checked our phones. Lin sent a voicenote. The bar was getting loud and we all stepped out to the back. Derek told me to do the honours and play the damn thing and I did. What I heard murdered my joy. Lin, that patronising daughter of a bitch.

'Do they suspect you?' That was Lin's voice.

Oh my God. This was when we were at Adira's. She recorded our call? That snake!

'Nope. They all believe me. Charlotte thinks I'm on her side but she doesn't know I've got your back.' That's my voice.

Stacy has a puzzled look on her face and so is everyone else.

'Play the next one.' Levi tells me.

'There's a next one?' Scottie asked.

My fingers are shaky so is my breath. God, how could Lin do this to me, her best friend?

I play the next voice note. This time it's Lin's voice alone.

'Hey, guys,' She begins with her fake barbie voice and hideous accent. 'I just couldn't keep up with everything. I couldn't sleep — —

There was a sniffle. Is she crying? Well, excuse me. That's just crocodile tears. I restrained myself from rolling my eyes but Derek had beaten me to it.

It went on. Her voice was breaking. 'Margo forced me to release answer keys to all the exams or she'll expose me. Yes - I'm still love with Levi but I never want to hurt Charlotte. Everything from the Escape room to the pillow fight at Stacy's, Margo told me to do everything possible to get Levi. I never wanted it that way but she - -

I had to step in. 'Come on. You guys, don't believe that.'

When no one said anything, I had to speak up more if I wanted to convince them.

'You really think that I, Margo, would waste my time trying to get her back together with Levi, which everyone knows is never gonna happen in a billion years!'

'What about the exam stuff? She confessed to it and it was your phone that was found.' Jacob eyed me suspiciously amd I palmed my face.

Gracie's brows were knitted. When she spoke, her voice broke and so did my heart. 'D - Don't tell me - the bathroom. It was - - No.'

'I'm so sorry, Gracie.' That was all I could say.

Gracie gave a dry laugh and clapped her hands. 'Wow. That's great. Just perfect.'

Adolph tried to hold her. 'Meine leibe -

'No!' Gracie yelled, then she exhaled sharply. 'Why would you? How?'

'I'm sorry,' I look at my friends. 'I know we wouldn't be friends anymore after this. My parents will probably drag me to Kiev or some shitty place somewhere after this but listen, I'm a good person when I want to be. I'm not gonna lie and say I've always loved our grouo without Lin. No. When it was just us, LARMS, I was content for the very first time in my life.

'So you're saying you connived with Lin to get rid of Charlotte because she ruined your little team?!' Jacob begins to yell. 'Lin tried to kill my brother, did you know that?'

Derek nods. 'That's the truth. She told me and Lenin to do it for her.'

Josie gasped in shock, her hands cupped over her mouth.

I fisted my hands and looked down. 'I know. I'm sorry. It's her fault for tricking me. I just - - I found a friend in her. She was y best friend and I woukd do anything for Lin.'

'Yeah. She probably told you not to share the answer keys, right?' Adira crossed her amrs ove rher chest.

'She did and I told her not to do it. That was what we wrre taking about earlier. In the hall. I swear.' I don't know what else to explain anymore.

'What do we do to you?' Levi's eyes grow dark and I swallow hard. I'm screwed.

'I don't get it. It's not like Charlotte ever hurt you or anything. Wasn't it Lin's idea to bully Charlotte in the art room that time? Why would you trust someone like that?' Rose said. Her voice mingled with rage.

'Bullied? What? When?' Levi echoed in surprise.

Charlotte stole her hands in his. 'Don't. Forget about it.'

'No! She did this to you and you never told me!' He tried not to raise his voice at her.

'We weren't close then.' Charlotte replied.

'What about now, huh? What are we then?' Levi retorts. He raked his hand through his hair. I notice he does that when he's angry.

Mikey, the mediator, steps in. 'Now is definitely not the time to blame Char. She's a darling. It's Lin I'm more concerned about. She kicked Margo to the curb and wants to do the same to dear Char.'

'You should've said something to us, Margo.' Josie said with concern.

'And do what?' Interrupted Lenin. 'If she told you Lin gave all the answers to the our exam, if she told you she lied and told you Lin's plans, I don't know, would you have forgiven her. I don't think so. If anybody was to be ever truly honest, there would be a lot of arguements, finger-pointing, tears and screams.'

His speech touched my heart and I mouth "Thank you" to him.

'I didn't do it for you.' He rolled his eyes.

Jacob closed his eyes. 'I'm the one that called the cops on Levi on Layla's birthday.'

'You son of a bitch!' Levi threw a punch on his face.

Jacob staggered, holding his cheek with one hand. 'I deserve it.'

'Why the hell would you do that?' Matty punched his arm. It didn't have much effect as Levi's punch did.

Jacob spat out blood. 'It's embarrassing to say but it's becausw of Charlotte.'

'Well, well, well, Charlotte must be some celebrity of some kind. What the heck is going on?' Lenin starts to laugh. Adolph and Derek joins him.

'Lemme guess, you liked her?' Matty asked. When Jacob gave a thumbs-up, he slapped his forehead. 'Jesus christ.'

'That was because he was being a jerk to her.' Jacob defends himself.

'Yeah. That's true. You deserve it, Levi. You were being an ass to Charlotte.' Scottie says dryly.

Levi exclaims. 'I'm a reformed bad boy now! Jeez.' Then he turns to Charlotte and gives her a hug. 'I'm sorry for being such a jerk.'

Charlotte pats his back. 'You big bully.'

'Okay. Since it's confession time, I'm the one that told the hotel receptionist in Zurich to make sure you, Jacob and my cousin, Anna, stay in the same room. I wamted play match maker!' Scottie hid behind Lenin.

'You're lucky he's here.' Jacob pointed at Lenin. 'Why would you do that?!'

Scottie scoffs. 'You're sad. She's sad. You both deserve each other plus I'm a matchmaker and I'm always right.'

'Right? Your relationship's looking a bit left, bro.' Stacy says with a cough.

I clear my throat nd they all turn to look at me.

'I'm really sorry.' I say to them.

Adira isn't convinced. 'How are we even sure she's not recording this?'

'Addy, chill.' Matty looked at her in silence and she walks away. 'I'll go after her.'

'Lin's set you up and is probably the one that told the magaxine editor to publish this story of yours,' Levi began softly. 'For now, we all act like we don't know anything. To make it look more convincing, we'll remove you from the groupchat and block you from joining.'

'Lin will think she's won but she doesn't know anything.' Scottie adds.

Gracie glared at me. 'Whisper to her about this and I swear to God, you will be locked up in a place much worse.'

Damn, she still haven't forgive me about the bathroom.

I nod slowly.

Burna Boy's Las Las rings out and Gracie takes out her phone.

'It's mom. She's arrived. I have to pick her up.' She says.

Adolph, as usual, says. 'I'll come with.'

'No. I'll go alone.' Gracie gives him a lip-kiss and walks away.

Charlotte, did what surprised me. She went over to take my hands. 'You did good telling us even though it was the circumstance that pushed you to say it. I'm proud of you.'

Tears welled up in my eyes and I wiped them away. 'You're a good person.'

'Come here.' She pulled me into her arms.

\[Author's POV\]

Matty holds back Adira's arm. 'Can you just stop?'

'Let go off me!' Adira tries to wringle free and lost her footing.

Just in time, he caught her. 'Be careful.'

He pulls her up and leta go off her. 'Try to forgive Margo and don't say you won't. You've probably done worse we don't know about.'

'Fuck you!' Adira yells at him.

'Here we go.' He rolls his eyes.

'I'm the most honest person you'll ever meet in a lifetime.' Adira went on and on.

Matty covered his lips with hers and she responded to the kiss. The couple pulled away.

'It shut you up, didn't it?' Matty chuckled.

'You don't know how long I've waited for you to do that.' Adira smiled.

'Let's go.' He pulls her hand.

'Where are we going?' She followed him.

Meanwhile, Jacob is walking home alone. He stops a taxi and gets in.

'Broadway.' He says and looks out the window.

'Jacob?' A friendly voice called.

Javob turns to see who it was — Anna.

'Hi.' He smiled then winced in pain.

'What happened to your face?' She asked.

'I hot punched for being an ass,' He smiled and took her small hands. 'I've missed you.'

The driver looked at them through the rearview mirror and Anna met his gaze with a glare, forcing him to look away.

Levi escorts Charlotte to the front door.

'Here's my stop.' She smiled.

'You did good today, Queen.' He returned her smile.

'Thanks.' Charlotte gives him a hug.

He kissed her hair. 'I wish I can take you with me.'

'That can be arranged.' Charlotte chuckled against his chest.

They both pulled away.

'After exams?' Levi lifted an eyebrow.

'Yup.' Charlotte gave him a kiss and pushed him lightly on the chest.

'Goodnight.' She grabbed the doorknob, twisting it to unlock the door.

Still in a daze, Levi waves at his girlfriend.

Charlotte takes off her shoes. 'I'm home.'

'I thought you'd never come.' Sophie raced from the couch to hug her. 'If not for your weak heart, I would've screamed my herat out.'

'As if.' Georgie walked to join their hug.

Charlotte sobbed. 'Sophie. Georgie.'

'We're here.'

Levi returns home. Layla screams and runs to hug him.

'They're here! They're here!' She pulled him into the kitchen.

There, they were - Amara and Ada.

'Sup, hommie. Did I get it?' Amara guffaws.

Levi chuckled. 'Hell no.'