Chapter 71 : She's Right I walked Away
HAYDEN’S POV:
The next morning hits with a brightness that should feel like a fresh start—but it doesn’t. By the time I reach the dorm lobby, the air feels thick with whispers and pointed glances. Phones are out, and clusters of students are murmuring about something I already know too well.
“…did you see Hayden with…?”
“…Lilian? And then Ella?”
“…and Stephen? There’s something weird going on.”
I keep my head down, stuffing my hands into my hoodie pockets as I move toward the stairs. The video from yesterday has evolved. It’s not just a fight anymore—it’s every rumor and assumption anyone could make about my life.
On my floor, I spot Lilian sitting on the steps outside her room. Her arms are crossed, phone in hand, her expression is unreadable. She was waiting for me.
I take a deep breath. “Lilian… hey,” I say cautiously.
Her eyes flick up at me, cold. “Hey,” she says flatly.
I hesitate, choosing my words carefully. “About yesterday… I…”
“I don’t want to hear it,” she interrupts, standing abruptly. Her fists are tight at her sides. “I don’t care what you think happened. You left me in front of everyone, Hayden. Now it’s all over campus. Do you really think a ‘sorry’ fixes that?”
Her words hit hard. She’s right. I left. I walked away, thinking I was preventing more chaos but it clearly didn’t matter.
“I didn’t mean for it to get like this,” I mutter. “I wanted to stop it from escalating.”
“Stop it?” she scoffs. “Walking away didn’t stop anything. It made it worse. And now everyone is making up stories about me… about us.” Her voice cracks slightly, but she masks it immediately with anger.
I step closer. “I’m trying to fix this. Please, just let me explain.”
She shakes her head. “No. Stay out of my way, Hayden.” She walks past me, leaving my words suspended in the air.
I sink to the floor against the wall, running a hand through my hair. The video, the gossip, Lilian… It’s all spinning, and I don’t have a handle on it.
I walked back to my dorm, and Stephen was gone. I guess it was a good thing.
A soft knock sounded on my door. I opened it to see Ammy. I looked at her surprised that she knew my room. She steps inside, her expression calm, grounding. She doesn’t say anything at first, she sits on the couch.
The room was quiet and all of a sudden, I blurted out as I let out a shaky breath. “I don’t know what to do,” I admit. “I messed up with Lilian, the video’s everywhere, and I feel like I’m just… drowning.”
Ammy nods slowly. “You’re not drowning. You’re in a rough patch. Yeah, people talk. But you can’t control what they say….you can only control how you handle it.”
I laugh bitterly. “Handle it? I can’t even handle myself right now.”
“You can,” she says gently. “Step by step. Talk to Lilian when she’s ready. Focus on what you can fix, not the gossip. And… I can help you figure out what that is.”
Her words hit harder than I expected. Someone else sees it and gets it. I glance at her, studying the calm seriousness in her eyes. “What do I even say? She won’t listen.”
“Then start small,” she suggests. “Listen first. Show her you care. Don’t expect a miracle, just… start.”
I swallow hard. Her presence is comforting and calm. She’s quietly gathering everything I’m feeling without judgment. I realize, with a sinking chest, that I’ve been carrying all of this alone and I don’t have to.
“And… Stephen,” she says carefully, leaning slightly forward. “You said he seemed distant yesterday. Do you want to talk about that?”
I feel the tension in my chest tighten. Ammy’s smart—she’s noticed everything I haven’t said out loud. I nod slowly. “Yeah… I guess I do.”
Her eyes soften. “Then let’s start there. No judgment, just… you. Okay?”
For the first time since yesterday, I feel a little lighter. Maybe I don’t have to fix everything right now. Maybe I just have to unpack it, piece by piece, with someone who actually listens.
I take a deep breath. “Okay. Thanks, Ammy… I mean it.”
She gives me a small smile. “You’ll get through this. One step at a time and I’ll be here.”
Somehow, even with the chaos swirling outside, that’s enough to make the weight lift just a little. For the first time in twenty-four hours, I feel like maybe I can handle it.
I lean back against the wall, letting Ammy’s presence calm my racing thoughts. The clock ticks on the wall, each second reminding me that the world outside hasn’t stopped for me to process my mess. I fidget with the hem of my hoodie, unsure where to start.
“You think… maybe it’s all just too late with Lilian?” I ask, voice low.
Ammy shakes her head firmly. “No. You don’t know that yet. Timing matters, yes, but so does honesty. Don’t let fear decide for you.”
I nod, though the knot in my stomach tightens. “I don’t even know what to say. Everything I might say sounds… stupid or pointless.”
“You say the truth,” she says simply. “Even if it’s messy. Even if it’s awkward. That’s enough.”
I glance toward the door, thinking about stepping out and facing the storm. But before I can move, my phone buzzes on the desk. I glance down, expecting another wave of notifications about the video. Instead, it’s a private message from an unknown number:
“I know what you did, meet me tonight at the roof. Alone.”
A chill runs down my spine. My fingers hover over the screen. Who even knows what happened yesterday well enough to send this? And why the roof?
Ammy notices the change in my expression. “Hayden… what is it?”
I show her the message. Her eyes narrow slightly, a flicker of concern crossing her calm demeanor. “This isn’t just gossip anymore. This is… personal.”
“What do I do?” I ask, the panic starting to creep in.
She hesitates for a moment, then says, “You go, but carefully. Bring your phone and don’t go alone, if you can avoid it. Something tells me this isn’t just about the video.”
I swallow hard, heart hammering. The thought of confronting whoever sent this… it feels dangerous. But curiosity, dread, and a need to protect Lilian push me forward. “Tonight,” I mutter, as if saying it aloud makes it real.
Ammy’s hand lands lightly on mine. “Remember, Hayden, this might change everything. Be ready.”
I nod, but even as I do, a sinking feeling settles in. The message didn’t say why they wanted me on the roof. And the last thing I expected to find when I looked at the sender’s profile… was Stephen’s face staring back at me.
My stomach drops.
Stephen?