Chapter 25
Ellie's POV
"Because we used to be friends? That was a long time ago. Or is it because I'm supposed to perform at the anniversary celebration? Well, guess what—I can't even do that anymore!"
The words hung in the air, sharp and bitter. I watched Lucas's face, searching for any sign of the person I once knew, but found only a stranger looking back at me.
"She had to drop out of the performance because of her injury," Megan jumped in, her voice sharp with anger. She'd risen halfway out of her chair, hands planted on the table, protective instinct radiating from her normally carefree demeanor.
"An injury that your girlfriend caused," Lily added, glaring at Samantha with such intensity that even I was surprised.
I caught a flash of satisfaction in Samantha's eyes before she quickly masked it with more theatrical tears. That momentary slip—that split-second of triumph—confirmed everything I needed to know. This hadn't been an accident. This had been the goal all along: to hurt me, to remove me from the performance, to isolate me further.
Thalia growled deep in my consciousness. She's dangerous. She knows more than she's letting on.
"Officers, do you need anything else from me?" I asked, straightening my shoulders. I was suddenly exhausted by the whole charade, by watching Lucas continue to defend the indefensible.
The senior officer shook his head, closing his notebook with a decisive snap. "The evidence is pretty clear. Since the injuries weren't severe enough for criminal charges, there won't be an arrest, but there will be a fine. As for academic consequences, that's up to the university."
"I'll make sure this incident is properly reported to the disciplinary committee," Ms. Rivera said firmly, her normally warm eyes hardened with professional resolve. She'd been our counselor for months, and I'd never seen her look so disappointed in a student before.
"I'll pay her fine," Lucas announced suddenly, his arm still around Samantha's shoulders. His jaw was set in that stubborn way I knew all too well—the same expression he'd worn when we were seven and he insisted he could climb the tallest tree in the park. "And I'll take whatever academic punishment she gets."
Ms. Rivera rolled her eyes so dramatically I almost laughed despite the tension. "You can pay her fine if you want, but taking her academic sanctions? That's not how it works." She looked at Lucas and shook her head, her voice softening with genuine concern. "You're here on a full athletic scholarship, right? Coach Thompson is a friend of mine. He says you have real potential—All-American potential. Why throw that away for someone who deliberately hurt another student?"
Lucas's jaw tightened, a muscle twitching in his cheek. "She didn't mean to—"
"Can I go now?" I interrupted, unable to watch this performance any longer. My skin felt too tight, like I might burst out of it if I stayed in this room another minute.
The officer nodded, glancing at his partner. "We have your contact information if we need anything else."
I stood up, gathering my bag with deliberate movements, Lily and Megan following suit. As we walked toward the door, I could feel Lucas's eyes boring into my back. Part of me—a small, foolish part—wanted him to call out, to apologize, to be the Lucas I once knew. But he remained silent, and I kept walking.
Once we were safely in the hallway, Lily let out a long breath, then mimicked Lucas's voice with surprising accuracy: "'I'll take her punishment~'" She made an exaggerated gagging noise, doubling over dramatically. "Ugh, I think I'm going to be sick. Is this real life? Who actually says stuff like that?"
Despite everything, a laugh bubbled up from my chest, surprising even me. Megan joined in, her musical laughter echoing down the empty corridor.
"I swear, it's like watching a bad teen drama," Megan said, linking her arm through mine as we walked across the quad. The autumn air was crisp, leaves crunching beneath our feet. "So is the performance really off the table? I was looking forward to seeing you dance."
I sighed, tilting my face up to catch the warmth of the afternoon sun. "My shoulder's healing well, but I think the participant list has already been submitted. Jackson stepped in to replace me, remember?"
"That's too bad," Lily said, genuine disappointment in her voice. "You worked so hard on that routine. I was in the practice room that one time, and even from the little bit I saw, it was going to be amazing."
We walked in comfortable silence for a moment, each lost in our own thoughts. The campus around us hummed with normal activity—students laughing, rushing to class, living their ordinary lives. It felt surreal after the intensity of the meeting.
"About the silver allergy," Megan said hesitantly, breaking the silence. "Why didn't you tell us before? It seems like a pretty serious condition."
I chewed my lip, considering how to answer. "I don't like too many people knowing about it," I admitted finally. "It makes me feel... vulnerable. Like I have a weakness others could exploit." I thought of Samantha and the calculating look in her eyes. "But now I think having more people aware might actually help keep me safe."
"Absolutely," Lily declared with unexpected fierceness. She stopped walking and turned to face me, her expression uncharacteristically serious. "From now on, we'll make sure no silver gets anywhere near you! I'm talking full-on Secret Service protection detail!"
She mimed wearing sunglasses and speaking into a wrist communicator: "Silver object at two o'clock! Move, move, move!"
The fierce protectiveness in her voice, coupled with her ridiculous pantomime, made something warm bloom in my chest. After years of having only Lucas to rely on—and look how that turned out—it felt good to have friends who had my back without question.
My phone buzzed with a text from Jackson: How did it go with security?
I quickly typed back, explaining what had happened, my fingers flying over the screen.
His response came moments later: The anniversary program only lists "Dance Society," not individual names. If you still want to perform, we could train together. Your shoulder up for it?
My heart leapt, a surge of adrenaline coursing through me. I showed the message to my roommates, excitement bubbling up inside me like a physical force.
"But don't tell anyone," I added quickly, suddenly paranoid that Samantha might somehow find out and try something else. "I want to surprise everyone. Especially certain people."
"Our lips are sealed," Megan promised solemnly, miming a zipper across her mouth before breaking into a grin. "But can we come watch you practice? I want to see Jackson's moves up close and personal."
"Absolutely," Lily agreed with a conspiratorial wink. "This is going to be amazing. The look on Samantha's face when you walk out on that stage instead of Jackson? I would pay good money to see that."