Chapter 14: What have I done?

Skye

I don’t remember how I make it back to my dorm. One minute I’m standing in the middle of the football stadium.

The next, I’m climbing the stairs to the third floor with legs that don’t feel like mine.

The hallway is unusually quiet. Most students are still outside enjoying the cool evening air.

I should probably be relieved. I don’t think I can survive another whisper today.

My key trembles slightly as I unlock the door. The moment it clicks open, I step inside and quietly shut the world out.

Silence. Real silence. For the first time all day. I drop my backpack onto the floor without caring where it lands.

My phone vibrates immediately. Then again. And again. I don’t need to look. I already know. The post. The comments. The messages. The rumors. They’re multiplying by the second.

I walk over to my bed and collapse face-first into the mattress. The soft pillow muffles the shaky breath that escapes me.

“What have I done?”

Nobody answers. Of course nobody does. Because somehow, I chose this. Not because I wanted to. Because every other choice seemed worse.

I roll onto my back and stare blankly at the ceiling. This morning, I was just another freshman with an embarrassing crush.

Now, The entire university believes I’m dating Jace Knight. The same Jace Knight who’s spent years making my life difficult.

The same Jace Knight every girl on campus wants. The same Jace Knight I promised myself I’d stay away from.

A laugh slips out. It’s so weak it almost sounds like crying.

“I’m an idiot.”

A knock interrupts my thoughts. Before I can answer, the door swings open. Kimberly storms in first. Chloe follows quietly behind her.

The second Kimberly sees my face, her own expression softens. “You look horrible.”

“Thanks.”

“I meant emotionally.”

“I know.”

She walks over and throws herself onto my bed beside me. “So?”

I already know what she’s asking.

I sigh. “I said yes.”

Neither of them speaks. For once, Kimberly has no joke. No sarcastic comment. Nothing.

Chloe quietly sits on the chair beside my desk. “Are you okay?”

“No.” The answer comes so quickly it surprises even me. “I don’t know what I’m feeling. I feel relieved. I feel scared. I feel guilty. And…” I stop.

Because I can’t explain the last feeling. The strange heaviness sitting inside my chest.

Kimberly reaches over and gently squeezes my hand. “You’re doing what you need to survive.”

“I know. But it doesn’t feel that way. It feels like…I’m giving away part of my life.”

Nobody tells me I’m wrong. Because maybe I’m not. My phone suddenly begins ringing.

Mom. The word flashes across my screen.

For a second, I almost decline it. If I hear her voice, I’m going to cry.

Chloe notices the screen. “You should answer.”

I swallow hard before pressing accept. “Hi, Mom.”

“My baby!” Her cheerful voice instantly fills the room. “How’s my favorite university student?”

I force a smile she can’t even see. “I’m okay.”

“Liar.”

I freeze. “What?”

“I know your voice.” She laughs softly. “You’ve had that exact voice since you were seven years old and your goldfish died.”

Despite myself, A tiny smile appears. “I wasn’t that dramatic.”

“You cried for three days.”

“I was eight.”

“You insisted we give the fish a funeral.”

Kimberly snorts beside me. I glare at her.

Mom continues talking. “Is university too stressful?”

“A little.”

“Are people treating you well? What about Ethan and Jace? Are they making you feel at home?”

The question catches me completely off guard. My throat closes. For one terrifying second, I almost tell her everything. About Tiffany. About the videos. About Jace.

About pretending to be someone I’m not. Instead…

“I’m fine….. They are treating me good.”

A long silence follows.

Then Mom sighs softly. “You know your father and I are always one phone call away. You can always bring them home during the holiday, I will prepare a nice meal for you guys.”

“Alright mom.”

“We miss you.”

“I miss you too.”

“And sweetheart…” Her voice grows gentler. “Whatever happens over there, don’t carry it alone.”

My vision blurs. I bite the inside of my cheek so hard it hurts. “I won’t.”

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”

The call ends. The room falls silent again. I stare at the dark screen until a single tear lands on it. Then another.

Kimberly doesn’t tease me. Chloe doesn’t tell me to stop crying.

Instead, One sits beside me. The other wraps her arms around my shoulders. Neither of them says a word. Somehow, That makes me cry even harder.

On the bed, another notification echoes through the room. Then another. Then another.

I don’t even have to unlock my phone. I already know. Royal Haven hasn’t finished talking about me yet.