The rescue and the viral nightmare

ARIA POV

“Kneel down right now and apologize!" Jaxon's ruthless command echoed off the high ceiling of the library, sharp and cold as a blade.

I stood frozen against the wooden bookshelf, my chest heaving in fast, shallow breaths. Dozens of students stood in a wide circle around us, their eyes glued to my trembling frame. Some were holding up their phones, recording, while others whispered and giggled behind their hands. The humiliation was so heavy, so thick, that it felt like an anchor pulling me straight down into the dirt.

Kneel.

My knees trembled violently. Tears of pure, agonizing shame spilled hot over my eyelashes, burning my cheeks. Every instinct inside me screamed at me to fight back, to throw my heavy textbooks at Jaxon's arrogant face, to scream until my lungs gave out.

But then, sudden, painful memory flashes flooded my mind, shattering my courage.

I could hear my mother’s harsh, shrill voice echoing in my head from years ago, cutting through my memory like glass: “You're pure bad luck, Aria! Do you know why your father left us? Do you know why my second marriage fell apart? Because of you! Your stubbornness ruins every single good thing that comes into my life!”

My throat closed up tightly. My mother had spent five long years dragging us through cheap, falling-apart apartments, begging for a second chance at life. And now, she had finally found security with Richard Hayes. If Jaxon went to his father tonight and made good on his threat, if we got thrown back out onto the street because of me, my mother would never forgive me. She would hate me forever.

I was the reason her past was broken. I couldn't be the reason her present collapsed too.

That was the sole reason I had endured Jaxon's cruel bullying from day one. I swallowed the thick, bitter lump of disgrace in my throat, my vision blurring with tears as I slowly began to lower my trembling body toward the cold linoleum floor.

"Stop this nonsense now!"

A sharp, authoritative voice cut straight through the silent room like a thunderclap.

Everyone in the crowd turned their heads at once. Through my blurred vision, I saw a tall figure marching furiously down the aisle, shoving his way past the onlookers.

Blake Reed.

My breath caught in my throat. Blake didn't hesitate for a single second. He stepped directly between Jaxon and me, placing his broad, solid back right in front of my trembling frame, effectively blocking me from Jaxon’s terrifying gaze. He felt like an immovable wall of safety, shielding me from the storm.

Blake glared straight at his best friend, his broad chest rising and falling with deep, angry breaths. "What the hell are you doing, Jaxon?" Blake demanded, his smooth voice turning surprisingly dark.

Jaxon’s gray eyes narrowed into dangerous, icy slits. He looked at Blake’s protective stance in front of me, a flash of pure, murderous rage crossing his features.

"I should be asking you what you are doing, Blake," Jaxon sneered, his voice dropping to a low, lethal growl. "Step out of the way."

Before Blake could respond, Chloe blurted out from her spot on the floor, her voice high-pitched, fake, and trembling with dramatic anger. "Blake! What are you doing?! This fat, heavy thing pushed me down on purpose! Look at me! I’ve sprained my ankle because of her! Why on earth are you defending her?!"

The tension in the air skyrocketed, so tight and thick it felt like the room might explode at any second. Blake didn't move an inch. His hands clenched into tight fists at his sides as he stood his ground against Jaxon, refusal clear in every line of his shoulders. Jaxon took a menacing step forward, his jaw locked, ready to throw a punch.

RINGGGGG!

The loud, shrill sound of the campus bell rang out through the library, signaling the start of the next lecture period.

"What is happening over there?!" a harsh, loud voice yelled from the front entrance of the library. Professor Hills was striding down the main walkway, holding a thick folder. "Clear this aisle immediately! Get to your classes now, or every single one of you will receive detention!"

The crowd of students instantly began to scatter, murmuring in disappointment as the drama was cut short.

Jaxon stared at Blake with fierce, venomous eyes, silently promising war. Then, his cold gaze flicked over Blake’s shoulder, landing on me for one last brutal second. Without saying another word, Jaxon bent down, effortlessly scooped Chloe up into his arms, and turned on his heel, carrying her away toward the medical clinic without giving me another glance.

I sank back against the wooden bookshelf, my whole body shaking uncontrollably as I tried to wipe away the hot tears on my cheeks.

Blake turned around to face me. The anger on his face vanished instantly, replaced by a soft, worried expression.

"Aria," he said gently, stepping closer. "Are you okay?"

He reached out, his long, warm fingers gently closing around my hands, lifting them away from my face.

An electric, tingling warmth shot straight up my arms, spreading across my chest. My breath hitched loudly. My heart, which had been hammering with terror a moment ago, suddenly did a wild, chaotic flip against my ribs. A deep, burning flush rushed straight to my face, turning my cheeks a bright, uncontrollable red.

"I... I..." I stammered out, my voice squeaking as I stared down at where his large, warm hands were holding mine. "I'm... I'm fine. Thank you, Blake."

"Don't let him get to you," Blake murmured softly, giving my hands a gentle, comforting squeeze. "He's just being an asshole today."

I was so overwhelmed by his touch, so utterly shy and dizzy from his closeness, that I pulled my hands back gently, gave him a small, nervous nod, and turned around. I grabbed my fallen textbooks and practically ran down the library aisle toward my next class, my face burning like a furnace.

During the entire ninety-minute lecture, I didn't hear a single word the professor said.

I sat near the back of the classroom, totally zoned out, staring blankly at the blackboard with a foolish, dreamy smile plastered across my face. I brought my right hand up, cradling it gently with my left, touching the exact spots on my skin where Blake’s warm fingers had held me just minutes ago.

He had saved me. He had stood up to Jaxon, his own best friend, just to protect me from being humiliated. My mind replayed the moment over and over again in a dizzying loop. The way his broad back had blocked Jaxon, the deep anger in his voice when he defended me, the soft, worried look in his eyes when he held my hands...

I leaned my cheek against my hand, drooling in my sweet, romantic thoughts. Those late-night text messages are starting to turn into reality. He must really care about me. All the pain from Jaxon’s insults completely melted away, replaced by a warm, floating cloud of pure happiness.

When the final bell rang, snapping me out of my daydream, I packed my notebook into my bag with a light, airy heart. I felt invincible and happy.

I stepped out of the classroom doors into the wide, bustling hallway, hugging my binder to my chest.

But as I began walking down the corridor toward the main entrance, I noticed something strange.

The loud chatter in the hallway suddenly died down. Students standing near the lockers turned their heads, pointing their finger at me and leaning in to whisper into each other's ears. A group of girls near the water fountain looked directly at me and let out loud, nasty giggles. Two guys from the hockey team stared at me, laughing mocking smiles as I passed.

My happy mood instantly faltered. A cold, familiar knot of anxiety tightened in my stomach. Why was everyone staring at me? Why were they laughing?

My phone vibrated violently inside my sweater pocket. Then it vibrated again. And again. A non-stop, frantic buzzing that shook my whole thigh.

I stopped in the middle of the crowded hallway, my heart sinking into my shoes. I pulled out my phone, my hands trembling slightly as I unlocked the bright screen.

The moment the screen opened, my breath left my lungs in one brutal, agonizing gasp.

A video had been posted to the Crestwood University main student portal just ten minutes ago, and it already had thousands of views and hundreds of mocking comments.