로그인Natalie's pov The words escaped me before I could stop it. My Mom froze. I could see my words pierced through her drunken haze.“What?” She whispered softly.“You killed him, you… you are a horrible, horrible person!” I spat, feeling the thick pool of anger roll in me.My mom's speechless face brought me a little hint of joy.“You don't know what you're saying,” she whispered, taking a small shaky step towards me. I stood still, watching her come close.“Yes, I do.”My voice sounded steadier than I felt.“You were drunk every night. You fought with him constantly. You blamed him for everything. And that night…”My voice faltered, but I swallowed, trying to compose myself.“That night, he left the house because of you.”My mother's face crumpled, “You don't know what happened that night.”“I was there," I answered.“No, you were a child. You know nothing.”“I heard you," I answered.Her lips parted.“I heard you screaming at him," My chest tightened as the memory came rushing back.My
Natalie's pov I stopped walking. The question came from behind me, quiet enough that I almost wondered if I had imagined it.When I turned slowly, I was staring into Tristan's face.Tristan stood several feet away, one hand tucked casually into the pocket of his trousers. His expression was relaxed, almost amused..“What equations?” my eyes narrowed at him. His smile only widened at my expression.“The ones you were given,” he answered.My stomach dropped at his words. I glanced toward the hallway where Joey and Kian had disappeared.“What are you talking about?” I said, looking back at him. Tristan tilted his head.“Interesting," he said with a silent wonder in his voice.“What is?”“You really don't know?” He asked again.“Know what?” I squinted my eyes at him.He took one step closer, “The questions hidden inside the research papers.”My heart skipped.“How do you know about them?”Tristan's expression changed. It was subtle, but I caught it. For the first time, the amusement di
Natalie's pov My chest tightened.The panel members exchanged glances. One of the women folded her hands.“Mr Lawley, you understood that you were being asked to take possession of illegal substances and you did so willingly?”“Yes.”“Did Ms Mayers force you, or threaten you?“No," Kian scoffed like he found the very idea of me threatening him to be absurd.“Then why would you agree?”Kian leaned back.“I already answered this all before, “ “No,” the woman said. “You said you agreed because she asked. That is not an explanation.”The woman studied him for a bit then her eyes went to me. I shrunk a little in my chair. “Were you involved romantically with Ms Mayers at the time?” she asked. I coughed, choking on my saliva.“No.” Kian's answer was immediate.“Are you involved romantically with her now? We are aware of the rumours going around the school today. You must understand why we're asking these questions.”“I understand and my answer is no," Kian said coldly. My chest tightened
Natalie's pov For a few seconds, I couldn’t hear anything. The room remained exactly as it had been. The long wooden table. The files scattered across it. The frozen image on the screen behind the panel.But suddenly, everything felt far away.Kian sat beside me with his elbows resting on his knees. His eyes remained fixed on the screen. He had said it so calmly, like he hadn’t just destroyed the last piece of evidence I had.Like he hadn’t just confirmed the one thing I had spent the last hour denying.My throat tightened.“You saw her give it to someone?” the woman at the center repeated.“Yes,” Kian answered. Her pen paused above the paper, her eyes twitched a little in contemplation.“And you are certain?” she asked again.“Yes.”I turned toward him.“Kian.”He didn’t look at me. My voice came out quieter.“Kian, what are you talking about?” I whispered, my voice tight with urgency.His jaw tightened, but he still didn't look at me. The woman glanced between us.“Ms Mayers, plea
Natalie's pov The screen went black before we could get a glimpse of the person's face. I stared at the screen, not completely believing my eyes. “That’s not what happened,” I argued, shaking my head vehemently. “Then explain what happened," the woman said with a tired exhale. “I can’t. I don’t remember that,” I insisted. The woman’s expression hardened. “You don’t remember handing someone illegal substances? You don’t remember who approached you?” “No. I don't!” I spoke again. “Ms Mayers.” “I’m telling the truth,” I said, pleadingly. The woman sighed. “Your answers are becoming increasingly difficult to believe.” My eyes burned. I looked down at my hands. The skin around my fingernails was red from scratching. “You said the complaint was reopened,” I said. “Yes. It was.” She answered. “Who reopened it?” “That information is confidential,” she responded rather curtly. “Who submitted the video?” I persisted. “Confidential.” “Then how am I suppose
Natalie's pov “Drugs??” The woman echoed, her eyebrows were set in a grim frown. She looked at the people by her side. They all were murmuring, and staring at me in disbelief and conviction. “Yes, but it's not what you think,” I said quickly with my hands up. “Ms Mayers, it'll be to your favour if you actually start speaking with context,” another woman spoke, her voice sharp. Blood thumped in my ears. “They don't belong to me. They're not mine, they actually belong to my mother,” I said hastily. The panellist exchanged glances at each other. “Then what were they doing on the school grounds?” The woman in the middle asked. For a moment, I couldn’t answer.The room felt smaller than it had a few seconds ago. Five pairs of eyes remained fixed on me. The large screen behind them was still frozen on the video. My face stared back at me from the image, blurred but recognizable. I looked guilty, I felt guilty. That was the worst part. I looked exactly like someone who had been caugh
Natalie's pov That was it.I knew I wasn't going to let it slide this time.“Excuse me?” I asked, unable to help myself. My mother kicked me lightly underneath the table.I ignored her, I could feel my ears get hot. I clenched the spoon in my hands, trying to keep the emotion at bay.“You are wel
Natalie's pov “Must I be there?” I muttered, my voice coming out small.True to her word, before the end of the day, I was roaming the halls of a building fit to be called a palace by the sheer ridiculousness of its size.My mother was also nowhere to be seen, and I was led into a room by a man wh
Natalie's pov “Did he say 'the' Kian Lawley set you up?” Allison said, her words coming out breathless. I didn't reply. I ground my teeth, repeatedly counting my right fingers. “At least you won't be expelled. It's just a harmless prank, Natt.” “A harmless prank?! Allison, I was framed!” I s
Natalie's povFINAL YEARThe beginning of the end. As I stepped into the hallway of Bennington college, I grinded my jaw, the sharp pain that rose soothed me strangely.Students gathered in clusters, talking over each other. The chaos felt new, even when it was the same as always, at the start of







