Chapter Fourteen

"I've told you a thousand times—I did not stab Jennifer!" My voice cracks with rage. The ambulance already took her to the hospital, and now I’m stuck in the vice principal’s office, surrounded like some kind of criminal for something I didn’t do.

"She provoked me, okay? I slapped her. Maybe she stabbed herself!"

"Shut your mouth, Miss Catherine!" Mrs. Margaret—our vice principal and Jennifer’s ever-so-loving aunt—shakes a finger in my face. “My niece has complained about your ill-treatment since she joined the cheer squad.”

I almost roll my eyes. Being on the cheer team isn’t some crown; it’s just exhausting extra work.

"Because you have rich parents doesn’t give you the right to treat others like trash," she continues. "Your parents have been informed of your misconduct. For their sake, we’ll hold off involving the police."

"I did not stab her—"

"Bring in the witnesses. Record everything they say," she orders, cutting me off.

Witnesses? There were no witnesses. I was the only one in the restroom before Jennifer walked in acting like a witch. Who the hell stabs themselves just to frame someone?

The door opens and in walks the cheer squad—Cassie, Sasha, Zoe, and Ingrid. My stomach twists. People I’ve practiced and sweated with for three years.

Mrs. Margaret folds her arms. "Repeat what you told me earlier."

Zoe steps forward, fake sympathy dripping from her voice. “We were outside the restroom when we heard Catherine shouting at Jennifer to die. We thought it was just girl drama until Jennifer screamed for help.” She looks back at the others. “Am I lying, girls?”

“Exactly what happened,” the rest echo in unison.

“You’re lying!” I shout, trying to step forward, but a staff member grabs my arm. “She’s lying—”

“Oh my God, she’s scaring me!” Sasha squeaks, hiding behind the others. “I told Jennifer not to apologize to her!”

My blood boils.

“You tried to make Asher jealous by dating Dominic,” Zoe spits. “But when that didn’t work, you attacked Jennifer.”

“Why would I do that?”

“Because you can’t stand not getting what you want. Asher chose Jennifer, she took your cheerleading spot—face it, you hate her.”

I yank my arm free. “You’re right about one thing—I don’t get over things easily. I don’t get over being cheated on. But that doesn’t mean I’d hurt someone over a guy who wasn’t even worth it!”

They all stare at me like I just proved their point.

Mrs. Margaret slams her palm on the desk. “I’ve had enough. Take her to an empty classroom and lock her there until her parents arrive.”

“You can’t do that!” I snap. “If you do, and it turns out your psycho niece stabbed herself, I’ll sue this school to the ground.”

I grab my bag and storm out before they can react. My nerves are on fire. I can’t believe Jennifer would actually stab herself—just to frame me. What kind of person does that?

“Catherine!”

I freeze. Asher jogs up to me, that fake look of concern plastered on his face.

“Not now, Asher.” I turn toward the exit, ignoring the whispers following me down the hall.

He grabs my arm. “What are you doing? I heard what happened! Why would you do something like that? You could go to jail if Jennifer—”

“Hold it right there,” I cut him off. “You actually believe I stabbed her?”

He gives me that look—like it’s the most obvious thing in the world.

“And why would I do that, huh? You think I’m some lovesick psycho who hurts people over a guy?”

“Are you not?” he fires back. “You were always all over me. I was worried when I asked Jennifer out—”

I laugh bitterly. I can’t believe I wasted months on this idiot.

“Jennifer told me you’ve been threatening her. Especially after she took your spot on the squad—”

“Go to hell, Asher.” My voice shakes, but not from fear—from anger. “You never added anything positive to my life. My grades dropped because of you—because I kept following you to every stupid party.”

“It’s not my fault you were a moron,” he snorts.

The words hit like a slap. I glare at him, then turn to walk away.

“Cat, just apologize to Jennifer!” he calls after me. “She’ll let it go!”

My jaw tightens. I’d rather drown than apologize for something I didn’t do.

I barge into class, ignoring the stares and whispers.

“What the hell is going on?” Alice asks. “I just got back from the principal’s office and everyone’s saying you stabbed Jennifer! I was like—no way, I was with her in the cafeteria!”

“I didn’t stab her,” I say, shoving books into my bag.

“Of course you didn’t. That knife didn’t even look like your style—too ugly.”

I pause. “Seriously?”

“Yeah. You’d never buy something that hideous.”

I exhale. “I’m going home.”

“I saw the knife,” she adds. “They put it in one of those clear police bags. I figured the rest when I overheard.”

I sling my bag over my shoulder. “I did not stab her.”

Alice smirks. “I believe you. If you wanted to stab her, you’d have aimed for her forehead, not her thigh.”

I glare. “Not helping.”

I leave the building, not caring about the security guard calling after me. I flag down a cab, give my address, and pull the door closed—

Only for someone to yank it open from outside.

Dominic.

“What are you doing here?” I snap.

“I heard what happened,” he says, slightly out of breath. “Alice told me you were heading home, so I came to check on you.”

A headache starts pounding behind my eyes. “I didn’t hurt Jennifer.”

“I know,” he says quietly. “Alice just thought you shouldn’t be alone until it’s sorted out.”

“Dominic, you really don’t have to—”

“I want to,” he says, climbing in beside me.

“Whatever,” I mutter, looking away.

But deep down, a small part of me is grateful he came.

I bite down the tears threatening to fall. Every single person out there believes I stabbed Jennifer—like I’m some psycho who grabs a knife the second things don’t go her way.

I’m not that person. I could never be that person.

And over what? Asher? The stupid cheerleading team?

Back then, being cheer captain was everything—every girl’s dream. I worked for it. I watched hours of gymnastics routines, dance practices, learned every move until my body ached. And after I finally made the team, I realized it wasn’t about being popular—it was endless work. Staying late for practice, shouting till my voice cracked, showing up at every football game even when my legs trembled from exhaustion.

And now… all of that doesn’t even matter.

“Catherine…” Dominic’s voice pulls me out of my thoughts. He pokes my shoulder gently. “We’re home.”

“Oh.” My voice comes out small.

I blink, realizing my hands are wet. I touch my face—tears. Actual tears. I didn’t even notice I’d been crying.

“Sir, your money,” Dominic says quietly to the driver, handing him the fare before I can move.

We step out of the cab and walk toward the house in silence. The air feels heavy, pressing down on me. All I want is to collapse on my bed and disappear from everything—from the whispers, the lies, the disgusted stares.

But then my phone vibrates.

Dad.

The name flashes across the screen like a warning.

I already know—there’s not going to be any rest tonight.