007 - Forced to Play Along

Scarlett's POV

I didn't sleep.

The text played on repeat in my head. Nice try, scholarship girl. But this isn't over.

Whoever sent it knew my name. Knew my status. Knew exactly where to hurt me.

Tuesday morning arrived too fast. I stared at my ceiling until my alarm screamed, then stared some more.

Mom knocked. "Scarlett? You'll be late."

"I'm up."

Lie. I was anything but up.

The walk to the corner felt longer today. Heavier. Every car that passed made me flinch.

Ronan's black car pulled up. I climbed in.

"You look worse than yesterday."

"Thanks. You really know how to compliment a girl."

He almost smiled. Then his face shifted. "What's wrong?"

I pulled out my phone. Showed him the text.

He read it. Went very still.

"When did you get this?"

"Yesterday. After the stairwell. After Maya."

"Let me see your phone."

I handed it over. He typed quickly. Handed it back.

"What did you do?"

"Blocked the number. Traced it. Nothing useful. Burner." He handed it back. "But now we know."

"Know what?"

"They're scared. Angry. The recant threw them off, and now they're lashing out." He met my eyes. "That's good."

"How is that good?"

"Because angry people make mistakes." His voice dropped. "And when they make mistakes, I find them."

The car pulled up near the school. Same spot as yesterday.

"Today's the same as yesterday," he said. "We walk in together. We hold hands. We look like we belong together."

"And if someone asks questions?"

"You let me handle it." He reached for my hand. "Ready?"

"No."

"Same answer." He squeezed. "Let's go."

The hallway felt different today. Not just whispers. Something else. Hunger. Like sharks smelling blood.

People stared. Phones followed. But today, they also approached.

A girl stepped in front of us. Blonde. Cheerleader type. Smile sharp.

"Ronan." She ignored me. "Heard you're dating the scholarship girl now. That true?"

"She has a name." His voice stayed calm. "Use it."

The girl blinked. Recovered. "Scarlett. Right. So it's true?"

"Yes."

"Since when?"

"A while."

"And you kept it secret because...?"

Ronan glanced at me. Squeezed my hand.

"Because it's no one's business but ours."

The girl's smile faltered. "People are curious."

"People can stay curious." He stepped past her. Pulled me along.

I barely breathed until we reached his locker.

"That was—"

"Normal." He leaned against the lockers. "Get used to it."

"I don't think I can."

"You can." His eyes held mine. "You're stronger than you know."

Someone cleared their throat.

We both turned.

Mrs. Voss stood there. Scholarship coordinator. Face pinched with disapproval.

"Scarlett. A word."

Ronan straightened. "Anything you need to say to her, you can say in front of me."

Mrs. Voss's eyes flickered. Surprise? Annoyance?

"This is about her scholarship status."

"Then definitely in front of me."

A tense pause. Students nearby pretended not to watch.

"Very well." Mrs. Voss clasped her hands. "Your suspension is lifted, but the investigation continues. We'll need to interview you again. Verify your study habits. Confirm your alibis for exam periods."

Alibis. Like I was a criminal.

"I understand."

"Also." She leaned closer. "Your sudden... relationship with Mr. Whitmore raises questions. About motivation. About influence. About whether special treatment might be involved."

My face burned. "There's no special treatment."

"Isn't there?" Her eyes slid to Ronan. "Funny how your scholarship problems vanish the moment you start dating a Whitmore."

Ronan stepped forward. "Careful."

"Just making an observation." Mrs. Voss smiled. Thin. Ugly. "The committee will want to discuss it. Your next meeting is Friday. 3 p.m. Don't be late."

She walked away.

I couldn't breathe.

Ronan grabbed my arm. Pulled me into the empty stairwell.

"Hey. Look at me."

I looked. His face was close. Concerned.

"She's trying to rattle you."

"It's working."

"Don't let her." His voice dropped. "She's looking for weakness. For cracks. If you show fear, she wins."

"How do I not show fear when she's threatening to take everything?"

"By remembering you're not alone." He held my gaze. "I'm in this too. Whatever happens, we face it together."

Together.

Such a simple word. Such a complicated lie.

"I have to go to that meeting Friday."

"Yes."

"And tell them... what? That we're dating for real? That you're not influencing anything?"

"Tell them the truth." His voice steady. "Tell them we're together. That's it. The rest is none of their business."

"The truth." I laughed. Bitter. "You want me to lie."

"I want you to survive." He stepped closer. "There's a difference."

There it was again. There's a difference.

I was so tired of differences.

The bell rang. First period starting.

"I have to go."

"Scarlett." He caught my hand. "Friday, I'll be there. In the room. Whatever they ask, you're not alone."

I nodded. Pulled away. Walked to class.

The day passed in a blur. Whispers followed. Eyes tracked. But no one else approached.

Until lunch.

I sat in my usual corner of the library. Hidden. Safe. Books piled like armor.

The chair across from me scraped back.

I looked up.

Maya.

"Hey."

"Hey." I didn't know what else to say.

She sat. Looked at the books. Looked at me.

"I've been thinking."

"Okay."

"About you. About him. About everything." She twisted her hands. "I still think you're making a mistake."

My heart sank.

"But." She met my eyes. "I also think you're not stupid. You wouldn't do this without a reason."

I stayed silent.

"So I'm not going to ask what the reason is. Not yet." She leaned forward. "But I'm also not going to watch you destroy yourself from a distance."

"Maya—"

"I'm here." Her voice cracked. "Whatever this is, whatever you're going through, I'm here. Even if you can't tell me why."

Tears burned my eyes.

"I don't deserve you."

"Probably not." She almost smiled. "But you're stuck with me anyway."

I reached across the table. Grabbed her hand.

"I can't explain. Not yet. But when I can—"

"First in line." She squeezed back. "Always."

For the first time in days, I breathed.

Then my phone buzzed.

Ronan: Meeting after school. My car. Found something.

I stared at the message.

"What?" Maya asked.

"Nothing. Just—" I stood. "I have to go. Thank you. For this. For everything."

"Scarlett." Her voice stopped me. "Be careful. Please."

I nodded. Walked out.

The afternoon crawled. Every minute felt like an hour. Finally, final bell.

I walked to the parking lot. Ronan's black car waited.

I climbed in.

"What did you find?"

He handed me his phone. A photo. Blurry. Taken from a distance.

A person. Leaving the admin office. Late at night. Face obscured.

"Who is that?"

"I don't know yet." His voice dark. "But they dropped something. Look closer."

I zoomed in.

A bracelet. On the person's wrist. Silver. Distinctive.

I knew that bracelet.

My blood went cold.

"That's—"

"Yeah." Ronan's jaw tightened. "Now we know who's been watching."

I stared at the photo.

At the bracelet.

At the person who'd been trying to destroy me.

"No." I shook my head. "It can't be."

"It is." Ronan put the car in drive. "And now we figure out why."

I looked at the photo again.

The bracelet belonged to someone I knew.

Someone close.

Someone I never suspected.

Maya.