Arian

Arian’s pov

Kael really has the nerve to talk to me about help. Why would I even let him help me? He thinks his hot body would make me fall for his tricks.

I snorted as I walked to the book club meeting room. As I entered, the heavy silence washed over me. The room was quieter than usual. Not the cozy kind of quiet that happened when everyone was deep in a book.

This was different. It was thick with tension and uncomfortable to bear. It is the kind of silence that makes you hyper-aware of every breath, every glance, every whisper you weren’t supposed to hear.

I stood at the front of the room, the same room I’d decorated, cleaned, and fought to preserve when no one cared about it. The posters I’d hung were still there. The shelves I’d labeled still held our books. But the energy that was once there had shifted.

Neither their eyes nor attitude carried the energy we had. I took a breath, my heart pounding as all eyes were on me. I could feel the weight of their judgement down in my guts.

I swallowed hard before I began. “Thank you all for coming today,” I said, my voice tighter than I wanted it to be. “Thank you for honouring the emergency call.”

“I know things are… weird right now. And I wanted to speak to you directly before anyone else starts speaking for me.”

I braced myself to look at the faces sitting in the room. There were about fifteen people in the room. Familiar faces I’d seen nearly every week for the past years, some avoided eye contact. A few stared at me like they were trying to read my soul.

Before I could continue, one hand shot up.

I looked at her as she rose up to talk. Maya. The soft-spoken sophomore who was in charge of buying snacks.

“I just want to say I don’t believe what they’re saying about you,” she said. “You’ve never even let us buy snacks without a receipt. Why would you steal from the club?”

A small smile tugged at my lips. “Thanks for that, Maya. It would have been better if everyone thought like you.”

But before I could say more, another voice cut through the room.

“Then how do you explain the post?”

That came from Brent, one of the louder members in the club. I couldn't expect less from him, anyway. He was only a member because his parents are one of our sponsors.

He continued. “The screenshot looked legit.”

“What if someone faked it?” Maya defended immediately.

“If someone did fake it, why go through all that trouble unless they had a reason?” he asked.

“That’s exactly what I’m trying to figure out,” I said, trying to stay calm. “But I didn’t touch a single coin that didn’t go to this club. Everything I’ve done with the money has been for this group.”

“Then prove it,” he said, crossing his arms.

“Brent,” April said sharply from her seat beside me. “What’s there to prove? We all know how transparent Arian is.”

“Transparent?” He scoffed. “Well, not everybody knows how transparent he is. I’m just saying what everyone’s thinking.”

“I guess you are the only one thinking that way because I'm not,” Maya muttered.

“We know you can't be reasonable, Maya. Your nerdy ass is stuck in another universe, saving aliens,” Brent said.

“Watch your mouth, Brent,” April warned him. “Because your father sponsors this club doesn't mean others don't. You should learn to respect others because clearly, daddy didn't teach you how to do it.”

“Please, enough of the word fight,” I said calmly. “We know insulting people's choice of book isn't accepted.”

“And insulting my family is accepted?” Brent fired.

“You asked for it Brent and you got what you deserve,” April replied.

More voices followed, murmurs filled the room. Will these people allow me to talk?

“It is not about you, April. This is about Arian's scandal. Can you just be quiet and let him talk for himself?” Sammy, one of the most reserved said.

A few people quietly nodded along with him and silence fell upon us again.

I just realized that being doubted was worse than being hated. These same people trusted me with everything but it was just in my head. They never trusted me, they just followed because they were asked to.

“I don’t expect all of you to believe me right now,” I said, steadying my voice. “I know how rumors work. I know how fast people judge and get judged. But I’m going to prove that I’m innocent.”

I paused, letting the silence settle. I gave them the time to digest what I just said before dropping the bombshell on them.

“And until then,” I added, my throat tightening, “I’m stepping down as president of the book club.”

They gasps. Murmurs erupted again.

“Temporarily,” I added quickly. “I don’t want this situation to affect the club. I’ll still help from the background if you’ll let me, but someone else will have to lead for now.”

April shot me a sharp look. “You don’t have to do that, Arian.”

“Yes, you don't have to step down from your position,” Maya added.

“I do,” I said. “The club don't deserves to be stained with the scandal. And I need time to find out who’s behind all this.”

“That's the best decision you've ever made, Arian,” Brent said with a mocking tone.

I had a lot to say to Brent but I wouldn't say anything. If I throw just a single shade at him, he wouldn't show his face at the club again. But I won't because I have other important things to worry about and he is not even at the bottom of the least things.

No one said anything after Brent words. They all seem to have agreed with my decision.

Then Maya stood again. “I believe you didn't do it and I believe you will find the person behind it. And if there’s anything I can do to help, just say it.”

April stood next, A few more followed. Brent didn’t move and that was okay. I don't need his sympathy.

“We will wait for you. You will always be our president,” April said and they nodded.

I stepped back as tears welled up in my eyes. My hands still slightly shaking so I hid it behind me, and for the first time in days, I didn’t feel entirely alone. I relieved to know that some people are sincerely concerned about me.

And the least I can do for them is to get to the bottom of this as soon as possible and get back to being the president of the book club.