All Chapters of Faking It With The Hockey Playboy: Chapter 121 - Chapter 129

Lila POVThe principal's office felt like a courtroom.I sat in a chair facing a long table where three administrators sat watching me with stern expressions. Principal Hayes was in the center, flanked by Vice Principal Morrison and the Dean of Students, Mr. Carter.My mother sat to my right, her posture perfect, her face a mask of controlled fury. Robert sat to my left, his hands folded in his lap, looking uncomfortable and sad.And I sat between them, burning with fever, shaking with fear, feeling like I was about to collapse at any moment."Thank you for coming in today," Principal Hayes began, her voice formal and cold. "I know this is a difficult situation for everyone involved."My mother opened her mouth to speak, but Principal Hayes held up her hand."Please, Mrs. Richmond, let me finish. Then you will have your opportunity to speak."My mother pressed her lips together tightly but nodded.Principal Hayes turned her attention to me, and I felt like I was being examined under a

Derek POVThe reaction to my speech was mixed.Some students took the petitions I offered, reading them carefully before deciding whether to sign. Others walked away shaking their heads, clearly not interested in defending Lila.But at least some people were listening. At least I had planted a seed of doubt about the narrative everyone had accepted as truth.I watched Lila walk into the school building, her shoulders hunched, her face pale and exhausted. She looked like she had been through hell. And she had. Because of me. Because I had been too weak to stand up for her when it mattered most.But I was done being weak."Derek!"I turned to see James jogging toward me, his face tight with concern. James had been my closest friend on the team since I transferred to this school. He was one of the few people who actually knew me beyond my reputation as the bad boy hockey player."Hey," I said, giving him a slight nod."What are you doing, man?" James asked, looking at the petitions in my

Lila POVWhen I got home from school that afternoon, my mother was waiting for me in the living room.She did not say a word. She just held out her hand.I knew what she wanted."Mom, please," I started to say."Give me your phone, Lila," she said coldly. "And your laptop.""But I need them for school. I need them to—""You need them for nothing. You have proven that you cannot be trusted with technology. You used it to write those disgusting stories. You used it to communicate with boys who are clearly a bad influence on you. So now you lose the privilege."My hands shook as I pulled my phone from my pocket and handed it to her. She took it without looking at me."The laptop too," she said.I went upstairs to my room and retrieved my laptop from my desk. When I brought it down, my mother was already disconnecting the internet router."You will go to school, you will come straight home, and you will stay in your room. No phone. No internet. No communication with anyone until this mess

Lila POVRyan stood there for a moment longer, his back to me, his shoulders tense.Then he walked out and closed the door behind him.But before I could even process what had just happened, the door flew open again. Ryan stormed back in, his face flushed with anger."No," he said firmly. "No, I am not doing this. I am not walking away like some coward while you destroy yourself.""Ryan, I told you to leave," I said, wiping tears from my face."And I told you I am not leaving. You do not get to push me away like this. You do not get to tell me that I cannot help you when I am the only one who actually has evidence to save you.""I do not want your evidence!" I shouted back, standing up from my bed. "I do not want anything from you!""Why?" Ryan demanded, walking closer. "Why are you being so stubborn about this? Why would you rather get expelled than accept help from me?""Because accepting help from you comes with strings attached!" I yelled. "Because every time I let you close, you