Shattered Asylum

Chapter 47

I arrive at school a few minutes late, my exhaustion weighing me down after a restless night of tossing and turning.

My mind kept circling back to unanswered questions, and Grayson still hasn't responded to the text I sent him.

After grabbing a tardy slip from the office, I head to class, dreading the inevitable disruption. As soon as I open the door, all eyes are on me, and Mrs. Jean pauses mid-sentence.

"Sorry," I mumble, quickly making my way to my seat.

The whispers start almost immediately, a soft murmur spreading through the room like wildfire. I try to ignore it, but it's impossible when everyone is still staring.

Are they really that upset I interrupted class?

I glance around, my unease growing as the whispering continues. It's not just annoyance, it's curiosity, judgment even.

The girls in the back corner point in my direction, leaning into one another as they exchange hushed words.

I squirm in my seat, suddenly hyperware of myself. My cheeks burn as self-consciousness washes over me.

What's going on?

I catch Nora's eye, silently pleading for an explanation. She just shrugs, her expression as confused as mine.

I shake my head, forcing myself to focus on the front of the room. Whatever this is, I'll have to deal with it later. For now, I just need to get through this painfully long hour.

~

As soon as the bell rings, a dozen girls surround me, their voices a mix of anger and curiosity.

"So, you're the girl he's been messing around with. Is that his hoodie?" One sneers, glaring at me.

"How good is he? I wonder who he'll pick next," another chimes in, her voice dripping with malice.

I stare at them, utterly confused. Before I can say anything, I see Nora pushing through the crowd, shoving girls aside to reach me.

"What are you doing? Leave her alone!" She snaps, grabbing my arm and pulling me away from the swarm.

"What just happened?" I ask, looking over my shoulder, half expecting them to follow us.

"I have no clue," Nora mutters, walking with me to class and glaring at anyone who dares to approach. A sinking feeling twists in my stomach, growing heavier with every step.

It only gets worse when I see Ashley walking toward us, her signature smug smile firmly in place.

"Well, well, the girl I was just hoping to see," she drawls, her voice laced with fake sweetness. "Enjoying all the attention?"

I narrow my eyes at her. "What do you want?"

Ashley feigns innocence, her tone light and mocking. "Oh, nothing. Just thought you might want to know why everyone's so interested in you today."

Before Nora can launch into a tirade, Ashley holds up her phone, a video paused on the screen. She taps play, and my heart sinks as I watch the grainy footage of me and Grayson entering his room.

It cuts to the door, with someone recording from outside, and then the unmistakable sound of clapping and a girl moaning loudly fills the air.

"Where did you get this?" I demand, my voice shaking slightly. It's fake, obviously edited to make it look like something happened.

Ashley smirks, her eyes glinting with triumph. "Does it really matter? What matters is what everyone thinks they're seeing."

My fists clench at my sides, my glare sharp enough to cut steel. "Delete it."