『⊹𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗺𝘀 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗺⊹』

✐ Chapter ~ 5

Zyon couldn't stop smiling as she walked down the hallway, her hand intertwined with Lacey's. It had been a few weeks since their kiss in the art room, and everything felt perfect. They had been spending more time together, and Zyon felt like she was floating on air. "Are you free after school today?" Lacey asked, giving Zyon's hand a gentle squeeze."Yeah, definitely," Zyon replied, her heart fluttering at the thought of more time with her.

"What do you want to do?"

"Maybe we can go to that new café that opened downtown," Lacey suggested with a smile. "I heard they have the best pastries."

"Sounds perfect," Zyon agreed, her excitement bubbling over.

Just then, Daryl and Marcus approached, their expressions serious. "Zyon, can we talk to you for a second?" Daryl asked, his tone unusually tense.

Zyon's heart sank. "Sure," she replied, exchanging a worried glance with Lacey. "What's going on?"

Marcus shifted uncomfortably, glancing around to make sure no one else was listening. "We heard something... troubling, and we need to ask you about it."

"What is it?" Zyon asked, feeling a knot of anxiety form in her stomach.

Daryl took a deep breath. "There's a rumor going around that you've been involved in some kind of scandal. People are saying you did something... really bad."

Zyon's eyes widened in shock. "What? I haven't done anything! What are they accusing me of?"

Marcus hesitated before speaking. "They're saying you sent, well... pictures... to the math teacher for better grades"

Lacey's grip tightened on Zyon's hand. "That's ridiculous! Zyon would never do something like that."

"I know," Zyon said, her voice shaking. "But who would say something like that? And why?"

"We don't know," Daryl admitted. "But the rumors are spreading fast. You need to talk to the principal and clear this up."

Zyon nodded, feeling a mix of anger and fear. "I will. I can't believe this is happening."

"We believe you, Zyon," Marcus said, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "We'll help you figure this out."

"Thanks," Zyon said, her voice barely above a whisper. She turned to Lacey, her eyes filled with worry. "I need to go see the principal. Can we meet up later?"

"Of course," Lacey said, her expression determined. "We'll get through this, okay?"

Zyon nodded, but as she made her way toward the principal's office, her steps slowed, and doubt crept in. The enormity of the situation weighed heavily on her. What if they didn't believe her? What if this scandal ruined everything she had worked so hard for?

Her heart pounded as she reached the door to the principal's office. She stood there for a moment, hand hovering over the doorknob, but she couldn't bring herself to go in. Panic surged through her, and she turned on her heel, walking quickly away.

By the time she reached the courtyard, her mind was racing. She didn't want to face the principal alone. She needed time to think, to figure out who would accuse her of something so terrible and why.

Later that afternoon, Zyon found herself back in the art room, the familiar scent of paint and the quiet hum of creativity offering a small comfort. She started absentmindedly painting, trying to calm her thoughts. The door creaked open, and Lacey walked in, her eyes full of concern.

"Zyon, you didn't go to the principal's office, did you?" Lacey asked gently.

Zyon sighed, setting down her brush. "I couldn't do it, Lace. I was too scared. What if they don't believe me? What if this ruins everything?"

Lacey walked over and took Zyon's hand, her touch warm and reassuring. "We'll figure this out together. You're not alone in this."

Tears welled up in Zyon's eyes. "Thank you, Lacey. I just don't understand who would do this or why."

"Maybe we need to start by finding out who started the rumor," Lacey suggested. "Once we know who it is, we can figure out why and how to clear your name."

Zyon nodded, a sense of determination slowly building. "You're right. We need to get to the bottom of this."

As they stood there, hand in hand, Zyon felt a flicker of hope. With Lacey by her side, she knew they could face whatever challenges lay ahead.

---

As Zyon and Lacey stood in the art room, discussing their plan to uncover the truth, the door suddenly swung open. The school secretary, Mrs. Thompson, stood in the doorway, looking stern.

"Zyon, the principal needs to see you immediately," Mrs. Thompson said, her voice leaving no room for argument.

Zyon's heart sank. She glanced at Lacey, who gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. "I'll be waiting for you," Lacey whispered.

With a nod, Zyon followed Mrs. Thompson to the principal's office. The walk felt like an eternity, her mind racing with fear and uncertainty. When they arrived, Mrs. Thompson motioned for Zyon to go inside.

Principal Harris sat behind his desk, his expression unreadable. "Zyon, please have a seat," he said, gesturing to the chair in front of him.

Zyon sat down, her hands trembling slightly. "Principal Harris, I didn't cheat. I don't know why someone would say that."

Principal Harris held up a hand to stop her. "Zyon, this is a serious accusation, and we need to investigate it thoroughly. In the meantime, I've had to inform your father about the situation."

Zyon's stomach dropped. "You called my dad?"

"Yes," Principal Harris confirmed. "He's on his way here now. We need to discuss the next steps and how we can resolve this matter."

Zyon felt tears pricking at the corners of her eyes. She knew her father wouldn't take this news well. The fear of his reaction overshadowed everything else.

"You can wait here until he arrives," Principal Harris said gently. "I hope you understand this is necessary."

Zyon nodded numbly, her mind swirling with dread. As she sat in the office, waiting for her father, she couldn't help but feel like her world was crumbling around her. The thought of his disappointment and anger was almost too much to bear.

When the door finally opened and her father walked in, his expression was a mix of confusion and concern. "Zyon, what's going on?" he demanded.

"Dad, I didn't do it," Zyon said, her voice shaking. "I swear, I didn't cheat."

"We'll discuss this at home."