Edge of seventeen

Chapter 52

Elliot's pov

The days that followed felt like a never-ending storm. Asher and I were caught in the middle of an emotional whirlwind, our futures uncertain, our reputations in tatters. But then, just when I was beginning to lose hope, Asher found something that changed everything.

We were in our dorm one evening, doing yet another round of calls and emails to our supporters when Asher's phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, and his eyes widened with shock.

"Hey, I think I might have found something," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

"What is it?" I asked, leaning over his shoulder.

He quickly scrolled through an email he had received from an anonymous source. It was a detailed account of previous complaints against the administrator—complaints that had been swept under the rug. Apparently, the woman had a history of similar behavior, and there were several documented cases of harassment that had never been properly addressed.

"This could be it," Asher said, his voice trembling with a mix of excitement and fear. "If we can get this to the right people, it might turn things around."

Without wasting any time, we compiled the evidence and presented it to the principal, who was initially skeptical but became increasingly alarmed as we laid out the facts. It didn't take long for the administration to take action. The administrator was suspended and subsequently fired when the investigation confirmed the validity of our claims.

It was a huge relief, but that was only the beginning. Once the news broke, more people came forward with their own stories. The administrator's history of misconduct became public, and it was clear that we weren't the only victims. The entire school community rallied, and it felt like a wave of justice was crashing down on the corrupt system that had tried to break us.

When the dust finally settled, we had won the case. The administrator was not only fired but also faced criminal charges. It felt like a massive weight had been lifted off our shoulders.

That evening, we returned to our dorm, feeling a mixture of exhaustion and exhilaration. Asher was quiet, but I could see the relief in his eyes. We both needed to decompress, and I decided to make it a special night to celebrate our victory.

Asher and I settled into the dorm room, and I couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of happiness and relief. The atmosphere between us was light and casual, but there was an undercurrent of something else—something that had been building for a while.

"You know," I said, unable to contain my excitement, "we actually did it. We fucking did it."

Asher smiled, his eyes shining with genuine happiness. "Yeah, we did."

Caught up in the moment, I felt a surge of emotion. Before I could think, I grabbed Asher's face in my hands and kissed him. It was a passionate, fiery kiss—one that I had been holding back for so long. It was a mix of celebration and all the feelings I had harbored for him. I felt him respond for a brief moment, but then he pulled away, looking a bit stunned.

"I'm so sorry," I said immediately, my face burning with embarrassment. "I shouldn't have done that. I know you're not into me, and I just—"

"No, it's fine," Asher interrupted, his voice surprisingly gentle. "It's just... unexpected."

I could tell he was trying to process what had just happened. Deep down, I knew he wasn't into me, but the kiss had stirred something in him. I could see it in his eyes, even if he wasn't ready to admit it.

"You're really great, you know that?" I said, trying to make light of the situation. "And I'm really happy we did this together."

Asher nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Yeah, me too."

We spent the rest of the night talking, laughing, and enjoying each other's company. The kiss was a fleeting moment of raw emotion, but it was also a reminder of how much I cared for him.

Asher was still processing the kiss, and while I respected his space, I couldn't deny the hope that maybe, just maybe, there was something more between us. For now, I was content with the fact that we had won our fight, and that we were still standing side by side. And if anything was going to happen between us, I knew it would come in its own time.