Love Admits Deceit

Conséquences ans Confrontation

Meanwhile school, there was an uneasy feeling in the air. Ethan didn’t show up, and neither did Emma. For the first time, Jake felt a knot of fear in his stomach. Emma never missed school. His eyes kept darting toward the door, hoping to see her walk through, but there was no sign of her. The worry gnawed at him, making it hard to focus.

In the hallway, Brittany and her usual crew—Sasha, Layla, and Ana—were anything but concerned. In fact, they were in high spirits. Their laughter echoed down the halls as they whispered amongst themselves, throwing glances at anyone who passed.

“She’s probably too scared to come back after what we did,” Sasha snickered, twirling a strand of her hair.

“Serves her right,” Layla added, her voice dripping with satisfaction. Ana nodded in agreement, her smirk just as cruel as the others.

Brittany, standing at the center of the group, grinned smugly. “Maybe she finally got the message,” she said. “She’s better off not showing her face around here.”

Mia, who had been walking past, froze when she overheard their conversation. Her heart raced, and fear clenched her chest, but something deep inside her told her she couldn’t let them get away with this. Even though she was shy, even though she was terrified, Mia stepped forward, her hands trembling at her sides.

“Y-you’re the reason Emma isn’t here,” Mia stammered, her voice shaky but loud enough for them to hear. “You… you hurt her. You did something, didn’t you?”

The hallway fell silent for a moment. Brittany’s eyes snapped toward Mia, her grin disappearing as her expression twisted into a sneer. She took a step forward, glaring at Mia like she was a mere inconvenience.

“What did you just say?” Brittany hissed, her voice dangerously low. She raised her hand slowly, her intention clear. Mia’s heart pounded, and she instinctively stepped back, her legs trembling. The fear surged through her, but she didn’t back down completely. She couldn’t.

Brittany’s hand hovered in the air, ready to strike. Mia closed her eyes, bracing herself for the impact. But before Brittany could lay a finger on her, a voice boomed through the hallway, sharp and commanding.

“I dare you to hurt her.”

The voice was unmistakable—strong, unyielding, and filled with a quiet fury. Brittany’s hand froze in midair, and everyone turned toward the source of the voice.

It was Emma.

She stood at the end of the hallway, her eyes locked on Brittany. Her posture was firm, her face hard with determination. The entire hallway went dead silent as Emma walked forward, her footsteps echoing in the stillness. Her gaze never wavered from Brittany, and as she approached, tension filled the air.

Brittany’s smirk faltered, her confidence visibly shaken. She lowered her hand slowly, unsure of what to do now that Emma had confronted her. For the first time, she wasn’t the one in control.

Emma stopped in front of Brittany, her voice steady and low. “Touch her, and you’ll regret it.”

Brittany’s eyes darted to her friends, who shifted uncomfortably behind her. Layla, Sasha, and Ana exchanged nervous glances, suddenly unsure of their place. Brittany opened her mouth to say something, but no words came out. The threat in Emma’s voice was enough to make her hesitate.

Mia, still shaken, stared at Emma in awe. She couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Emma had stepped in for her—stood up for her when she had been too afraid to fight back herself.

The tension hung in the air for a few moments longer, but Brittany knew when she was beat. With a scowl, she turned on her heel, her minions quickly following behind her as they disappeared down the hallway, their cruel laughter gone.

Emma turned to Mia, her expression softening. “Are you okay?” she asked, her voice gentle.

Mia, still trembling but filled with relief, nodded. “Y-yes… thank you.”

Emma gave her a small smile. “You don’t have to thank me,” she said quietly. “She’s not going to get away with what she did.”

As Mia stood there, feeling a sense of safety she hadn’t felt before, she knew one thing for certain—Emma wasn’t going to let Brittany and her minions hurt anyone else. Not anymore.

Emma strode up to Brittany, her expression fierce and unyielding. A surge of adrenaline coursed through her as she unleashed her pent-up frustration. With a swift, decisive motion, she slapped Brittany hard across the face. The crack echoed in the hallway like a gunshot, and Brittany stumbled backward, shock and disbelief washing over her features.

Her minions gasped in unison, their mouths agape, ready to retaliate, but Emma shot them a single, seething glare that silenced them immediately. In that moment, she was no longer the shy girl they had bullied; she was a force of nature, fueled by anger at the injustice Brittany had inflicted on her and Mia.

Brittany, her shock quickly turning to rage, struggled to regain her composure. “You’ll pay for that!” she spat, but Emma wasn’t fazed. Instead, she grabbed a fistful of Brittany’s hair and pulled her forward, forcing her to meet her gaze.

“You had fun yesterday, didn’t you? I’m sure you enjoyed your little prank,” Emma hissed, her eyes blazing with fury. Brittany winced but managed a sneer, refusing to show any sign of weakness.

Before Brittany could retort, the tension in the hallway escalated. The principal’s office loomed nearby, and a teacher approached, calling for both girls. “Brittany, Emma, now!”

The group of students that had gathered watched with bated breath as the two girls walked side by side to the office, Brittany trying to regain her swagger despite the humiliation. As they entered the principal’s office, Brittany attempted to weave her version of the story, her words slick with lies.

“I didn’t do anything! Emma’s just jealous!” she cried, but Emma cut her off with a steely gaze, reaching into her backpack to pull out her phone. She had taken a video of the events from the previous day—proof of Brittany’s cruel antics.

With a confident swipe, Emma played the video for the principal, her heart racing as the footage rolled. Brittany’s face went pale as the evidence mounted against her, and the janitor, who had witnessed the aftermath, confirmed Emma’s account.

The principal’s expression shifted from stern to concerned. “Brittany, you are suspended for your actions,” he announced firmly.

“What? You can’t suspend me! Don’t you know who my dad is?” Brittany shouted, incredulous, her face flushing with anger and embarrassment.

“And don’t you also know that Ethan is the child of the school’s owner?” the principal shot back, raising an eyebrow. “Have you forgotten who his father is?”

Brittany’s face fell, the realization hitting her like a punch to the gut. She had not expected Ethan to be dragged into this. Her mind raced, and she turned to Emma, her fury boiling over. “You witch!” she screamed, lunging at Emma in a last-ditch attempt to retaliate.

But before she could make contact, the principal’s assistant stepped in, pulling Brittany back with surprising strength. Her minions, too, were apprehended and dragged out of the office, their protests falling on deaf ears.

“Both of you are suspended, along with your little entourage,” the principal declared. “You can go home and think about your choices.”

As Brittany was dragged out, her face twisted in rage and humiliation, Emma felt a wave of satisfaction wash over her. She had stood up for herself and for Mia.

Once Brittany and her minions were gone, Emma turned to the principal, her heart still racing but now filled with relief. The school year was turning around, and for the first time in a long time, she felt powerful.

“Thank you,”she said quietly to the principal who replied with a nod and apologized for Brittany actions, knowing this was just the beginning. With her head held high, Emma stepped out of the office, ready to face whatever came next.