𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐓𝐰𝐨 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 | 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲

𝐓 𝐇 𝐈 𝐑 𝐓 𝐘 - 𝐍 𝐈 𝐍 𝐄

Camden

I'm standing at my locker, flipping through the crumpled papers inside, pretending to focus on what Sage is saying about the upcoming math test. I nod here and there, but honestly, my mind is elsewhere, still tangled up in the mess of thoughts Sofia left me with the other night. What did she mean by asking me to wait? Why did she seem so... lost?

"Camden?" Sage nudges me, a soft laugh escaping her. "You're seriously not listening, are you?"

I blink, snapping out of my daze. "Sorry." I mumble, giving her an apologetic smile. "Just... a lot on my mind."

She rolls her eyes, but before she can say anything else, Sabrina appears out of nowhere, looking unusually anxious. She looks at me, a hint of desperation in her eyes. "Camden, have you seen Sofia today? She's not answering her phone."

Sofia? I frown, a wave of worry settling in my chest. "No, I haven't. I haven't heard from her either."

Sabrina nods, her face clouded with worry. "She's been acting weird lately... I just thought..." She trails off, biting her lip.

"Maybe she's sick or something?" I offer, though in my gut, I know that's not true. Sofia's been off, but it's something deeper than the flu. Sabrina nods slowly, muttering a quick thank you before she walks off, her shoulders slumped.

Sage looks at me, raising an eyebrow. "You don't think it's the flu, do you?"

I shake my head. "No... no, I don't." But I can't put my finger on it either. All I know is that something's wrong, and I don't know how to fix it.

We head to English class together, the worry gnawing at me. As I walk into the room, I spot Mateo sitting at the back, looking more pissed off than usual. His usual cocky grin is nowhere to be found, and he actually looks... worried? Angry? It's strange, but I push it to the back of my mind as I take my seat.

The teacher starts the lesson, and I try to focus, but my mind keeps drifting back to Sofia. The way she looked the other night, how drained and defeated she seemed. What could be weighing on her like that?

About ten minutes into the lesson, a sharp knock on the door makes everyone turn. Two police officers step into the room, and an uneasy murmur ripples through the class. The teacher greets them, looking as confused as the rest of us.

"Good morning, officers. How can I help you?" she asks, her voice calm but with a hint of apprehension.

The taller officer steps forward, his gaze scanning the room before he says, "We're here for Mateo Hart."

A shocked silence falls over the room. All eyes swivel to the back where Mateo is sitting, his face going pale. The other officer, slightly shorter but stockier, walks over to him and, in a voice loud enough for everyone to hear, says, "Mateo Hart, you're under arrest for sexual assault, harassment, and threatening behavior."

My heart stops. The words hit me like a slap to the face, each one slicing through the confusion and hitting home with a sickening clarity. Sexual assault. Harassment. Threatening.

And suddenly, it all clicks. Sofia. Oh, God... it must have been Sofia. That's why she's been acting so strange, why she couldn't tell me what was going on, why she looked so broken last night.

I'm so stunned that I barely register what's happening in front of me. Mateo's face has gone from shock to fear, his bravado crumbling right there in the classroom for everyone to see. For the first time, he doesn't look like the cocky jock who thinks he owns the place. He looks... terrified.

The officers escort him out, his hands cuffed behind his back, and the entire room is buzzing with whispers. But I can't focus on any of it. My mind is racing, every instinct in me screaming to get to Sofia. I need to see her, to make sure she's okay. God, how long has she been dealing with this alone?

Without a second thought, I jump out of my seat, ignoring the startled looks from my classmates. The teacher calls my name, but I don't care. I bolt out of the classroom, sprinting down the hallway, my heart pounding with every step. I don't know where she is, but I have to find her. She's been carrying this all on her own, and I should have seen it. I should have known something was wrong.

"Sofia..." I whisper to myself as I run, guilt and worry twisting together into a knot in my chest. I just hope I'm not too late.

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~ R