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"Feel free to write down anything you want. It's anonymous." Mrs. Hastings said as she passed around some markers, "Jenna, if you need help, I can--" She said, stopping in front of Jenna who abruptly cut her off.
"No, thank you. I'll pass." Jenna said with a forced smile on her face, "Well, I'm sorry, but that's not really an option." Mrs. Hastings said to her, turning around for a bit to look at the room before looking at Jenna again.
"If you'd prefer Jason, he'll be back in a few minutes with the flashlights, or if there's someone else you trust." Mrs. Hastings said. "I don't trust anyone around here."
"Okay. Well, keep in mind that this day is about opening up to new possibilities, and you'll be expected to--"
"To what? To forgive all the classmates who've mistreated me?"
"I'm not big on group hugs, Mrs. Hastings. I don't need a special flashlight to know what people around here are hiding. This school's filled with phonies and liars. They're everywhere."
"In what way have you been mistreated?"
"How much time have you got?" Jenna said, leaning forward to Mrs. Hastings, "Oh, should I-- should I start with the day that I was cornered in the girls' bathroom and smacked?"
My brows furrowed as I realized what she was trying to say. She was trying to put the blame on us when in fact she was the one who started it, "Is she talking about Hanna?" Caleb asked me and I nodded, still watching Jenna.
"Did you ever report this?" Mrs. Hastings asked but before she could even answer, Caleb spoke up. "Well, she couldn't."
"Wait, Caleb. What the hell are you doing?" I said, trying to stop him but he looked determined to let out what he was feeling, "No because if she had, she would have to admit that she threw the first punch."
"Isn't that right, Jenna?" Caleb asked before turning to Mrs. Hastings who now turned to look at us. I bit my lip and leaned back on my chair as Caleb continued, "So, just to clarify, we are telling the whole truth today, right, not just the part we want to remember?"
"By the way, this is Caleb speaking, in case you were confused." He said with a strong tone to Jenna who forced a smile. Mrs. Hastings tried to deflate the tension in the room as the activity passed by but it was so thick that the room was just silent.
~•~•~•~
"Hey, can we talk?"
As soon as I heard his voice, a chill ran down my spine. I took the water bottle from my bag and slowly turned to look at Jason who still looked handsome as he did the last time I saw him.
"We are talking." I said, raising my eyebrows at him. I turned the cap to try and open the bottle but I couldn't. "Damn it." I muttered.
"Here, let me help." Jason offered but I shook my head, "No, I can do it." I said, gritting my teeth as I put all of my strength and tried to open the bottle.
