Chapter 3
During the break, I went to the bathroom. I had just closed the stall door when I heard a click. Someone had locked it from the outside.
Violet's sneer came from outside. "Jenny, you were pretty tough just now. But if you grovel in front of me, maybe I'll go easy on you and not drench you so much."
As soon as she finished speaking, a bucket of cold water came down over my head. I was soaked all over.
Violet and her crew were outside, laughing their heads off.
I wiped my face, took two steps back, and slammed into the door.
With a bang, the lock broke. I burst out, grabbed Violet by the hair, and shoved her head into the grimy sink next to us.
She screamed and struggled. The other three girls were frozen in shock. No one dared to move.
I held Violet down and said slowly, word by word, "I'm not interested in Eric. Don't mess with me. Got it?"
Just then, Eric ran in. Without a word, he slapped me across the face. My cheek burned like fire.
"Jenny, this is bullying," he yelled, standing in front of Violet.
The dean heard the noise and rushed over. "Everyone stop right now."
Violet covered her face and cried against Eric's chest. "I don't know why she came at me like that. I just got a little close to Eric.
"If you have a problem with that, just say so. Why do you have to bully me like this?"
Eric gave me a cold look. "Sir, Jenny started it."
I sneered, "Then how come I'm drenched? There's a security camera at the bathroom entrance. It'll show who's telling the truth."
The dean glanced at me, then at him.
I knew the deal. Eric and I were the top two in our grade. We were both top candidates for the Ivy Leagues. The school wouldn't want to punish either one and risk messing that up.
In the end, the dean shot Violet a harsh glare. "Violet, a 1,000-word apology letter. And you'll read it over the school intercom on Monday."
Violet glared at me with pure hatred. "Jenny. This isn't over."
*****
Right after Violet finished reading her letter on Monday, the school forum exploded.
A user named "Eric's Girl" started spamming the board.
They wrote: [Eric wore a white shirt today. So hot.]
[No wonder he's my boyfriend. He's so hot that I'm drooling.]
[Who is that idiot Violet all over my boyfriend?]
[Eric and I grew up together. I'm the one Mrs. Goodman wants for Eric. That little slut really thinks she can compete with me?]
Every post came with private photos of Eric eating, sleeping, wearing just a tank top... The angles were extremely intimate. They were clearly taken in his place.
Based on the "clues" left on purpose, people didn't even have to guess. It was obviously me.
The other students around me gave me a thumbs-up. "Girl, you rock."
"Jenny loves bravely and hates boldly. A real role model."
"So this is what top student romance looks like? Pretty intense. Dope."
*****
Soon after, my homeroom teacher called me to the office. Flora and Eric were already sitting there.
Flora charged at me the second she saw me. Her hand went up high, but before she could bring it down, my dad caught her arm.
"What are you doing?" My dad pulled me behind him, like a lion protecting his cub.
The teacher sighed, "You all know about the forum posts, right? It's causing a lot of trouble. And Eric's grades have really taken a hit lately."
Eric looked at me with an unreadable look. "Jenny, is this fun for you? I don't even like you. If I did something before that made you get the wrong idea, I'm sorry. But can you please stop making up lies about me?"
Hearing that, Flora was more sure than ever that I was the one posting. "I knew you were up to no good. First the lingerie, now this crap online. If my son doesn't get into an Ivy League school, I swear I'll ruin you."
My parents both spoke at once. "My daughter would never do something like that."
I held my angry parents back and said straight to the teacher, "With the posts blowing up like this, everyone in school knows. This is serious enough to file a police report.
"How about we call the cops? Let them track the IP. Whoever posted them gets arrested."
Flora froze for a second, then nodded. "Yes. Call the police."
Now, it was Eric's face that changed.