Chapter 2

When I arrived at the counselor's office, it was already packed with people.

Vivian was dressed in hospital clothes, looking pale and frail as she rested weakly in Brent's arms.

Brent, the student council president and one of the campus's rich heirs, was shooting me a cold glare.

Nearby stood a stylish middle-aged couple. They must be Vivian's folks, I guessed.

The moment Vivian's mother saw me, she totally lost it and charged straight at me.

"You little bitch. What were you plotting? If anything happens to Vivian, you'll pay for it with your life," Liana yelled.

Aisha and Brent were quick to grab her before she could reach me.

Aisha, our advisor, was in her forties and always tried to smooth things over.

Right now, she was frowning at me, looking conflicted and disapproving. "Sidney, what exactly happened here? Be honest with me."

Before I could get a word out, Vivian started speaking in that soft, fragile voice of hers, like she could pass out any moment.

"Mrs. Rhodes.. it's not her fault," Vivian whispered.

As she spoke, Vivian huddled even closer into Brent's arms, her tears just kept falling, one after another.

Vivian sobbed, "It's all my fault. I shouldn't have talked about her in the group chat. She was probably jealous, so she did something so cruel to get back at me.

"The doctor said it's a second-degree chemical burn, and my hair follicles are all dead... I might never..."

Vivian broke down, sobbing so hard it was like the world was out to get her.

Brent held her close, his eyes blazing with fury as he glared at me. "Sidney, I don't care what kind of beef you have with Vivian, but pulling a stunt like this is a real low blow.

"That's seriously messed up. It was just a pair of panties. Did you really have to go that far?"

Here we go again with the panties. I couldn't help but laugh.

Everyone in the room looked ready to burn me at the stake, like I was some kind of criminal.

Then my eyes landed on Vivian. I asked, "Vivian, are you sure it's a second-degree chemical burn?"

Vivian's eyes darted away for a split second under my calm stare, but she quickly doubled down, acting all righteous.

She shot back, "Of course! The doctor said it himself! Why would I lie?"

"Alright," I nodded, turning to Aisha. "Mrs. Rhodes, if it's really that serious, we should get the police involved."

My words made the whole office go dead silent.

Vivian's parents just stood there, totally stunned. Brent frowned, looking uneasy.

Aisha stared at me, totally thrown off. "Sidney, what did you just say?"

"I said, call the police." I enunciated every word, making sure everyone heard me loud and clear.

I continued, "Since Vivian suffered such serious intentional harm, this is a criminal case now. Let the police handle it.

"I'm sure the cops will figure out exactly what kind of 'chemical' was on those panties, and how it just so happened to end up on Vivian.

"Oh, and by the way, maybe they can also find out who took my Victoria's Secret panties that disappeared from the washing machine."

I watched Vivian's face turn paper white, and my smile only got brighter.

"Isn't that right, Vivian?" I asked, my tone laced with mockery.

"Call the police? What's your angle?" Liana shrieked, jabbing a finger right in my face. "How is blowing this up going to help Vivian? You're just out to destroy her."

I shrugged, putting on my best innocent face. "Madam, I just want to prove I'm not guilty.

"The whole school's calling me a psycho and trying to get me expelled."

"Besides," I continued, my voice suddenly cold, my gaze sharp. "If you're so convinced I did it on purpose, shouldn't I be facing the law?

"Or what, you want to just sweep it under the rug and settle it in private?"

Brent's face turned stormy. He clearly hadn't expected someone like me to stand tall and talk back instead of falling apart and begging for forgiveness.

Brent warned, "Sidney, quit trying to mess with everyone's heads. You hurt Vivian, and now you're acting like she's the one at fault.

"We're not calling the cops because we're classmates and we're trying to give you a break.

"Just apologize to Vivian right now, cover all her medical bills and compensation for emotional distress, write a self-criticism letter, and promise you'll never bother her again. If you do that, we'll drop it."

Brent made it sound like he was granting me some enormous favor, acting all high and mighty.

I almost laughed out loud. "So you want me to admit to something I didn't even do?

"Why should I apologize? Shouldn't the real thief, the one who stole my stuff and then shamelessly tried to humiliate me, be the one saying sorry?"

My stare bored straight into Vivian, cold and unflinching.

Vivian trembled all over, hiding her face in Brent's chest as her crying turned even more dramatic.

"I didn't. I swear I didn't steal your panties," Vivian choked out, her voice barely above a whisper. "Brent, she's picking on me."

Brent had clearly run out of patience.

He cut me off and turned straight to Aisha, not wasting another word on me, his voice sharp and commanding. "Mrs. Rhodes, that's the whole story.

"Sidney's got a nasty streak and she's way too toxic for this school.

"On behalf of the student council and Vivian's family, I'm officially requesting the school take disciplinary action against Sidney, best case, just kick her out for good."