Harper's POV
The old music room was cold and dark, shadows crawling along the walls, dust dancing in the pale light that leaked through the cracked windows. I sat on the floor, knees hugged to my chest, my whole body shaking. I was too tired to cry anymore. My throat was raw, my eyes swollen and burning. It hurt to breathe, hurt to think, hurt to exist.
I stared at my phone lying beside me, the screen black, the battery dead. But I could still see it, playing over and over in my head. That stupid video. That stupid, awful video. I felt sick, my stomach twisting, my chest tightening. How could this happen? Why did this happen?
I closed my eyes, pressing my forehead against my knees. I wished I could disappear. I wished I could erase everything. The whispers. The laughter. The disgust in their eyes. I could still see them, staring at me like I was trash, like I was nothing.
And Liam...
I bit my lip, my shoulders shaking. How could he? How could he do this to me? After everything... after I trusted him...
I squeezed my eyes shut, my chest tightening as the memory flooded back, dragging me under.
It was just another day at the student council’s office. Just another meeting, another pile of paperwork. I was exhausted, stressed out from exams, from everything. But Liam was there, smiling at me, making stupid jokes to cheer me up. He was always there, always knew how to make me laugh. I thought... I thought he cared about me.
I thought I meant something to him.
We were the last ones to leave that day. Everyone else went home, and it was just us, surrounded by papers and empty coffee cups. I was organizing some files, trying to finish up before heading home. Liam was sitting on the desk, swinging his legs like a little kid, grinning at me.
“You work too hard, you know that?” he teased, his eyes bright with mischief. “You’re gonna turn into an old lady if you keep frowning like that.”
I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t help but smile. “Shut up. If I don’t do this, no one will. You’re all useless.”
He laughed, a loud, carefree laugh that made my heart flutter. I hated how much I liked that laugh, how much I liked him. “Well, at least let me help, boss lady,” he said, hopping off the desk and moving to my side. “Two heads are better than one, right?”
I glanced at him, his smile so warm, his eyes so gentle. I didn’t see it then. I didn’t see the lie.
We worked together for a while, side by side, joking and laughing. It felt so normal, so easy. I felt safe. I felt happy.
Then... I don’t even know how it happened. One moment we were laughing, and the next... he was kissing me.
I froze, my heart racing, my mind spinning. His lips were warm, soft, gentle. I didn’t pull away. I didn’t want to. It felt good. It felt right.
I liked him. I trusted him. I thought he liked me too.
His arms wrapped around me, pulling me closer, his hands warm against my back. I kissed him back, my heart pounding, my body tingling. It was... nice. It was everything I wanted.
But then...
I heard it. A faint beep.
My eyes snapped open, my heart stopping. I pulled back, looking around. “What was that?”
Liam blinked, his eyes wide with surprise. “Huh? What was what?”
“That sound... like a... like a beep...” I looked around, my chest tightening. It sounded familiar, too familiar. Like... like a phone...
I looked back at Liam, my heart dropping. He was smiling at me, but his eyes... his eyes were cold.
He tilted his head, his grin widening. “Oh, that?” He pulled his phone from his pocket, waving it in front of me. “Just my new app. Pretty cool, huh?”
My blood ran cold. I stared at the phone, my stomach twisting. “What... what did you do?” My voice was shaking, my hands trembling.
He shrugged, his smile never fading. “Nothing much. Just... wanted a little memory of this moment.”
I couldn’t breathe. My heart was pounding, my chest tightening. “You... you recorded this?” My voice was a whisper, cracking with fear.
He laughed, a low, mocking laugh that made my skin crawl. “Oh, come on. Don’t look at me like that. It’s just a little fun. You wanted this, didn’t you? You kissed me back.”
I felt sick, my body cold and numb. I took a step back, my legs shaking. “Liam... why... why would you...”
He shrugged again, his eyes cold, his smile cruel. “I needed a little insurance, you know? Just in case.”
I couldn’t believe it. I didn’t want to believe it. I trusted him. I liked him. How... how could he do this to me?
I ran. I didn’t look back. I ran out of the room, down the hall, out of the building. I ran until my legs gave out, until my chest burned, until I couldn’t breathe.
But I couldn’t escape it. I couldn’t escape him.
And now... now everyone knew.
I buried my face in my knees, my body trembling. I hated him. I hated him so much. But more than that... I hated myself. I was so stupid. So, so stupid.
I trusted him. I let him use me. I let him destroy me.
My chest tightened, my breath coming in short gasps. I was drowning. I was dying.
Then, the door burst open. I flinched, my body curling up, trying to disappear.
“Harper!” Mia’s voice was sharp, filled with panic and worry. I looked up, my vision blurry with tears. Mia was rushing toward me, her face pale, her eyes wide.
She dropped to her knees, wrapping her arms around me, holding me tight. “Oh my god... Harper... are you okay?” Her voice was shaking, her body trembling. “I was so scared... I thought... I thought you...”
I couldn’t speak. I couldn’t breathe. I just... I just started crying again, loud, broken sobs that echoed in the empty room.
Mia held me, rocking me back and forth, whispering to me, telling me everything would be okay. But it wouldn’t. It wouldn’t be okay. Nothing would ever be okay again.
Stella and Gwen stood by the door, their faces pale, their eyes wide with shock and fear. I looked at them, my heart breaking. They saw me like this. They saw me fall apart.
I couldn’t stop crying. I couldn’t stop hurting. I couldn’t escape this nightmare.
Mia held me tighter, her tears falling onto my shoulder. “We’re here... we’re here for you... no matter what.” Her voice was soft, broken. “We won’t leave you. We’ll fight this... together.”
I closed my eyes, my body shaking. Together... maybe... just maybe... I could survive this.
But I would never be the same.