|| Back in Jim's Room ||
Jim paced back and forth, his mind swirling with the events of the day. He couldn't get Cherry's tear-streaked face out of his head. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw her—vulnerable, broken, and alone. His fists clenched as frustration bubbled inside him. How could he have let things go this far?
The sound of the shower running broke his thoughts. He took a deep breath, trying to steady his racing heart. When Cherry came out, he would be ready to talk to her—to explain everything. But for now, he needed to find a way to undo the damage he had done.
---
|| In the College Hallway ||
Martha stormed down the hallway, her heart pounding with worry. She had seen Cherry leave the rooftop, but where had she gone after that? The poor girl had been through so much, and all Martha wanted was to help her. She knew she couldn't let her friend face this alone.
"Cherry!" Martha called out, scanning the crowded halls. "Where are you?"
The students scattered at the sight of her, murmurs filling the air. She could feel their eyes on her, judging her as they always did. But she didn't care anymore. All that mattered was finding Cherry.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket, and Martha pulled it out, hoping for a message from her friend. Instead, it was a notification from the college page.
The latest video had just gone viral—Cherry's humiliating moment. Martha's stomach dropped as she clicked on the link. The comments were worse than she could have imagined. Some were cruel, others downright hateful.
But one comment stood out:
"She deserves it. She tried to take what was mine."
Martha's eyes burned with rage. Alice. She was behind all of this. Martha had suspected as much, but now it was clear. She had to put a stop to this madness.
---
|| In Jim's Room ||
Cherry stepped out of the bathroom, the warm water having done little to calm the storm inside her. She was still trembling, still lost in her thoughts. Jim was sitting on the edge of the bed, his back turned as he stared out the window.
She hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Jim, I… I don't know how to thank you for this," she said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Jim turned to look at her, his eyes filled with an emotion she couldn't read. "You don't have to thank me. I… I should've done more sooner." His voice was thick with regret.
Cherry sat down beside him, her hands folded tightly in her lap. "I don't even know why I'm still here. I don't fit in. No one wants me here. I was just trying to help you… and look what happened."
Jim's heart ached at her words. He reached out, gently placing his hand over hers. "You're stronger than you think, Cherry. What they did to you… it's not your fault. They don't get to define you."
She looked up at him, her eyes filled with uncertainty. "But I just keep messing things up. Every time I try to do something good, it blows up in my face."
Jim shook his head. "That's not how it works. You're not messing up. You're standing up for what's right. You're helping people when no one else will. That's something worth fighting for."
Cherry swallowed hard, tears threatening to fall again. "But I'm tired, Jim. I don't want to keep fighting."
He gently squeezed her hand, his voice firm. "Then don't fight alone. Let me help you. You're not alone in this."
---
|| Outside Jim's Room ||
"I should inform Alice that Cherry is in Jim's Room" Ethan murmured to himself, running his fingers over his phone's screen.
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TO BE CONTINUED
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