The back courtyard of Brookside High was almost always empty during lunchtime. Mira, Liam, and Raquel stood in a tense triangle, huddled behind the hedges as if the world was about to end for them.
Mira's arms were folded tightly across her chest, her jaw clenched so hard it ached. "She knows," she hissed. "Aunt Angie. Bella must've told her everything."
Raquel's face twisted in disbelief. "How? We wiped very carefully. There's no way Bella would have figured it out. She doesn't even know it was me sending those messages."
"She didn't have to," Liam muttered, pacing. His usually cool expression was cracked with panic. "Angie's not stupid. Bella probably mentioned the messages, and Angie put two and two together. Don't forget she works in the ICT unit. She must have been able to trace it."
Mira's eyes burned. "This is your fault," she snapped at Liam. "You were supposed to delete those photos after posting them. We trusted you—"
"Oh, spare me the dramatics," Liam shot back. "You're the one who wanted revenge. You begged me to flirt with her, to make her fall for me. You said it would teach her a lesson. And did you stop there? NO! You went the extra mile to keep blackmailing her."
Raquel took a shaky breath. "Guys. Arguing won't fix this. If Aunt Angie really knows, it's only a matter of time before she goes to the principal."
"She won't just go to the school," Mira said bitterly. "She's the kind of woman who'll call every parent in this district if she has to. She will reach out to our parents individually, show up in our houses even. You think she's going to stay quiet while her precious niece's nudes are floating around because of us? That witch?"
Liam sat down on the stone bench, running a hand through his hair. "We're screwed."
A cold silence fell.
"I'm not getting expelled," Raquel said suddenly, breaking the quiet. Her voice was shaky but determined. "My mum will kill me. If this gets out, I'm done. And not just with school, my entire life. My scholarship, my future... gone."
Mira nodded. "Same. I've already had one strike. One more and I'm out. I know what it took Dad to have me enrolled here, even with all his money. And I'll be damned before I let that bitch Bella take anything from me."
"Can't drink from your own cup?" Liam asked dryly.
Mira turned on him, fury flashing in her eyes. "Shut up, you stupid fool. Don't act innocent now. You enjoyed playing her. And it's your fault we're in this mess now. If you had just—"
"Say one more word about this being my fault again. Just try it," he threatened in a dangerously low voice.
"Guys! What exactly is wrong with you? We should be coming up with solutions, not arguing stupidly!" Raquel cried.
"Tell that to this mad cousin of yours before I unleash my anger on her now. We were safe even after posting the pictures. If she had not devilishly tried to blackmail, Angie wouldn't have traced anything."
"What did she ever do to you? You have so much money, her two cents wouldn't even afford your phone case."
"It's none of your business." Mira spat.
"Exactly. It's none of my business. Both of you did the blackmailing," he said, pointing fingers at them, "and everything would be traced back to you. I'm leaving."
Liam slung his backpack over his shoulders and turned to walk out.
"You still don't understand the extent of my wickedness, do you?"
He paused. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Oh. You think you can just threaten me and storm off? You must be a foolish fool. I have pictures, screenshots of our texts, even your voice on record. So much evidence. If I'm going down? I can assure you, Liam Crawford, you're going down with me. And if you ever threaten me again, I will ruin you for the rest of your miserable, wretched life."
He fumed with so much anger. But there was nothing he could do. He knew Mira enough to not doubt that she'd carry out her threats in the space of a heartbeat.
"Oh God, this is getting out of hand," Raquel panicked.
"Look," Mira said, lowering her voice. "We don't have much time anymore. Angie could be talking to the school right now. If we're going to do anything... we need to leave. Now."
Raquel stared at her. "You mean, like... run away?"
"Yes," Mira said. "Before they call a meeting. Before our names are posted on the damn notice board."
"And go where?" Liam asked.
"One of my dad's mistresses," Mira said. "I'll just tell her I'm bringing a couple of friends over. She won't ask questions. She'll let us stay a few nights."
Raquel shook her head. "This is insane."
"No," Mira said, voice sharp. "What's insane is staying here and waiting for them to see us here."
Raquel looked at Liam. "Are you in?"
"Do I have a choice?" he asked through gritted teeth.
"And if we leave, run away, we're basically admitting guilt."
Mira glared at him. "We are guilty."
Raquel flinched.
"We need to get moving or hide till when we can. We can't show our faces today in school again."
Raquel exhaled shakily. "Okay. Okay. But we need money. Clothes. Phones. If they shut off our student accounts—"
"I've got cash," Mira said. "From my pocket money. Enough to get us out of here. We just need a plan."
The three of them leaned in close as Mira laid out the plan like a general at war.
They'd wait until lights-out, sneak out through the maintenance wing's rear exit, and meet at the west end of town, where Mira's father's mistress would pick them up.
Raquel pulled her hoodie tighter. "I never thought it would end like this."
Liam shook his head. "I was a fool to let Mira rope me into her evil plan."
The school bell rang in the distance, long and shrill.
Raquel gave one last look at the quiet path leading back to the main building. "This might be our last day here. Forever."
"Then let's make sure no one sees us leave," Mira replied in a clipped voice.