Chapter 3 PUBLIC BETRAYAL

The first thing I heard when I stepped into school that morning was laughter.

Not the normal kind.

The sharp kind.

The kind that made people cover their mouths and glance around like they were hiding something.

My shoes slowed against the hallway floor.

Two girls near the lockers were whispering, but the moment they noticed me, their voices dropped.

Still, I caught enough.

"You're serious?" one of them whispered.

"I swear," the other murmured back. "Everyone at Jason's party saw it."

My chest tightened.

Jason's party.

The one he told me not to come to.

The hallway suddenly felt too loud. Conversations buzzed around me, but every few seconds someone glanced my way.

Then another whisper floated through the air.

"You mean she still doesn't know?"

My grip tightened on my backpack strap.

A boy leaning against a locker shook his head slowly.

"You should've seen it," he muttered to his friend. "He literally asked Veronica to be his girlfriend right there."

The words made my heart stumble

Girlfriend?

That didn't make sense.

Jason was my boyfriend.

My locker was only a few steps away now, but suddenly it felt like the longest walk of my life.

More murmurs drifted through the hallway.

"Poor Nina."

"I thought they were still together."

"She didn't even show up to the party..."

My hand froze halfway to the locker handle.

Before I could process any of it, a familiar voice called out behind me.

"Nina!"

I turned just in time to see Tessan Warren pushing through the hallway crowd.

My best friend looked furious.

Her curls bounced wildly as she stormed toward me, her expression tight with anger

She grabbed my shoulders the second she reached me.

"Tell me you didn't go to Jason's party," Tessan said.

I blinked in confusion.

"No," I answered slowly. "Jason told me not to come."

Tessan closed her eyes briefly.

When she opened them again, they were blazing.

"That lying snake," she muttered.

My stomach twisted.

"Tess," I said quietly, "what happened?"

She hesitated.

For a moment it looked like she didn't want to say it out loud.

Then she exhaled sharply.

"Jason stood in the middle of the party last night," she said. "And asked Veronica Hill to be his girlfriend."

The hallway noise faded into a dull hum.

"That's not funny," I whispered.

Tessan stared at me.

"You think I'm joking right now?"

I searched her face.

She wasn't smiling.

She wasn't teasing.

She looked ready to start a fight.

"He wouldn't do that," I said.

"He already did," Tessan replied flatly.

I shook my head.

"Maybe someone misunderstood."

"Nina," Tessan said firmly, "the entire party saw it."

My heart began pounding harder.

Then a smooth voice drifted through the hallway.

"Well... look who finally showed up."

My head turned.

Veronica Hill stood a few lockers away.

Her blonde hair fell perfectly over her shoulders, and her arms were folded across her chest like she owned the entire hallway.

Three of her cheerleader friends stood behind her, watching the scene unfold with barely hidden smiles.

Veronica tilted her head slightly.

"Did no one tell you yet?" she asked sweetly.

Tessan stepped forward immediately.

"Say another word and I swear"

Veronica raised a hand lazily.

"Relax, Warren. I'm just being polite."

Then her gaze settled on me.

"Your boyfriend asked me to be his girlfriend last night."

The words sliced through my chest.

"Jason is my boyfriend," I said quietly.

Veronica laughed.

Not kindly.

"Was."

A few whispers broke out behind her.

Tessan moved closer to me, her anger practically radiating.

"You're disgusting," she snapped.

Veronica only shrugged.

"Don't shoot the messenger."

Then she leaned slightly closer to me.

"Jason's the one who dumped you."

The hallway erupted in murmurs.

Heat rushed to my face.

"Nina," Tessan said softly, tugging at my arm. "Let's go."

But I shook my head.

"Where is he?"

Veronica's smile sharpened.

"Outside," she said casually.

She leaned in just enough for only me and Tessan to hear.

"Probably waiting for me."

Something inside me snapped.

I turned toward the exit doors.

Tessan hurried after me.

"Nina, wait!"

The cool morning air hit my face as I stepped into the courtyard.

Students were scattered across the grass and benches, talking before class started.

And then I saw him.

Jason stood near one of the benches as He rested his arm casually on the pavement

My chest tightened painfully.

Jason noticed me first.

His expression flickered with surprise for half a second before it hardened.

I walked straight toward them.

Tessan followed close behind.

Jason sighed the moment I stopped in front of him.

"Nina... this isn't a good time."

"You asked her to be your girlfriend?" I asked.

"Yeah," he replied with a shrug.

Just like that.

No guilt.

No hesitation.

"You told me not to come to the party," I said.

"Yeah," Jason said, rolling his eyes. "Because I didn't want a scene."

Tessan exploded instantly.

"A scene?" she shouted. "You publicly cheated on her!"

A few nearby students turned to watch.

Jason looked annoyed now.

"Look, Nina," he said coldly, "we were already over."

My head snapped up.

"Since when?"

He gestured lazily toward Veronica.

"Since I upgraded."

The words felt like a slap.

Veronica smiled sweetly beside him.

"Don't take it personally," she said.

That was enough.

"You betrayed her!" Tessan yelled.

I grabbed her arm before she could lunge forward.

"You cheated on me," I said quietly.

Jason scoffed.

"It's high school, Nina. Relax."

The courtyard buzzed with whispers again.

My throat burned.

For a moment I thought I might cry.

But I refused.

Instead I turned and walked back toward the school building.

Fast.

Before anyone could see the tears building in my eyes.

Behind me I heard Veronica laugh.

Jason said something I couldn't make out.

More whispers followed me like a storm.

When I stepped back into the hallway, I stopped suddenly.

Because Dave Walker and his friends were leaning against the lockers.

Watching.

Waiting.

Dave straightened slowly when he saw me.

A slow smile spread across his face.

"Well," he said lazily, "that was entertaining."

His friends snickered.

One of them murmured under his breath, "Public breakup."

Another added, "Brutal."

Dave pushed himself off the locker and walked a little closer.

His sharp eyes scanned my face like he was studying every crack in my expression.

"Didn't see that coming, huh?" he said.

"Back off, Walker," Tessan snapped.

Dave chuckled.

"Relax. I'm just observing."

A quiet laugh rippled through his group.

Someone muttered, "Poor girl."

Another voice added mockingly, "Dumped and humiliated in one morning."

My throat burned.

Dave tilted his head slightly.

"Looks like your perfect boyfriend wasn't so perfect," he said.

The hallway laughter grew louder.

My vision blurred.

But I refused to cry in front of them.

I lifted my chin.

"I wasn't heartbroken yet," I said.

I met Dave's gaze directly.

"But I was about to be."

Then I walked past him.

Leaving the whispers behind.

But the humiliation followed like a shadow.

And somewhere behind me

Dave laughed.

The hallway noise followed me for a while.

Whispers.

Snickers.

Low conversations that died the moment I passed by.

I kept walking.

Fast.

Faster.

My vision burned and blurred, but I refused to let the tears fall where everyone could see them.

Not in the hallway.

Not in front of Dave Walker.

Not in front of the entire school that had just watched my relationship explode.

"Nina wait!"

Tessan's footsteps hurried behind me.

I turned the corner sharply and pushed open the first door I saw.

The janitor's closet.

The smell of cleaning chemicals filled the air as I stepped inside and slammed the door shut.

Darkness swallowed the tiny space.

A thin line of light slipped in from the bottom of the door.

My chest rose and fell too fast.

For a moment, I just stood there.

Frozen.

Trying to breathe.

Trying to hold everything inside.

But the moment Tessan pushed the door open and slipped inside behind me

I broke.

A sob ripped out of my chest before I could stop it.

My knees gave out and I slid down the wall, collapsing onto the cold tile floor.

"Nina oh my God."

Tessan rushed toward me immediately.

Her arms wrapped around my shoulders as another sob tore through me.

"I" My voice cracked. "I didn't even know."

Tears spilled down my face now, hot and unstoppable.

"I didn't even know he hated me that much."

"He doesn't hate you," Tessan said quickly, kneeling beside me. "He's just a coward."

I shook my head violently.

"He stood there," I choked. "Like it was nothing."

The image replayed in my mind.

Jason's arm around Veronica's waist.

His careless shrug.

Since I upgraded.

My stomach twisted painfully.

"God, Nina," Tessan muttered, her voice shaking with anger. "If I had been at that party, I swear I would've thrown a chair at his head."

Despite everything, a broken laugh escaped me.

Tessan squeezed my shoulder.

"You deserve so much better than that idiot."

Another sob escaped my throat.

"I gave him everything," I whispered.

The words sounded pathetic the moment they left my mouth.

Three years.

Three years of loyalty.

Three years of defending him when people said he was a jerk.

Three years of believing he actually cared about me.

And he replaced me with Veronica Hill in a single night.

My fingers curled into fists.

"I feel stupid," I whispered.

"You're not stupid," Tessan said firmly.

"I didn't even see it coming."

"That's because you're not a snake like them."

Silence filled the small closet for a moment.

My breathing slowly steadied, though tears still slid down my cheeks.

Outside the door, the muffled sounds of students moving through the hallway echoed faintly.

Life continuing like nothing had happened.

Meanwhile my entire world had just cracked open.

"I hate them," Tessan muttered suddenly.

Her voice was low.

Dangerous.

"Jason and Veronica. All those idiots laughing in the hallway."

My throat tightened again.

"And Dave," I whispered.

Tessan's jaw clenched.

"Oh, especially Dave."

I wiped my face with the sleeve of my hoodie.

"Why does he hate me so much?" I asked quietly.

Tessan frowned.

"I don't know."

"He acts like I personally ruined his life."

"You barely even talk to him."

Exactly.

That was the part that confused me the most.

Dave Walker had hated me since the day I transferred to this school.

Cold looks.

Cruel comments.

That sharp, mocking smile whenever something went wrong for me.

Like he enjoyed it.

Like watching me struggle entertained him.

Tessan leaned back slightly and studied my face.

"You know what?" she said suddenly.

"What?"

She shrugged.

"Maybe he's just a jerk."

I sniffed weakly.

"That's the best explanation you've got?"

"Pretty solid explanation if you ask me."

Another small laugh escaped me.

For the first time since the morning started, the tightness in my chest loosened a little.

Tessan nudged my shoulder gently.

"Hey."

I looked at her.

"You're not going to let this destroy you, okay?"

My lips trembled.

"It already did."

"No," she said firmly.

She pointed toward the door.

"You walk out of this closet, you wipe your tears, and you show them you're stronger than their stupid drama."

My eyes burned again.

"I don't feel strong."

"You don't have to feel it," Tessan replied.

"You just have to fake it."

She stood up and held out her hand.

"Come on."

I stared at it for a moment.

Then slowly reached up and took it.

Tessan pulled me to my feet.

My legs felt shaky, but I managed to stand.

She studied my face critically.

"Okay, yeah... we definitely need damage control."

I let out a weak laugh.

"Is it that bad?"

"You look like you fought a raccoon."

"Great."

She pulled a small pack of tissues from her pocket and handed them to me.

"Fix the mascara situation before Coach Marlene sees you."

My stomach dropped slightly.

"Cheer practice..."

Tessan grimaced.

"Yeah."

I wiped the remaining tears from my cheeks.

Took a deep breath.

Then another.

My chest still hurt.

Jason's betrayal still burned inside me.

The humiliation.

The whispers.

Dave's mocking voice replaying in my mind.

But Tessan was right.

If I walked out of this closet crying-

They would win.

And I refused to give them that satisfaction.

I straightened my shoulders.

Tessan watched me carefully.

"That's the spirit," she said quietly.

I forced a small nod.

"Let's go."

Tessan reached for the door and pushed it open.

Bright hallway light flooded the small closet.

The noise of the school returned instantly.

Voices.

Footsteps.

Lockers slamming.

Normal life.

I stepped out first.

And forced my face into something that looked like confidence.

But deep inside

Something had cracked.

Something painful.

Something sharp.

Because even though no one had seen me cry in that closet

I knew the truth.

I cried where the werewolves couldn't see me.

But they would still smell the weakness.

And Dave Walker?

He would enjoy it the most.