The school gymnasium was barely recognizable. String lights hung from the ceiling, casting a golden glow over the polished floors. Round tables with white tablecloths were arranged neatly, and a small stage stood at the far end of the room, decorated with banners that read: “Elmwood High Charity Gala - A Night to Remember.”
Emma stood just inside the entrance, clutching the hem of her dress. The sight of the packed room made her chest tighten. Students, teachers, and even parents were mingling, their voices blending into a hum of chatter and laughter.
“This is such a trap,” she muttered under her breath.
“Then why are you here?” Liam’s voice came from behind her, low and amused.
Emma turned to see him leaning casually against the doorframe, dressed in a black button-down shirt and jeans. His hair was its usual mess, but somehow, he made it look intentional.
“Because I’m not letting Victoria win,” Emma said firmly. “If I don’t show up, it’s just going to give her more ammunition.”
Liam smirked. “Fair enough. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Emma frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
He pushed off the wall and walked past her, his voice trailing behind him. “You’ll see.”
The night started off deceptively normal. Victoria, in a glittering red gown, floated around the room, greeting guests like a perfect hostess. Emma tried to avoid her as much as possible, sticking close to the refreshment table where Katie stood, looking uncomfortable.
“You okay?” Emma asked, trying to sound casual.
Katie nodded quickly, her eyes darting around. “Yeah. Fine. Why wouldn’t I be?”
Emma didn’t press. Their friendship was still shaky after the truth about the bucket list leak, and she wasn’t ready to reopen old wounds.
As the evening progressed, Victoria finally stepped onto the stage, tapping a microphone to get everyone’s attention.
“Good evening, everyone,” she said, her voice syrupy sweet. “Thank you all for coming to support such a wonderful cause. But before we get to the boring speeches, I thought we’d have a little fun.”
Emma’s stomach sank.
Victoria gestured to the large screen behind her. “As some of you may know, we have a very special guest tonight—Emma Williams.”
Heads turned, and Emma felt heat rush to her face.
Victoria’s smile sharpened. “Now, Emma’s been on quite the… journey this year. And I thought it would be fun to highlight some of her achievements.”
The lights dimmed, and the screen lit up with the words: “Emma’s Bucket List - A Closer Look.”
Emma’s heart stopped.
The slideshow began, displaying an image of the list itself. Gasps rippled through the crowd, followed by murmurs and laughter. Then came the photos.
A photo of Emma at Victoria’s party, holding a red Solo cup. A heavily edited image of Emma with her arm around Liam, looking cozy—something that had never happened. A fake screenshot of a text conversation where Emma supposedly bragged about wanting to “be the talk of the school.”
“None of this is real,” Emma whispered, her voice shaking.
But the crowd didn’t care. Laughter filled the room, and the whispers grew louder.
“She’s so desperate for attention.”
“Did you see that text? Pathetic.”
“Guess she’s not so perfect after all.”
Emma’s vision blurred, her chest tightening. She couldn’t breathe.
“Stop it,” she whispered, tears stinging her eyes. “Make it stop.”
But Victoria just stood on the stage, basking in the chaos.
Then, a voice cut through the noise.
“That’s enough.”
The room fell silent as Liam stepped onto the stage, taking the microphone from Victoria.
“What are you doing?” Victoria hissed, her perfect smile cracking.
“Calling you out,” Liam said, his voice calm but firm. He turned to the crowd. “You all think this is funny? Humiliating someone who’s done nothing to you?”
The crowd murmured, unsure how to react.
“Victoria,” Liam continued, his tone sharp, “this isn’t about Emma. This is about you. You’re so obsessed with tearing her down because you can’t stand that someone might actually like her. That’s called insecurity, by the way.”
Victoria’s face turned red. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh, I do,” Liam said, stepping closer to her. “You’ve been pulling this crap for years. But here’s the thing—Emma’s not your toy. She’s a better person than you’ll ever be, and the fact that you can’t see that? That’s your problem.”
The crowd was completely silent now. Victoria’s mouth opened and closed, but no words came out.
Liam turned to Emma, his expression softening. “Let’s go.”
Emma hesitated, still reeling, but something in his eyes steadied her. She nodded and followed him out of the room, leaving behind the whispers and stares.
Outside, the cool night air hit Emma like a slap. She hugged her arms to herself, shivering.
“You didn’t have to do that,” she said quietly.
“Yes, I did,” Liam replied.
She stopped walking, turning to face him. “Why? Why do you care so much?”
Liam hesitated, running a hand through his hair. “Because I know what it’s like to be on the other side of Victoria’s games. She ruins people, Emma. And I’m not letting her ruin you.”
Emma frowned. “What did she do to you?”
His jaw tightened. “It doesn’t matter.”
“Yes, it does,” Emma insisted. “If you want me to trust you, I need to know the truth.”
Liam sighed, his shoulders slumping. “She hurt someone I care about. Badly. And I’ve been waiting for a way to stop her ever since.”
Emma wanted to ask more, but the pain in his voice stopped her.
When Emma got home, she felt emotionally drained. She tossed her bag on her bed and froze.
There was an envelope taped to her window.
Her hands shook as she opened it, pulling out a photo.
It was of her and Victoria as kids, standing side by side, smiling.
On the back, a note read: “You don’t even remember, do you?”