'We've got some major gossip to spill! Hold onto your hats, folks! The big secret behind Liam's missing diary has finally come to light. Guess who had it all along? You won't believe it, but it was Mira! Yeah, that's right, the one that Liam's courting. The one and only, Mira stole Liam's diary. It was stashed away in her locker. Can you believe the nerve of that girl? She must have used Liam's diary as a way to get close to him and even a way to fall for her. Talk about sneaky! Who would've thought our sweet and innocent student council president had such a hidden agenda? Well, let's wait and see how Liam reacts when he finds out. I can't wait to witness the drama unfold right before our eyes.
P.S. Just so you know, we won't spill any details about the diary's content or even try to read it. We respect personal privacy, unlike someone we know. 
Stay tuned for more scandalous updates!'
———
I couldn't help but hold my head in frustration as I read what had happened. This wasn't how I had envisioned Liam finding out about the diary. It wasn't part of the plan.
 
I knew Briana was behind all of this. Who else could it be? And how did Liam's diary end up in my school locker when it had been in my room all this time?
 
I was certain that she orchestrated everything and set me up. Maybe that's why I always had this nagging feeling that something was off whenever those girls had their little sleepover in Briana's room. They must have sneaked into my room when I was sleeping or when I wasn't around. Perhaps they were trying to find some dirt on me, and they hit the jackpot when they discovered Liam's diary in my possession.
 
I couldn't help but pull at my hair in frustration. I felt so foolish! I should have been more careful. If only I had been more cautious, none of this would have happened.
I quickly left my room and headed to Briana's, only to find it empty. I rushed downstairs and searched for her, even asking the maid, but she was nowhere to be found.
 
Before I could make my way back to my room, my phone buzzed, and Mady's name appeared on the screen. She was inviting me for a video call. "Mira, are you okay?" Her voice and expression showed genuine concern.
 
I sat on the edge of my bed, the weight of the situation finally sinking in. I felt a sudden wave of fear. "I don't know what to do. Should I just skip school tomorrow? I'm scared to go. Who knows what they might do to me."
 
I heard Mady let out a sigh. "Stop with that negative attitude, girl. Your fear won't solve anything if you don't face them. And why should you care about what they think if you have Liam's diary? They're not Liam. Focus on how Liam might react, but don't let others' opinions consume you. They don't know the full story."
 
Her words weighed heavily on me, causing my spirits to sink even further. "That's the worst-case scenario. If Liam finds out about his lost diary, I know he'll be furious with me. Everything was going so well between us, but now it feels like everything is falling apart."
 
"You have such a negative mindset," Mady remarked. "I'm sure he'll understand. Well, actually, I can't be completely sure since you invaded his privacy, obviously—"
 
I rolled my eyes at her comment. "Alright, rub it in. I know I messed up, okay?"
 
"I'm not trying to rub it in. Just let me finish! But honestly, weren't you planning to tell Liam about the diary anyway? It just happened to spread around school before you could. So instead of worrying about it, wait until he gets back and explain everything to him honestly."
 
"But what if he doesn't understand? What if he gets angry with me?"
"You won't know until you try," she replied, her response filled with a hint of wisdom.
 
"I'm still scared, Mady. Scared of what they might do to me at school."
 
She rolled her eyes, but her expression quickly shifted to one of concern. "As long as you have us, no one can touch you. They won't dare harm you knowing how close you are with Liam, even if you tell them he's the reason why they're mad at you."
 
She was right. They couldn't physically hurt me as long as Liam's involvement remained unknown. But once he found out and showed any sign of disappointment, they would come after me. They were like a pack of hungry wolves, eagerly waiting for their leader's command and an opportunity to tear me apart.
 
"Speaking of which, have you talked to Sophie?" she continued.
 
I shook my head. "I haven't," I replied, keeping my answer brief.
 
Without a word, she added Sophie to our video call and attempted to contact her. But there was no response. "Let it go, maybe she's just busy with her new friends," I told Mady.
 
She looked at me through the screen as if she was studying me. "You know this isn't the right time to be upset with her. She might just be busy," she said.
 
I gave her a knowing look. "Yeah, busy with her new friends," I repeated. "I was about to talk to Briana, but she's not home—"
 
She interrupted me. "So you assumed they're together right now?"
 
I nodded. "Yes, and I know they're trying to take Sophie away from us. She just doesn't realize it," I said, my words filled with a hint of frustration.
 
Mady let out a sigh. "You know what? Enough about her." She paused and looked at me, her lips pressed together. "What's your plan now that everyone knows about the diary? Especially now that Liam isn't here, and he still has no idea about it."
For now, I still had some time to have a normal day at school before Liam returned. But deep down, I didn't trust the other students, especially Briana, Rhian, and Sam. I knew they would continue to be mean to me. They didn't care about how close Liam and I were or consider his feelings. They wouldn't wait for him and would do whatever it took to bring me down. It seemed like they hated me more than they cared about being loyal to Liam.
 
The weight of my thoughts weighed heavily on me, causing my spirits to sink further. "I don't know, Mady. I'm really scared about what they might do to me when I go to school."
 
She gave me a stern look in response. "You know, Mira, we're just going in circles here."
 
I furrowed my brows at her. "Because you keep on asking!" I retorted.
 
"Mira, seriously. I thought you wouldn't let your cousin or Rhian bully you anymore. But your actions are saying otherwise. They're doing everything they can to hurt you, and you're just proving to them that they can because you're showing how vulnerable you are. Show them who you really are, Mira. Show them that their words and actions can't bring you down. You're stronger than you think." I stayed silent, allowing her words to sink in.
 
"You need to channel your inner High School Musical and get your head in the game! Instead of dwelling on your mistake, shake off those fears and show them what you're capable of. Don't let Briana destroy you, Mira," she continued.
 
In an instant, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders. She was right. I was better than this. I shouldn't let their actions affect me. "You're right. I have a lot on my plate right now, and I should be focusing on that instead of dealing with their petty tricks aimed at me."
 
She smiled in response. "And if everything doesn't turn out the way you expect, I'll always be here to support you, Mira. Being your friend means standing by your side, no matter what." I could hear the sincerity in her voice.
 
At least, even if I were to lose Liam and the others, especially Sophie, I knew that Mady would always be there for me.
———
"Do you still have the audacity to go to school knowing what you did?" Briana taunted me as she sat beside me in the car, driven by our family driver.
 
I looked at her with a calm expression. "Oh please, do you really think I would be scared? I can accept and face my mistakes."
 
She let out a forced chuckle. "You're so proud of what you did, huh?"
 
"Why? Aren't you proud of stealing other people's boyfriends?" I replied, my gaze fixed on the passing scenery outside the car window.
 
I could sense her clenching her fist at my words. "You're still worse than me, Mira. Are you really that desperate to steal Liam's diary just to make him fall for you?"
 
I shifted my gaze towards her and met her piercing stare. "You don't know anything, Briana, so just keep quiet. And I won't be surprised if you were the one who took the diary from my room and spread it around the whole school. You're too obsessed with ruining my life, but I won't let you have it." I paused, intensifying my gaze. "Also, you're the desperate one here, not me."
 
I could see the insulted expression on her face. "So what if I am? At least I did the right thing. And say whatever you want because your time is already up. Once you step foot in school, your life will be a living hell, Mira. So good luck, because you'll need it."
 
As much as I wanted to retaliate, I chose not to engage with her. I didn't want to show her that she was getting to me. I didn't want to give her the satisfaction of seeing how miserable I was. Because if I did, it would only fuel her negativity and give her power over me.
 
"Can you please not walk beside me when we enter school? I don't want them to see me with a thief and a desperate girl like you," she said before stepping out of the car. I could only sigh at her words and follow suit.
As I stepped onto campus, I could feel the weight of judgment from people's eyes fixed on me, their whispers swirling around like a storm. I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath, ready to start walking when a voice called out from behind.
 
"Mira, there you are!" Zed ran towards me.
 
Before I could respond, Briana appeared out of nowhere and confronted Zed. "If I were you, I'd stay away from that girl. You wouldn't want to be seen with her, considering what she did."
 
Zed looked at her, his eyebrows furrowed. "It's more embarrassing to talk to you. Can you please not talk to me? I don't want to associate with a bully like you." Without waiting for Briana's response, Zed quickly pulled me away from her, and we continued walking.
 
"Hey, I saw the post on the page. Are you okay?" Zed asked as we walked.
 
I let out a sigh and looked at him. "You know what? Briana's right. You shouldn't be walking with me. I don't want you to get involved."
 
"Why should I? You're my friend, and besides, I know it's all just made-up stuff," Zed replied, not caring about the judgmental gazes around us.
 
"Yeah, it's just a rumor, and I believe in you, too, Mira," Zed and I turned to the source of the voice and were surprised to see Caleb walking beside us.
 
We must have looked shocked because Caleb chuckled and explained himself. "Oh, sorry. I was actually about to approach you guys, but I couldn't help overhearing your conversation." He paused, his expression turning serious. "But seriously, like Zed, I wouldn't mind being seen with you, Mira, because you're also my friend."
 
I shifted my gaze from Caleb to Zed, and his expression confirmed his agreement. "Most of what was written there was actually true," I replied, my voice barely audible.
 
They exchanged glances, both at a loss for words until Zed spoke up. "You know, I can understand why you kept it instead of giving it back to Liam. He can be intimidating, and I would have done the same if I were in your shoes."
 
They both looked at me, waiting for an explanation. And so, I began to tell them the whole story, unraveling the truth behind the situation.
 
"So now, it has come to this. And I'm certain that Briana is behind all of this," I concluded.
 
Neither of them could find the words to respond until Zed finally spoke up. "You know, Mira, I can see why you made that decision. Liam can be scary, and I understand why you didn't want to give it back."
Caleb nodded. "I agree. And I would have read his diary too. I mean, he's my cousin, but finding out that he keeps a diary is quite intriguing, don't you think?"
 
"But still, what I did was wrong, and now, the students are targeting me. Who knows what they might do? I'll become the subject of their jokes sooner or later."
 
Caleb gave me a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, Mira. Zed and I are here for you. Consider us your bodyguards. Well, we're kind of doing that right now," he said, glancing at the passing students.
 
"As long as we're here, they won't lay a finger on you. We won't let them bully you, Mira," Zed added.
 
I forced a smile at them. "Thanks, guys, but I don't think I deserve this. I know Liam has no idea about what's happening at school, but once he finds out, he'll be hurt, and there's a chance he'll be angry with me. All this time, he's shown me how important I am to him and how much he trusts me, but I've been keeping secrets from him. I haven't been honest."
 
"Honestly, I want to say that he'll understand as long as you explain it to him properly, but I can't speak for him. I'm not sure if he'll be okay with it, but what I am sure of is that you deserve our protection, Mira, because you're our friend," Caleb said.
 
"True. And that means we've got your back, girl," Zed replied, attempting to mimic the way girls talk. I couldn't help but shake my head and burst into laughter.
 
"That's right, laugh it out. It suits you much better than dwelling on some negative high school drama," Caleb chimed in again.
 
I was scared of losing my friends because of what was happening. Sophie, who seemed to be getting closer to Briana and Rhian. Ace and Ken, who were Liam's friends and whom I hadn't been honest with. And of course, losing Liam was my worst fear.
 
I used to think that Mady was the only one who had my back, but I was wrong. Zed and Caleb were also here for me, ready to support me.
———
 
As we approached our respective classrooms, the whispers around us grew louder. Every eye was on us, or rather, on me. I tried not to let it affect me, but it was difficult. Despite the reassurances from Zed and Caleb, fear still gripped me.
 
"Keep your heads up, Mira. Show them that you're not affected," Zed whispered to me.
I was about to hold my head up high and ignore the whispers when a girl suddenly ran towards me from behind. She was about to pull my hair, but Caleb swiftly intervened. "What the hell do you think you're doing?!" he exclaimed, gripping her arm tightly.
 
"That bitch stole Liam's diary!" the girl shouted at me, pointing her finger.
 
Zed crossed his arms, standing behind me. "Oh, really? You're acting as if you're Liam himself! And besides, you have no idea what you're talking about!"
 
Instead of staying silent, the girl glared at Zed and retorted, "Of course, you would defend Mira. Oh, and by the way, weren't they already dating when she was two-timing you?" She shifted her gaze towards me. "You're not just flirtatious, but you're also desperate and a thief!" she continued.
 
Damn, this girl! Did she even know what she was saying? Before I could respond, Zed beat me to it. "Hey, watch your words! That issue was resolved a long time ago, and it was proven to be a misunderstanding. And let me tell you, you have no right to speak to Mira like that." She looked around at the students who were now watching us. "And none of you have the right either because you don't know the whole story!" His words caused the whispers around us to grow louder.
 
"Miss, I don't know what your deal is, but because of your actions, I can have you detained for what you're doing. Especially since you're opposing the student council president," Caleb calmly but angrily said.
 
The girl smirked and rolled her eyes. "Go ahead! Do you think I'm scared of you? Just because you're popular and hold positions here at school, you think I won't fight back?!"
 
Caleb quickly grabbed her arm again, tightening his grip when she tried to resist. "What now?! Let go of me!" the girl shouted at Caleb.
 
Ignoring her, Caleb turned to us. "Zed, can you take care of Mira? I'll just report this annoying girl to the admin office to teach her a lesson." Before we could respond, he turned away and forcefully pulled the girl away.
 
"Did you see that?" Zed said to the students who were still gathered in the hallway. "Try bullying Mira, and this is what will happen to you!"
 
"You guys don't have to go through all this trouble. I appreciate you bringing me to my classroom, but this is too much, and I'm sure I can handle it on my own if they start harassing me," I said once the crowd started dispersing.
 
"Mira, haven't we already told you? We've got your back," Zed replied, gently guiding me to continue walking.
—–—
After entering the classroom, I bid farewell to Zed and made my way to my seat. He patiently waited until he was sure I was safe before leaving.
 
As I stepped into the classroom, I could feel the weight of everyone's gaze on me. But I've grown accustomed to it. With all the looks and whispers that accompanied my arrival at school, I've learned to adapt. However, it doesn't mean I feel comfortable or unaffected by it.
 
"Mira, oh my gosh! Finally, you're here. I was worried something might have happened to you. You weren't responding to my messages," Mady greeted me as I sat beside her.
 
I forced a smile. "Don't worry, I was with Zed and Caleb."
 
"Well, I saw that. It was already posted on the page. Even that incident with the student who almost attacked you. Who was she?"
 
I shrugged my shoulders. "Maybe just one of Liam's crazy fangirls."
 
Mady observed me, as if trying to read my thoughts. "Are you really okay?"
 
Before I could respond, I couldn't help but overhear the whispers surrounding me.
 
"Can you believe she still had the audacity to come to school?"
 
"Isn't she ashamed to show her face?"
 
"I can't believe her! She even used Zed and Caleb to cover up her mistake."
 
"She's so desperate that she stole Liam's diary just to make him like her."
 
"She thinks so highly of herself! I hope Liam never forgives her."
 
I let out a sigh. "Mady, I need to use the restroom." I informed her as I stood up from my seat.
 
She looked at me, concern still evident in her eyes. "Do you want me to come with you?"
 
I shook my head. "No need. I can handle it on my own."
 
"Are you sure?" she asked again. I knew she was just worried.
 
I nodded at her and proceeded to leave the classroom to go to the restroom. I didn't think anyone would dare to harass or bother me now that Zed and Caleb had warned them.
 
I needed some time alone, some time to think clearly. I needed a break from the negativity that surrounded me. I knew what I did was wrong, I admitted it. But did I deserve this hate that was being thrown at me? If they were in my shoes, I was sure some of them would have done the same, or even worse.
Before I could enter the restroom, I was taken aback when I saw Sophie there.
 
She hurriedly approached me and held onto my shoulders. "Mira, I heard what happened. I was worried about you!"
 
I looked at her, my eyes devoid of any emotion. "Really, you were?" I said bluntly.
 
Confusion crossed her face at my response, but she tried not to show it. "Of course I was! What kind of question is that?"
 
"You didn't reach out, Sophie. We tried calling you, but you didn't answer."
 
She smiled sheepishly. "Are you mad at me? I'm sorry. I lost my phone, and I was out with Briana and the others last night." So I was right all along, she really was with them. She held onto my shoulders and faced me. "I just found out about it earlier. Rhian told me, and she also seemed worried about you."
 
I raised an eyebrow at what she said. She really seemed clueless. "Really?" I said sarcastically.
 
She nodded. "Yes. You know, Mira, why did you leave the diary in your locker? You knew it was dangerous here at school, and there was a big chance it would be discovered." She paused and smiled at me. "But don't worry, I know Liam will understand once he finds out." Of all people, she also believed that I left the diary in my locker. I wasn't foolish enough to do that.
 
At this point, it seemed like I didn't care about Liam's feelings. My disappointment in Sophie overshadowed everything else. Even though she stood right in front of me, it felt like I wasn't talking to the same person. This wasn't the Sophie I knew.
 
I wasn't sure if she genuinely cared about me or if she was just showing off her new friendship with those girls.
 
Her words triggered something inside me, causing me to snap. "Sophie, seriously?! Do you believe what they're saying? They're the ones who stole the diary from my room and put it in my locker. And they might be the ones who spread it all over the school!"
 
She furrowed her eyebrows, trying to understand the situation. "Are you trying to blame it on them?"
 
I laughed in disbelief. "Yes, Sophie. Because it's the truth! Briana even admitted it to me."
 
Sophie let out a frustrated sigh. "Mira, can you please stop? I was with them the whole time. Stop blaming everything on them. Just accept your mistake and take responsibility for it."
 
"Sophie, come on! Of all people, you're the one who doesn't believe me?! You were the first person I told about Liam's diary, you were the one I always turned to for help, you were the first friend I made here at school! Sophie, where is that friend now?"
 
I could feel frustration and disappointment building up inside me. Sophie's doubt and lack of support hurt more than I could express. I had trusted her and relied on her, and now it felt like she was turning her back on me. The realization hit me hard, leaving me feeling betrayed and alone.
 
Tears welled up in my eyes as I struggled to find the words to convey how hurt I was. "Sophie, I thought we were friends. I thought our friendship meant something to you. But now, I don't even know who you are."
 
Sophie's face softened, and a glimmer of realization appeared in her eyes. "Mira, I didn't mean to make you feel this way. It's just..." She sighed and didn't finish her sentence. "I'm sorry, I don't want to hurt you," she said remorsefully.
 
I pulled away from her touch, feeling a mix of anger and sadness. "Well, you are hurting me now. Maybe you should question the people you call friends. Right now, I don't even know if I can call you that anymore."
 
With those words, I turned and walked away, leaving her standing there, stunned and speechless.
 
As I made my way through the classroom once again, I couldn't help but wonder if our friendship would ever be the same again.