Several nearby students snickered.
Mia rolled her eyes dramatically.
“Wow. Original.”
Sophia ignored her.
Her gaze settled on Ethan.
“And you,” she said softly.
There was something dangerous in her tone.
“Didn’t expect to see you hanging around… her.”
Ethan didn’t react.
“Why wouldn’t I?”
Sophia tilted her head.
“Because people with reputations usually avoid scandals.”
Olivia felt the tension spike instantly.
But Ethan simply smiled faintly.
“Maybe I like scandals.”
Sophia’s eyes narrowed.
For a brief moment, the sweet cheer captain mask slipped.
Then it snapped back into place.
“Well,” she said brightly. “Enjoy your morning.”
She turned and walked away, her entourage following.
The hallway erupted into whispers again.
Mia let out a slow whistle.
“She’s definitely suspicious.”
Lucy nodded.
“Which means we’re on a timer.”
Ethan checked the time on his phone.
“Then we move today.”
—
After school, the cheer squad gathered in the gym.
Sophia stood at the front of the room, arms folded gracefully.
The team sat in a semicircle on the bleachers.
“I know the last few days have been stressful,” she said gently.
“But we need to stay united.”
Several girls nodded sympathetically.
“We can’t let rumors damage the reputation of this team,” Sophia continued.
Her gaze flicked briefly toward the gym doors.
“And unfortunately, some people are trying to create drama.”
Right on cue—
The doors opened.
Olivia walked in.
Behind her were Mia, Lucy, and Ethan.
The entire room went silent.
Sophia’s smile tightened.
“Well,” she said coolly. “Speak of the devil.”
Olivia’s heart pounded.
But she forced herself to keep walking until she stood directly in front of the team.
“You’re right,” she said calmly.
“There’s been a lot of drama.”
Sophia raised an eyebrow.
“Are you here to apologize?”
A few cheerleaders giggled.
Olivia shook her head.
“I’m here to show the truth.”
Murmurs spread instantly.
Sophia’s expression didn’t change.
But her fingers tightened slightly.
“Truth?” she repeated.
Olivia pulled out her phone.
“Yes.”
Lucy stepped forward.
“Jack from the photography club filmed the entire hallway before the speech.”
Sophia’s eyes flashed.
But she quickly laughed.
“Oh please. Everyone already saw the video.”
“Not the full one,” Ethan said quietly.
The room erupted in whispers.
Sophia’s gaze snapped to him.
“You should be careful, Ethan,” she said softly. “Spreading rumors can ruin people.”
“Exactly,” he replied calmly.
Lucy tapped the screen.
The video began playing.
On the gym projector.
Every cheerleader watched as the footage showed Sophia walking straight into Olivia.
Gasps filled the room.
Then the next part played.
Sophia whispering to Brett.
“Make sure you film it right. We’ll cut the part where I pushed her.”
The gym exploded with shocked voices.
Sophia’s face went pale.
“That’s fake!” she snapped.
Lucy smirked.
“Oh, we’re not done.”
She played the audio recording.
Emma Davis’s voice echoed through the speakers.
“Make sure Olivia loses.”
“Just like what we did to Ethan’s cousin.”
The entire cheer squad fell silent.
One girl whispered, “Oh my God…”
Sophia’s breathing grew uneven.
“This is manipulated,” she said sharply.
But the confidence was gone.
Olivia stepped forward.
“You ruined my reputation,” she said quietly.
Sophia glared at her.
“You ruined yourself.”
“Really?”
Olivia turned to the team.
“Then why does the unedited video say otherwise?”
Several girls looked uncomfortable now.
One of them stood up slowly.
“Sophia… is this true?”
Sophia’s voice rose.
“Of course not!”
But the doubt had already spread.
Like cracks in glass.
Ethan leaned closer to Olivia and murmured,
“This is where she breaks.”
And right on cue—
Sophia lost her composure.
“You think this changes anything?” she snapped at Olivia.
Her voice echoed through the gym.
“You’re still the pathetic transfer girl who thought she could take my spot.”
Gasps rippled through the room.
Olivia stared at her.
“And you’re the girl who cheats to win.”
The silence that followed was deafening.
For the first time since this nightmare began—
Sophia Davis looked afraid.