Chapter 5: Room 213
Rumors spread fast in highschool. Faster when you want them to, and fastest when you don't.
By Thursday, last period. Word had gotten around that Mr.Whitlow had "suddenly resigned." That he was "just ready to move on" That "it's been a plan".
No one knew the truth. Except me and Kian.
Kian said he said it with a straight face. Looked at the class like he was doing us a favor.
The library was nearly empty, the hum of the fluorescent lights the only sound as Kian huddled over the table strewn with notes and the USB drive that contained everything we needed to expose Mr.Whitlow.
I nodded, my fingers tracing the edge of the USB.
"Tomorrow's the pep rally. They're also doing that farewell thing for Whitlow."
Kian raised an eyebrow. "You're thinking of making it public there?"
"Exactly. I'll go up to speak about Sadie. Then I'll expose him."
I met his gaze with determination in my eyes. "He doesn't get to leave quietly. Not after what he did."
_________________
I found Mr.Whitlow in his classroom on Friday morning. Packing up his belongings.
"Ms.Morales," he said, forcing a smile. "Here to say goodbye?"
I stepped closer, holding his gaze. "Just to wish you well." Lies. "Though, it's interesting how quickly you decided to leave."
He paused, the smile on his stupid face faltering. "Sometimes, change is necessary."
"Indeed," I replied. "Oh, and I'll be speaking at the rally today. About Sadie"
Whitlow's eyes narrowed slightly. "I'm sure she'd appreciate that."
I leaned in, my voice barely above a whisper. "I think everyone will appreciate what I have to say."
___
The school felt… off.
Maybe it was the pep rally energy. The student cheering or the music blaring. Or maybe it was the fact that the truth was sitting in the back pocket of my jeans.
The flash drive. The files. Her words.
Sadie.
There was a "going-away celebration" planned for Mr.Whitlow. Cupcakes in the staff lounge.
A photo collage outside the gym. Kids even signed a card.
And then came the part that no one expected. Except me and Kian.
The pep rally began like any other. Loud music. Dance team. The football players ran around like they ruled the earth.
Kian sat next to me. "Are you nervous?" he asked.
"No." I lied.
I was in fact very nervous. I felt like my stomach was going to fall out. "This is the moment I've been waiting for. Justice for Sadie." I answered. That was not a lie.
He patted my back. "You'll do good, dont stress."
That felt refreshing to hear from him.
And then the principal took the mic.
"We'd also like to take a moment to remember a student who meant so much to this school, Sadie Quinn."
The gym quieted. A slideshow started on the projector. Photos of Sadie with her messy hair and loud laugh. Everyone clapped politely. Some cried.
When they called me up, my legs did not want to move.
But I did it anyway. I had to.
For Sadie.
I stood center court, the whole school watching. My voice shook at first.
"She was my best friend. My only real friend. And if you knew her, you know how full of life she was. Sadie was the light of this school. Until someone drained it out of her."
A shift in the crowd. A few confused faces. The teachers looked nervous. Murmurs spread through the audience.
"Mr. Whitlow abused his position, manipulated Sadie, and threatened her when she tried to speak out."
Gasps echoed around the gym.
I reached into my pocket and pulled out the flash drive.
"This isn't just for Sadie. This is for every girl who gets told to stay quiet. Who gets told it's their fault. Mr.Whitlow, you don't get to leave like nothing happened."
Gasps. Some kids stood up. Others turned to stare at him.
I handed the flash drive to the principal and said into the mic:
"Check the messages. The screenshots. The threats. Everything."
Mr. Whitlow stood frozen, the gymnasium now filled with whispers and stares directed at him.
"It wasn't just him." I continued. "Sadie reported many times about Mr.Whitlow's inappropriate behavior, to Ms.Lorenzo. Who covered it up. Every. Single. Time."
The principal walked up to me, grabbing the USB. "Thank you Nina." While leading me off the stage.
___________
Students whispered in clumps across the hallways. The pep rally ended in chaos.
Teachers looked like they just saw a ghost. Mr. Whitlow was escorted out of the gym by the principal and the school officer. His usual smirk long gone, replaced with something wild and pale.
By seventh period, rumors had already spread faster than any fire alarm could have cleared in the building. Some people cried. Some people just kept asking "Is it real?" The principal made a vague announcement over the intercom.
No one listened. Everyone already knew.
___________
I sat alone on the bleachers, arms wrapped around my knees. I stared ahead, not really seeing anything.
It didn't feel victorious. It didn't even feel finished. It just felt… heavy. Footsteps crunched the gravel behind me.
"I figured you'd be here." Kian said, climbing up the steps and sitting beside me. "The whole school's talking about it."
"I know," I said quietly. "They're going to investigate. His name's already off the staff page online."
Kian stayed silent for a beat. "You did it, Nina"
My voice cracked. "We did it."
He looked at me for a moment, then back at the field. "I'm glad you told the truth. She didn't deserve to be forgotten."
I nodded, my throat tightening. "She was terrified, Kian. And no one saw it."
"They see it now," he said softly. "Because of you."
A silence settled between them, not uncomfortable. Just full of everything unspoken. Then he nudged my knee gently with his.
"You know," he said, "if you ever wanted to sit out here again.. With someone, I'd be cool with that."
I smiled, the first real one in days. "Yeah, I'd be cool with that too."
Kian shoved his hands in his jacket pockets. "You okay?"
I nodded slowly, then turned to look at him.
"I don't think I would've gotten through this without you." I said, voice quiet. "I was drowning. And you… you didn't just throw me a life vest, you jumped in with me."
He shrugged, trying to play it off. "Well. I have always been good at swimming."
I cracked a soft laugh, but it faded fast.
"I mean it" I said. "You didn't owe me anything. We weren't even friends. But you believed me. You helped me dig. You listened to me when I didn't even know how to talk. And… I don't know. That meant everything to me."
Kian looked at me for a long moment. "You didn't have to thank me."
"I wanted to"
He gave me a small nod, the kind that meant more than words. "I think Sadie would've been proud of you."
I swallowed hard. "I hope so"
We stood there, quiet for a moment. It felt like something had shifted. Like for the first time, I wasn't carrying the weight all alone.
_________
ONE WEEK LATER - WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON
The hallway was quieter than usual, the kind of quiet that wrapped around you like fog. The posters for the pep rally were still hanging, but a few were peeling at the corners. I passed by Sadie's locker.
Still decorated. Still hers.
The flowers were wilting now, and the notes had started to curl, but no one dared to take anything down.
My finger grazed the edge of the photo we took at the start of the year - before everything changed. She was smiling, wild and bright eyed.
I didn't cry. I just stood there , breathing. Still. Steady. Stronger than I had been this past week.
"Nina!" Kian's voice cut through the quiet.
I turned. He stood at the end of the hallway, hands in his jacket pockets, waiting like he always did now.
I walked toward him, each step lighter than the one before. When I reached him, he didn't say anything. He didn't need to.
We walked side by side down the steps of the school and into the light. For once, I didn't feel the weight of everything pressing down on me.
As we exited the school, we passed a girl standing alone by the gate. New, maybe. She looked nervous, and reminded me of Sadie.
I paused. So did Kian.
I smiled.
I become what Sadie once was for me - Kindness
"Hi," I said.
For Sadie.