Ivey's Pov
The second I stepped into the school building, the noise hit me like a wave—lockers slamming, laughter echoing, the dull roar of conversations all blending into a familiar hum I hadn't realized I missed.
But it all felt… different. Like I wasn't a part of it anymore. Like I was watching from outside a glass wall.
I didn't make it five steps before I saw Isa (my second best friend) leaning against the lockers by our usual spot, scrolling on her phone. The second her eyes lifted and locked onto mine, she bolted forward.
"Oh my God, Ivey." She threw her arms around me before I could say a word. "Where the hell have you been? I've been texting you nonstop."
I hugged her back, guilt twisting in my stomach. "I'm sorry. I was sick. Kayla helped me out."
Isa pulled away, eyes narrowing as she studied my face. "No. This is more than sick. You look different, some things up. What happened?"
I hesitated, but Isa already shook her head like she knew I wouldn't say it.
"No one knows anything," she said. "About the party, I mean. No one's talking. It's like… it never happened."
Relief fluttered in my chest. "Okay…"
"But," she added quickly, stepping closer, "if you break up with Josh, people will start asking questions. You know how this school works. He'll talk. Or someone will."
I looked at her.
"I don't care," I said quietly.
She blinked. "Wait, are you really gonna?"
"Yeah." I nodded. "I have to."
Isa didn't try to talk me out of it. She just looked at me for a long second, then reached over and gave my hand a quick squeeze.
"Good. Just… be careful, okay?"
I nodded again, already spotting Josh down the hallway, leaning against a locker like nothing had changed in his world.
But mine had.
So I walked.
Josh's smirk faded the second he saw me walking down the hallway, alone. He straightened, like he knew something was coming but hoped to charm his way out of it.
"Hey," he said, grinning. "You look better. Missed you yesterday."
"We need to talk," I said.
His eyes darted around. "Right now?"
"Yes. Now."
We moved to a quiet area near the staircase. The second we stopped, I turned to face him.
His smile slipped just a little. "Okay… what is this about?"
"You cheated on me."
The words hit the air like a slap. Sharp. Loud. Irrevocable.
Josh blinked. "What? No, what are you even talking about?"
"I saw you, Josh. At the party. With her."
His face turned pale, and then came the defensive laugh. "Wait, hold on, you were drunk. You don't know what you saw."
"Don't insult me," I said, voice flat. "I didn't even drink anything that night."
That got him. His face twisted. "No, no this isn't about what you say this is about Lucas. Right? Your just mad about what I did to him. Right? Or maybe he is ruining you mind, with trash talk about me. Huh?" He pushed me a bit "This is because you like him right?"
"This isn't about him," I snapped. "This is about you. About how you lied to me. About how you kept looking me in the eye and pretending everything was fine while you were with someone else behind my back."
He rolled his eyes. "It was a stupid kiss, Ivey. It didn't mean anything."
"It meant something to me."
He stepped closer, lowering his voice. "Come on, don't blow this out of proportion. We were barely talking that night, and you were all over the place, crying in a bathroom or something, probably with Lucas holding your hand."
I flinched. "You're unbelievable."
He scoffed. "What, are you gonna run off and play nurse with him now? That what this is about? You and your little savior complex?"
I held his gaze, my voice quieter now, but sharper than ever. "No, Josh. This is about the fact that you didn't care enough to stay loyal. And now I don't care enough to stay."
He stared at me, speechless.
"It's over," I said. "Don't text me. Don't talk to me. We're done."
And before he could open his mouth again, I ran away with my heart racing, and my lungs full of something that felt like freedom.