Kai tapped Hayden's shoulder the moment they spotted me walking in.
"There," I said, pointing straight at Hayden's locker.
Hayden's brows pulled together, his expression was tight with confusion. I looked behind me, to Principal Brown who just stepped in with Coach Daniels, both men mid-argument, about how ridiculous I was.
"I'm going to ask again," Principal Brown said, turning his sharp eyes toward me. "Are you absolutely sure about what you're saying, Miss Porter?"
"Yes," I answered without hesitation. "It's in the locker."
"Absolute nonsense!" Coach Daniels barked, his lip curling.
His defensiveness made my stomach twist. If he truly thought I was wrong, wouldn't he just let me embarrass myself? Why fight so hard before I even got the chance to prove it?
"What's going on, Coach?" Hayden finally asked, his voice quiet but strained. His gaze lingered on me as he stepped closer, whispering something hurried into the coach's ear. His shoulders were tense, clearly restless.
"Mr. Brown," Coach Daniels said smoothly, too smoothly, "there's no such thing as a playbook in Hayden's locker. You know Hayden; he's one of our top students, one of our best athletes."
"I understand that," Principal Brown replied carefully, "but if Miss Porter claims she has proof, then she should be allowed to show us. Go ahead, Miss Porter."
"It's in the locker," I repeated, my heart thumping.
Principal Brown turned toward Hayden. "Mr. Hewitt, it's your locker. You know the combination."
"Principal Lee," Hayden said in his steel-like voice, "this is a misunderstanding. There's nothing in my—"
"Then prove it," the principal cut him off. "Show me your locker."
Hayden didn't move. His dark eyes locked onto Principal Brown, like he was daring him to push the matter. For a moment, the room went so still that I could hear my own pulse.
Principal Brown swallowed, but forced his voice steady, trying to exercise authority."You know I am the principal of this school. As long as you're here, you do as I say."
I saw the flicker of unease in his eyes. He was nervous. Everyone knew why. Hayden's father wasn't just wealthy—he was the school's biggest sponsor.
And Hayden wasn't just a student—he was the heir to a trillion dollar fortune. Everyone, staff and students, treated him like a god. But Principal Brown pressed on, probably because he also knew Hayden's relationship with his father was strict.
"I'll call your father if you don't comply, young man."
At the mention of his father, Hayden's jaw tightened. He finally stepped forward, his movements stiff, and began unlocking the combination. I could feel the weight of his glare, like he was burning an invisible hole through the metal door.
When the lock clicked open, he swung it wide and stepped back. Principal Brown leaned forward, searching inside himself.
A frown creased his face. "Miss Porter… there's nothing here."
"Yes, there is," I insisted. "You have to look deeper."
The second the words left my mouth, I felt it; the sharp sting of three sets of eyes. Hayden. Kai. Coach Daniels. Their glares felt like knives pressing against my skin.
"I don't see anything," Principal Brown said finally, pulling his head and hands back from the locker. He shook his head like he was done with this.
"It's there! You just have to—"
"Enough," Coach Daniels snapped, his voice boomed over mine. His face was red with anger. "This is exactly why you don't hand out charity to people who don't deserve it. Give them an opportunity, and they spit on it. This girl's wasting our time. These boys should be on the field, winning trophies for this school, not standing here listening to some baseless accusation about cheating."
He jabbed a finger toward Hayden and Kai. "You've seen them play. They're brilliant, and not because they cheat. And yet here we are; courtesy of Miss Porter, who has brought nothing but trouble since the day she set foot here."
Principal Brown's face hardened, his expression soured as he slowly turned back to me. His regret was clear, like he already wished he hadn't given me the benefit of the doubt.
"It's in the locker!" My voice cracked.
"That's enough," Principal Brown snapped. "I've listened to you long enough. I should have known better than to entertain this nonsense. The board has spared you before only because of Mr. Hamilton's influence. But this..." his voice rose sharply with finality, "this time, you've crossed the line. You messed with the wrong person and you'll be expelled."
The word hit me like a punch. Expelled.
If I got expelled now, how could I ever fix this? How could I keep Hayden from going down the same path, from hating himself the way he did before? How could I make him love me if I wasn't even here?
I turned my eyes toward Hayden. For the first time since I entered, his lips curved into something cold and smug.
A victorious smile.
He knew I was right; he knew the playbook was here, but he was enjoying watching me fall apart!
If only I could get my hands inside the locker!
Desperation clawed through me. Before anyone could stop me, I rushed forward and tore into his locker, yanking every item out and tossing them on the floor. My hands shook as I searched, but I refused to stop.
"It's here, I-I saw it, I know it's here!"
"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" Hayden's tone sounded outraged, his deep voice almost made me flinch. He turned toward Principal Brown, his tone suddenly cold and commanding. "Are you seeing this? She's going through my things like a thief."
"I'll handle it," Principal Brown said, trying to sound firm. "Miss Porter, step away from Mr. Hewitt's locker this instant."
"It's here!" I insisted, tearing through shirts, books, shoes; anything that could hide it.
"Principal," Coach Daniels barked, "are you going to stand there while this girl trashes one of your best student's lockers? Do something!"
"Miss Porter!" Principal Brown's voice cracked like a whip. "If you don't leave that locker in three seconds, you will be expelled immediately."
I froze for half a second, then kept digging. I couldn't stop. I knew what I saw. I knew it was here.
"One…"
My heart raced.
"Two…"
I thought of Hayden's words from before. His regret. His shame. His hatred for himself.
"Three." Principal Brown's voice was low and deadly calm. "Miss Porter, you are hereby expelled from Stan-Hedge—"
"Found it!"