After The Crash

Unmasked

“Girl, you really thought you could disappear on us for weeks?” Zara Bennett grinned, swinging her arm around Ava’s shoulder in the cafeteria.

Skye Monroe popped a fry into her mouth and nodded. “We were this close to printing ‘Missing’ posters. Wanted to tape ‘em on Jordan’s forehead.”

Ava laughed, genuinely. “Okay, okay. I missed you guys too.”

Zara raised an eyebrow. “I heard your name and Madison Cross’s mentioned in the same sentence more than once. What’s going on with the debate competition?”

Ava sighed. “Let’s just say… it’s complicated.”

She said they should discuss about that later after school hours.

Later that day, the atmosphere in school shifted.

Whispers swirled through the hallway like wildfire. A junior student had bravely reported Madison to the school authorities. Apparently, she had tried bribing several students in exchange for votes in the upcoming interschool debate competition.

Mr. Halter, the assistant principal, gathered students in the auditorium that afternoon and confirmed the rumors.

“Bribery,” he announced, “is not only unethical but against school policy. We received a formal report and physical evidence. Madison Cross was caught offering Starbucks gift cards and cash—$20 bills—to three students, all of whom have come forward.”

Photos had been taken secretly. One junior had even recorded Madison whispering promises in the hallway.

Madison stood stiffly near the front, her face pale with fury and shame. The entire student body watched as she was officially disqualified from the competition.

Ava, who had been watching quietly from the back with Zara and Skye, felt a strange mix of relief and anxiety. She didn’t enjoy seeing people humiliated—but Madison’s manipulation had gone too far for too long.

“Guess karma drives a Tesla now,” Skye whispered.

Zara snorted. “Zero to exposed in six seconds.”

Ava gave a small smile but said nothing.

That evening, after a long day of research for the debate, Ava got a text from Jordan:

Jordan: Hey, want to come over tomorrow? Just chill, I’ll order food. No pressure.

She stared at the message for a while. Ethan hadn’t said much all day. Madison was out of the picture—at least, temporarily. Jordan had been supportive. Kind. Persistent.

Ava: Sure. Tomorrow sounds okay.

His reply came seconds later.

Jordan: Sweet. Can’t wait to hang out properly without the school chaos.

But as she put her phone down, something didn’t sit quite right.

Maybe it was how he stared a second too long when she wasn’t looking.

Maybe it was how he never talked about his family—except to say his brother wouldn’t be home for the weekend.

Still, Ava told herself she was overthinking things. It was just a hangout. No pressure.Jordan has also been nice to her both at school and at work.He wouldn't want to hurt her she thought.

Meanwhile, Ethan sat alone at his cousin’s place, headphones in but music low. The news about Madison had reached him quickly. She’d been caught red-handed, and Ava… Ava had handled everything with quiet strength.

He missed her.He missed her sarcastic behavior too.He just wanted to make her feel safe with him always and not with The other guy Jordan.

But he also knew she needed space—and he needed to find out exactly what Jordan’s intentions were.

Because there was something about the guy that didn’t sit right.

And Ethan Thompson had learned one thing from his dad: trust your instincts—even if no one else sees what you do.

He thought of his dad after his dad crossed his mind..