Chapter 17: Caught
1213 Words
Elara’s POV
“What are friends for? Anything you need, I’m right here.”
The words left my mouth before my brain could stop them. And the second they did, I knew, I’d ruined everything.
I might as well have slapped him and said never.
Friends? Really?
He had just given me that look, said that line, and I went and shoved him straight into the friend zone. I'm so stupid
“Oh Goddess… open the earth and swallow me now,” I whispered under my breath, wanting to physically crawl into the ground.
Draven didn’t say anything. He just went… quiet eating his food. The kind of quiet that makes you realize you messed up without anyone having to say a word. His eyes stared at his plate, jaw tightening for just a second before dropping his spoon down.
I panicked a little and moved to sit beside him, close enough to feel the warmth from his skin but not close enough to touch.
“Hey,” I said softly, leaning in. “You’re really quiet. Are you okay?”
He looked up at me, expression unreadable. “Yeah. I’m fine.”
But he said it like someone who definitely wasn’t fine.
Before I could try again, he stood. Too fast. My heart jumped.
“Where are you going?”
“Out,” he muttered, not even looking at me long enough for me to read him properly.
“Draven—wait.” I reached for him, but he was already heading to the door.
He paused for half a heartbeat.
Not enough time to fix what I’d said.
Not enough time to take it back.
And then the door clicked shut.
The silence he left behind felt heavy, almost sharp. I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding, pressing the heel of my palm to my forehead.
“Great. Perfect. Amazing job, Elara,” I muttered to myself. “You managed to friend zone a man who definitely wasn’t thinking about friendship last night.”
Giving him a blowjob was the first time for me and it was not so bad even though I had to put a person's body part inside my mouth.
I sat down slowly, staring at the empty chair across from me.
I didn’t know where he went.
Why do you always have to ruin things Elara. I couldn't stop the tears from flowing.
……
He didn’t come home until midnight.
I was waiting for him on the couch all day, even made him lunch. I heard the door creak open, and for a second my heart jumped, it was just him.
Draven stepped inside, shoulders tense, hoodie soaked from the night air. But he didn’t look at me. Didn’t say a word. Just brushed past like I was a shadow on the wall.
My throat tightened. I opened my mouth to say something but the words wouldn’t come out the way they should. And before I found them, he was already gone into his room, door closing with a soft thud.
I sat there for a few minutes staring at the hallway, feeling like I’d somehow messed everything up with one words.
Eventually I crawled into bed, hugging my pillow.
I didn’t want to cry about it.
I still did.
By morning, the ache was still somewhere in my chest, but at least he wasn’t acting like I was invisible anymore. He was quiet but not gone. He walked beside me as we headed into school, hands shoved into his pockets, eyes ahead. I didn’t push. I didn’t know if he’d push back.
He held my hand for a minute. I thought he had forgiven me but he kept looking ahead, it seems he wanted to keep up appearances for the school.
He drops me in class and pats my head and walks away. I try to hold back the tears and face the day ahead.
Classes started the same as always: noise, books, teachers pretending they weren’t tired. I sat down, trying to forget last night, trying not to keep looking toward the door in case he walked by.
Halfway through the lesson, the classroom door opened.
The principal walked in. Mr Dilford, everyone knew how obsessed he was about keeping a face after he was almost fired the last time something happened. That's why everywhere he goes he has a whole camera crew.
And when the camera gets your face it's all over.
Everyone straightened up instantly.
“Students,” she said, voice sharp and controlled, “we are addressing a matter of serious misconduct.”
My stomach dropped.
I didn’t even know why yet but I felt it. I wonder what happened?
“Effective immediately,” she continued, “Kyle and her friends will be suspended for bullying, harassment, and endangerment of a fellow student.
The whole room sucked in air gasped and murmurs filled the classroom.
He continues, “We might be a university but we take our students' care very seriously.” He turns to the camera and smiles at his scruffy beards covering it, “So additionally, Kyle will be permanently removed from her position as cheer captain.”
Everyone gasped, some girls and guys fainted as their queen b had been served. One thing was knows the cameras are connected to every TV in school that means everyone was watching.
Kyle stood up so fast her chair screeched. “WHAT THE f**k ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT, I DID NOTHING! YOU CAN’T DO THIS!” she shouted, pointing directly at me. “SHE— she’s lying! I didn’t— WHERE IS YOUR PROOF.”
The door opened again.
Draven walked in, his face expressionless. He looked over and Dillford, “May I?”
He held up the phone.
The principal nodded for him to proceed.
He tapped the screen and the video started playing.
Them. The bathroom. My voice. The shove. The pain.
Everything.
A wave of whispers spread through the room like fire.
Kyle’s face drained of color. She looked like she couldn’t breathe. Her minions' eyes looked like they were going to burst. I was shocked too, how did he even get that video?
“There are cameras in the bathroom?” I whispered to myself, shocked.
Draven didn’t look at me, didn’t say a word.
Kyle snapped out of her silence, choking on tears. “It wasn’t— I didn’t mean— I swear she provoked me— she— she wanted attention— she—”
No one believed her. Absolutely no one
The principal motioned toward the door. “You may collect your things. Your parents will be informed.”
Kyle stumbled out, crying, her friends trailing behind her like scared ducks.
At the doorway, she stopped.
Turned.
And glared straight at me — eyes sharp, cheeks wet.
“You’ll regret this, Elara,” she hissed. “I swear you will.”
Then she stormed away, heels clacking like tiny threats echoing down the hall.
My chest tightened, but not from fear.
From the way Draven still wouldn’t look at me.
“Elara?” Principle Dillford called. Shying standing up I responded, “Yes sir?”
“Would you like to be the new cheer leader?” Another town of gasp.”
- Writer
