The Girl They Never Saw Coming

Chapter 19 — The Fall

The first thing I heard when I woke up was my phone vibrating.

I opened my eyes slowly.

For a few seconds, I didn't remember anything.

Then I remembered the party.

The music.

My friends.

Trent.

That moment.

I smiled faintly.

Then my phone vibrated again.

And again.

And again.

I reached for it.

There were more than a hundred notifications.

My smile disappeared.

I unlocked the screen.

The first message was from Eva.

Eva: Mia, please call me.

Another message appeared.

Sophie: Are you awake?

Then Andrew.

Andrew: Don't look at the group chat.

I stared at the message.

My heart sank.

Why would he tell me not to look?

I opened another notification.

A school group chat.

The video was there.

Again.

And again.

And again.

Someone had posted it with a caption.

Someone else had added another caption.

Then another person had shared it.

My name was everywhere.

I couldn't breathe normally.

I dropped the phone onto my bed.

"No."

It couldn't be happening.

I picked it up again.

There were hundreds of messages.

Some people were laughing.

Some were asking questions.

Some were making assumptions.

Some were calling me names.

And some were simply sharing the video because everyone else was.

I didn't read everything.

I couldn't.

I turned the phone off.

Then I sat there.

Completely still.

My room suddenly felt too quiet.

Too small.

I looked at the clock.

6:47 a.m.

School started soon.

The geography test.

I had completely forgotten about it.

My geography test was today.

I had studied for days.

I had prepared.

I had been looking forward to proving to myself that I could do well.

Now I couldn't even imagine walking through the school entrance.

I reached for my phone again.

There was a message from Chloe.

Chloe: Mia, please answer me.

I stared at it.

My fingers moved toward the keyboard.

Then stopped.

What could I possibly say?

I put the phone down.

---

"Mia?"

Mom's voice came from outside my bedroom.

"Are you awake?"

I didn't answer.

A few seconds passed.

"Mia?"

"I'm awake."

She opened the door.

"You aren't dressed."

"I know."

She looked at me carefully.

"Are you okay?"

I looked down.

"I don't feel well."

She immediately came closer.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Mia."

I shook my head.

"I just don't want to go to school."

Mom sat beside me.

"Is something happening?"

I didn't answer.

She didn't force me.

Instead, she said quietly,

"You don't have to tell me everything at once."

I swallowed.

"I just...don't want to go."

She nodded.

"Okay."

She stood.

"I'll let the school know you're not feeling well."

"Thanks."

She left the room.

The moment the door closed, I picked up my phone.

Another message.

Chloe: Please talk to me.

I turned the phone off again.

---

By 8:30, the video had spread even further.

I didn't have to see it to know.

People were talking about it at school.

I knew because messages kept coming.

Eva.

Andrew.

Sophie.

Naomi.

Chloe.

I didn't answer any of them.

I stayed in bed.

My geography textbook was open beside me.

I couldn't study.

Every time I looked at the page, I thought about Westbrook.

Every time I thought about Westbrook, I thought about the video.

I closed the book.

For the first time since arriving in Georgia, I wondered whether moving had been a mistake.

Maybe I should never have come.

Maybe I should have stayed in the UK.

Maybe I would have been better off with the friends I already knew.

Then my phone buzzed.

I didn't touch it.

A few seconds later, it buzzed again.

Then again.

I finally looked.

Chloe: I know you're reading these.

Chloe: Please answer me.

Chloe: You don't have to explain anything.

Chloe: Just tell me you're okay.

My eyes filled with tears.

I wanted to answer.

I really did.

But I couldn't find the words.

I placed the phone beside me.

---

At Westbrook High, the situation had become worse.

Students were talking about the video in the hallways.

Some had seen it.

Others hadn't.

But everyone seemed to know about it.

The story changed every time someone repeated it.

By lunchtime, people were already saying that Mia had embarrassed herself at the party.

Others were saying she had done it deliberately.

Someone claimed she'd been trying to steal Trent from Iris.

Someone else said Mia had planned the entire thing.

None of it was true.

But truth had never seemed particularly important to people who enjoyed gossip.

Iris walked through the hallway with her friends.

For the first time in days, she looked completely relaxed.

One of her friends smiled.

"Looks like Mia isn't coming today."

Iris shrugged.

"Probably not."

"Do you think she'll come back?"

Iris smiled.

"I doubt it."

She looked toward the classroom.

"She'll realize she can't handle this school."

Her friend nodded.

Iris turned away.

She believed she had won.

---

Eva didn't believe that.

Neither did Andrew.

They sat together during lunch, barely touching their food.

Sophie looked worried.

"Has she answered anyone?"

Eva shook her head.

"No."

Andrew checked his phone again.

"Nothing."

Naomi sighed.

"Maybe she just needs time."

"I know," Eva said.

"But I'm worried."

Andrew nodded.

"So am I."

Eva looked at him.

"We should go to her house."

"After school?"

"Before."

Andrew thought about it.

"Her parents might be there."

"Then we'll explain."

Sophie looked at them.

"Are you sure?"

Eva nodded.

"Yes."

---

At home, I had barely moved.

It was almost noon.

Mom had gone to work after making sure I had eaten something.

Dad had called.

I hadn't answered.

He had sent a message.

Dad: Call me when you're ready.

I stared at it.

My parents weren't angry.

They didn't even know everything yet.

But I couldn't face anyone.

I pulled my blanket closer.

Then I heard the doorbell.

I ignored it.

It rang again.

I heard Mom's voice from downstairs.

Then another voice.

Eva.

I sat up.

Why was Eva here?

I heard Andrew too.

My heart sank.

I didn't want them to see me like this.

I heard footsteps coming upstairs.

Then a knock.

"Mia?"

Eva.

I didn't answer.

"Mia, it's me."

Silence.

Andrew spoke from behind her.

"We're not leaving."

I wiped my eyes.

"Go home."

"No."

"Please."

Eva's voice softened.

"We just want to talk."

"I don't want to talk."

"That's okay."

There was a pause.

"We can sit here quietly."

I looked at the door.

I didn't know what to do.

Eventually, I unlocked it.

Eva opened the door slowly.

Andrew stood behind her.

Neither of them looked shocked.

Neither of them laughed.

Neither of them looked at me differently.

Eva walked inside.

She sat on the edge of my bed.

Andrew pulled a chair closer.

For a moment, nobody spoke.

Then Eva said,

"We're not here to talk about the video."

I looked at her.

"Then why are you here?"

"Because you're our friend."

My eyes filled with tears again.

"I embarrassed myself."

"No."

"I did."

"No, Mia."

Andrew leaned forward.

"You made a mistake."

I looked at him.

"That's different."

"A mistake doesn't make you a bad person."

I looked away.

"I don't want to go back."

Eva nodded.

"I know."

"Everyone is going to laugh."

"Some people might."

I looked at her.

She didn't lie to me.

"But some people won't."

I swallowed.

"I can't face them."

"You don't have to face the entire school at once."

Andrew said quietly,

"Just walk through the doors."

I shook my head.

"It's not that easy."

"I know."

He paused.

"But you don't have to do it alone."

Eva reached for my hand.

"You have us."

I looked at her.

"You have Sophie. You have Naomi. You have Andrew."

Andrew smiled.

"And unfortunately, you're stuck with me."

I laughed through my tears.

Eva smiled.

"And Chloe."

At the mention of her name, I looked down.

"I stopped answering her."

"She knows."

"She's probably angry."

"She's worried."

I picked up my phone.

There were dozens of messages.

I opened Chloe's conversation.

The latest message was simple.

Chloe: I'm still here.

I stared at those words.

Something inside me broke.

I started crying.

Eva moved closer and hugged me.

Andrew stayed beside us.

Nobody told me to stop crying.

Nobody told me to forget it.

They simply stayed.

After a while, I wiped my face.

"I hate that this happened."

"I know," Eva said.

"I hate that everyone saw it."

"I know."

"I hate that Iris did this."

Andrew nodded.

"Then don't give her the ending she wants."

I looked at him.

"What do you mean?"

"She wants you to disappear."

Eva nodded.

"Don't disappear."

I looked toward the window.

Outside, the afternoon sun was shining.

Everything looked normal.

Cars moved along the street.

People walked past houses.

The world had continued.

Even though mine had felt like it stopped.

I took a deep breath.

"I have a geography test."

Andrew smiled.

"Exactly."

I laughed quietly.

"That's what you're focusing on?"

"No."

He shook his head.

"I'm focusing on the fact that you studied for that test for days."

Eva nodded.

"You've worked too hard to let one awful day take everything from you."

I looked at my geography book.

Maybe they were right.

The test was still important.

School was still important.

My future was still important.

I couldn't erase what happened.

But maybe I could decide what happened next.

---

That evening, Dad came home early.

He knocked before entering my room.

"Can I come in?"

I nodded.

He sat beside me.

Mom had already told him what she knew.

He didn't ask too many questions.

He simply looked at me.

"Your mother said you're thinking about going back tomorrow."

"I am."

"Are you sure?"

I nodded.

"I'm scared."

"That's okay."

He smiled.

"Being brave doesn't mean you aren't scared."

I looked at him.

"It means you do what matters anyway."

I smiled faintly.

"Did Mom tell you to say that?"

He laughed.

"No."

I laughed too.

It felt good.

Dad stood.

"Get some rest."

"Okay."

He reached the door.

"Mia?"

"Yes?"

"I'm proud of you."

I nodded.

"Thanks, Dad."

He left.

---

That night, I finally answered Chloe.

Mia: I'm sorry.

Her reply came almost immediately.

Chloe: Don't apologize.

Mia: I should have answered.

Chloe: You weren't ready.

Mia: I'm going back tomorrow.

There was a pause.

Then:

Chloe: Good.

Mia: I'm scared.

Chloe: I know.

Mia: What if everyone laughs?

Chloe: Then you keep walking.

Mia: What if they say things?

Chloe: Keep walking.

Mia: What if I can't handle it?

Chloe: Look for your friends.

I smiled.

Mia: Thank you.

Chloe: Always.

I put the phone down.

Then I opened my geography notes.

I studied for another hour.

Not because I had forgotten what happened.

Because I was refusing to let it become the only thing that mattered.

---

The next morning, I stood in front of the mirror.

My uniform was neat.

My backpack was ready.

My geography notes were inside.

I looked at myself.

I didn't feel completely confident.

I was still scared.

But I was going.

I walked downstairs.

Mom looked at me.

"You ready?"

I nodded.

"Yes."

Dad picked up his keys.

"I'll drive you."

The ride to school was quiet.

As we got closer, my stomach tightened.

Then I saw it.

Westbrook High.

The same building.

The same entrance.

The same place where everything had started.

Dad stopped the car.

I reached for the door handle.

Then I paused.

He looked at me.

"You don't have to be fearless."

I nodded.

"I know."

"You just have to take the next step."

I opened the door.

I stepped outside.

Students were already arriving.

Some turned toward me.

A few whispered.

Someone pointed.

My heart pounded.

For a second, I wanted to run back to the car.

Then I remembered Eva.

Andrew.

Sophie.

Naomi.

Chloe.

My parents.

I adjusted my backpack.

And walked forward.

One step.

Then another.

The whispers grew louder.

But I kept walking.

I reached the entrance.

The doors opened.

And I walked back into Westbrook High.