CHAPTER 4: FRAMED
405 Words
The final bell rang, and students poured out of their classrooms.
Sophie turned to Ethan.
"Let's meet in the library after school to work on the assignment," she said.
Ethan nodded.
"I'll be there."
That afternoon, the library was unusually quiet. Sunlight filtered through the tall windows as Sophie spread her notebooks across one of the wooden tables.
"Let's divide the work," she suggested.
Ethan agreed, and for the next hour, they focused on their assignment. To Sophie's surprise, Ethan was thoughtful, intelligent, and full of good ideas.
"You explain things really well," Sophie admitted.
A small smile appeared on Ethan's face.
"I like reading," he replied.
When they finished, Sophie placed all their notes inside a blue folder.
"We'll submit it tomorrow."
Just as they stood up to leave, the librarian called out.
"Everyone, please return any borrowed books before the library closes."
The two of them walked toward the bookshelves.
A few minutes later, they returned to their table.
The blue folder was gone.
Sophie looked around in confusion.
"I left it right here."
Ethan checked beneath the chairs.
"Maybe someone moved it."
Together, they searched every corner of the library, but the folder had disappeared.
Just then, a loud voice echoed from the entrance.
"There it is!"
Everyone turned.
Bryan Carter walked in holding the blue folder.
He opened it and frowned.
"Why is my name written all over this?"
Sophie hurried toward him.
"That's impossible."
Bryan pulled out one of the pages.
Across the top, written in bold handwriting, were the words:
BRYAN CARTER — SCHOOL BULLY
The students around them gasped.
"I didn't write that," Bryan glared at Ethan.
"You think this is funny?"
Ethan remained calm.
"We've never seen those pages before."
Before anyone could say another word, Mrs. Wilson entered the library.
"What's going on here?"
Bryan handed her the folder.
"Ma, they made this to embarrass me."
Mrs. Wilson slowly flipped through the pages, her expression becoming more serious with each one.
Finally, she looked up.
"Ethan. Sophie. My office. Tomorrow morning."
The library fell silent.
As everyone began leaving, Ethan noticed something sticking out from beneath the table.
He bent down and picked it up.
It was a small piece of paper.
Five words were written on it in black ink.
You're choosing the wrong person.
Without saying a word, Ethan quietly folded the note and slipped it into his pocket.
Someone had framed them......
- Writer
