By the time Sarah went to bed, she had blocked and reported more people she could count. She had repeated the task with robotic monotonousness and had almost blocked a few of her friends because she was so used to getting rid of all comments she saw. Her friend list had dwindled down to eight people. While she had always acknowledged that she didn’t know most of the people in her friends list, and definitely wasn’t their friend, it saddened Sarah how many actually didn’t care about her. They had talked about her and shared the pictures of her. Think that she would probably never get rid of the picture was suffocating. There would always be one saved somewhere in the depths of the internet. Sarah hoped Mercedes understood what she had done. Maybe mum was right. Maybe Sarah should do her best so Mercedes would get caught. She didn’t want a big punishment. She wanted Mercedes to understand she couldn’t keep acting this way. They weren’t kids anymore.

The weather in the morning reflected Sarah’s mood. Dark cloud covered the sky and the wind rattled trees, pulling the last leaves from their branches. Mum had suggested to Sarah that she should stay at home, but she was adamant in going to school. She’d have to go at some point anyway. She couldn’t spend the rest of the year at home although she sometimes was tempted to. She wanted to show she wasn’t easily shaken, even if the truth was different. If she appeared weak, it’d be easy to pick on her more. On top of that, the university and college event would happen today, and she needed it desperately. She still had little idea of what she wanted to study after high school. She couldn’t afford to stay home on such important day.

Her enthusiasm didn’t quite match her determination. The anxiety grew higher the closer she got to school. Seeing other students made her heart leap, and she pulled her scarf to cover more of her face. If someone recognized her, at least they didn’t say anything, but Sarah was sure people wouldn’t forget in a day. But maybe the event would distract people.

Sarah noticed Castiel walking ahead of her with Leon, and her stomach pinched. When Castiel turned to look at Leon, he also noticed Sarah from the corner of his eye. For a moment his eyes lingered at him and he smiled, but then he focused on his friend again. Sarah sighed. She started to regret her decision. But maybe it was a good sign, and this experience would make her see her feelings better, like she had hoped.

The school yard bustled with people carrying equipment in and out of the gym building. People from the colleges were busy building their stands for the third years. The first lesson was scheduled as normal but after it the event would start. They would be allowed to visit the stands at their own pace and several groups would visit the local college through the day. Sarah still considered going, just in case, even though the initial check on the courses they offered hadn’t sparked her interest.

Sarah hanged up her coat when she heard her name being called. She turned around and saw Arthur hurrying towards her, his brow in deep furrow. When he got close enough, he grabbed Sarah in a hug. She gasped in surprise.

“Are you alright? It’s terrible what happened to you. I’m so angry at whoever did this,” he said.

“Y-yes I’m alright,” Sarah replied, patting Arthur’s back in the hope that he’d release her soon. The students nearby looked at them curiously. Mercedes peered at them from the edge of the crowd before marching upstairs, a smile on her lips.

Finally, Sarah pushed herself free. Arthur looked at her like a sad puppy.

“Are you sure you’re alright? Everyone’s talking about you.”

“That makes me feel so much better,” Sarah muttered.

“Sorry, sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. And if it helps at all, I don’t think anything bad about you! I didn’t see the pictures of you. And it’s not something weird, everyone wears underwear. It would’ve been worse if you hadn’t had any…”

“Arthur.”

“…but you had! And it’s basically the same as wearing a bikini. Would people had been like this if you had been at a swimming pool? I don’t think so, and—

“Arthur.”

“Yes?”

“I’m happy to hear you support me, and I really appreciate it. But I need to go to class.”

“Oh right. Me too actually. Let’s go together. We have the same direction, right?”

Sarah sighed and smiled.

“Sure.”

The tips of Arthur’s ears were red when they walked up the stairs. Sarah tried not to pay attention to anyone. A group of her classmates had gathered near their classroom. Sarah recognized Mercedes’s blonde curls from the crowd. She hesitated in walking closer, but Mercedes was talking with Castiel, and she wanted to know what they talked about.

“I’m just saying she didn’t waste time,” Mercedes snickered at Castiel, who stood in front of her with arms crossed. His face was scrunched when he stared down at the girl brimming with confidence. “Like, I just saw her hugging the curl-head downstairs. I guess that’s why she wanted to take a break from you.”

“How about you shut your mouth for a second? I don’t want to hear your yapping,” Castiel grunted. How had Mercedes heard about the situation with Sarah already? “You don’t even have any proof. Did you forget to take pictures this time?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Mercedes smirked. From the corner of her eyes she noticed Sarah, who was now close enough to hear what they talked about, and her face brightened. “Well, wouldn’t you look at there,” she chuckled, “No proof? What do you say about that?”

She nodded her head towards Sarah, and Castiel turned to look. His eyes bounced from Sarah to Arthur and back to Sarah.

“We just ran into each other,” Sarah hurried to say.

“More like, he ran to you. And I saw them hug each other,” Mercedes chimed in.

“Because we’re friends, and he wanted to show his support because some people tried to ruin my reputation.”

Sarah trusted Castiel to understand, but still a lump of uncertainty tried to form in her stomach.

Castiel knew Sarah told the truth. She wasn’t the type of person Mercedes tried to paint her as. He trusted her, but it still annoyed Castiel how Arthur stood next to Sarah and not him. Arthur had hugged her and not him. Castiel gritted his teeth.

“You know, I think she’s lying.”

“How about you shut up?” Castiel gnarled, turning his attention to Mercedes. “I don’t know what you’re trying to achieve, but if you think this somehow makes me more interested in you, you’re stupid. I know what you did even if you deny it. And with it you lost the last sliver of respect I may still have had towards you. Leave me alone and leave Sarah alone if you know what’s good for you.”

Now the whole hallway’s attention was on Castiel. Mercedes stared at him with her mouth open, trying to grasp what Castiel had said.

“What? But I…”

It was so satisfying to see Mercedes at a loss of words. By the range of emotions on her face it seemed like Castiel’s message started to sink in. She opened her mouth to speak but closed it again. Sarah enjoyed the scene. Maybe it was mean to feel that way, but Mercedes deserved this.

Mercedes took a deep breath to calm herself. Colour rose to her cheeks and when she opened her eyes again, they were full of annoyance.

“Do you have any idea how far I was ready to go for you?” she shouted at Castiel. “All these years, I’ve been driving off pathetic girls who think they have a chance with you. They didn’t deserve to look at your direction. I know we would be an amazing couple. You know it too but won’t admit it. I’ve known you for years! How long have you known Sarah? Three weeks? She thinks she’s something special but she’s not. A little push and she already crumbled and is ready to leave you. You don’t need a girlfriend like her. You need someone who stands proud! I made you a favour with this. You should thank me.”

“Merce, have you lost your mind?”

Sarah turned to look at Justin who had pushed himself through the crowd. He stared at her sister in disbelief.

“Did you seriously do the thing to Sarah?”

“I did! And I would do it again if it helps Castiel to realize who he deserves.”

“You’re an idiot.”

“You’re the one to talk... What does it matter if I did it?”

“Perhaps because it is a crime? Dad’s not gonna be happy.”

“And how will he know? I’m not gonna tell him,” Mercedes grinned.

“But I will. Miss Campbell would you please follow me to the principal’s office.”

Mercedes spun around and stood face to face with Mrs Milton, their biology teacher. All the colour in Mercedes’s face drained.

“What. I haven’t done anything.”

“Perhaps you should have kept your voice down if you wanted to keep your deeds secret. Everyone else go to class. I will return shortly.”

All students stood in awe and silence, trying to process what had happened. Sarah’s stomach prickled, and her heart beat loudly in her chest. She glanced at Castiel who returned the look and smiled. Sarah smiled to him but lowered her eyes quickly.

Arthur placed his hand on Sarah’s shoulder with a smile.

“Looks like things are getting solved,” he said. “I’m happy for you. But I need to go. I think I’m late from Mrs Styrne’s class now...”

Sarah chuckled. “Go quickly or she’ll use you in some experiment.”

Arthur swallowed and pushed himself through the crowd, dashing up the stairs two steps at a time.

No one made a motion to move to class. Everyone chattered to themselves about the situation. Only Justin headed to the classroom, rubbing his temples and mumbling to himself. Sarah felt bad for him. He was always so serious and responsible. It must’ve been a pain to have a sister like Mercedes.

Castiel glanced at Sarah, who looked lost and alone only a short distance away from him. He wanted to go talk to her but hesitated. Would it be intruding? Maybe she didn’t want to be seen with him. Although thanks to Mercedes, everyone knew they were dating, and that they had troubles in their fresh relationship, so talking to Sarah wouldn’t risk their secret. But perhaps that was even more of a reason to keep distance. Maybe Sarah would be embarrassed. But Castiel was dying to ask how Sarah was and to comfort her.

“I’ll talk to her,” Amanda said quietly to him and smiled.

“Thank you. Did you message her yesterday?”

“I did. And don’t worry. She still likes you,” Amanda said with a wink and walked to Sarah. Castiel didn’t hear what they talked about, but Amanda guided Sarah to the classroom while they chatted with each other. Seeing Sarah’s smile calmed down Castiel’s worries slightly. Now that Mercedes was caught, things would hopefully start fixing themselves.

“Why are you still standing here? I told you to get to class! We’re already short on time. Hurry up now!”

Mrs Milton ushered the class inside.

Mrs Milton didn’t get past the introduction to the day’s lesson when announcement echoed through the whole school: “Miss Sarah Webster, please come to principal’s office. Miss Sarah Webster to the principal’s office please.”

Everyone turned to look at Sarah, who quietly gathered her books back to her bag and walked out. Castiel stared after her. He didn’t like the idea that Sarah had to face Mercedes alone, even with teachers present.

Sarah’s stomach twisted to knots when she stood in front of the principal’s door. She was about to knock on the door when she heard footsteps echoing in the hallway. She turned to look, and she saw a tall, dark-haired man dressed in a suit marching towards her. His brow was in deep furrow and one hand was clenched into a fist. Sarah flinched and moved few steps back. A tall woman with blonde hair followed behind the man. She reminded Sarah of someone, but she couldn’t put her finger on it.

“Move out of the way, girl,” the man grunted and banged his hand against the door. The woman smiled politely at Sarah before turning to look at her husband. Sarah fidgeted next to them, biting her lip.

The door opened and principal Taggart’s serious face peeked out. It brightened slightly when she noticed who stood behind the door.

“Ah, Mr and Mrs Campbell. I’ve been waiting for you. And Sarah too. Come in.”

Sarah walked in last and closed the door. Mercedes already sat in a chair, eyes red and mascara on her cheeks. She flinched when she saw who arrived in the room.

“What is the meaning of this, Mercedes?” Mr Campbell shouted when he noticed his daughter. “We received a call that you are in trouble.”

Mercedes opened her mouth but shut it again. She stared at the floor.

“Answer me!”

“Please calm down Mr Campbell. We will go through this shortly. Sarah, unfortunately your mother won’t be able to come. She said she had an important meeting.”

“It’s alright,” Sarah said. It was probably a meeting for the big project she worked on, so it was more important.

“Now please sit down so we can start. This is a serious situation, and I want to emphasize that we don’t accept any bullying in our school,” the principal said. When everyone had been seated, she started explaining the situation. Mercedes stared at the floor the whole time and didn’t see how the colour on his father’s face deepened as the principal’s story progressed.

“Are you out of your mind, child?” Mercedes’s dad yelled, staring at his daughter when the principal finished her explanation. “You did this nonsense because you have a crush on a boy? Did you stop thinking for a second?”

“Honey calm down a bit please. Shouting doesn’t help.”

Mr Campbell ignored his wife’s words and continued his outburst: “Perhaps I should send you to a monastery to become a nun if boys mess with your head that much. It might be the only option to you anyway since I doubt any school accepts students with a criminal record!”

“Why am I the only one here? Lind and Victoria helped too!” Mercedes asked and looked like she would burst into tears again.

“Don’t worry. I will talk to them soon as well. How we go forward from here depends on how Sarah wants to progress.”

They all turned their attention to Sarah. She bit her lip. She had been weighing her options the whole time principal had been talking. And she had made her decision.

“I’m not going to make this into a police matter,” she said. Mercedes gathered enough strength to pull her eyes off the floor.

“R-really?” she asked.

“Yes. But I want you to know this is the only chance I give you. You leave Castiel and I alone. If you cause any trouble, I won’t let it slide next time.”

“Listen to that Mercedes. What a noble person she is. You should learn from her,” Mercedes’s dad said. “I am grateful to you Sarah. You can believe we will make sure our daughter behaves from now on. We apologize for anything she has done. And she does too. Right?”

“Y-yes. I’m sorry.”

“Your sorry doesn’t fix anything that has happened, but I appreciate it,” Sarah said. Maybe it would’ve been better to take this to the police, but she wanted to move on, and perhaps Mercedes had learned something as well.

“It’s always good when disagreements this can be settled without the police,” the principal smiled. Sarah thought this was a bit more than ‘a disagreement’ but kept her mouth shut. “But this doesn’t free you from other punishments. You still destroyed school’s property and defamed another student. You will receive twenty hours of detention, and you and your friends will pay of the repainting of the locker. This will also serve as a warning. If you cause any trouble in the future, you may be expelled from the school. Do you understand?”

“I do.”

“Great. If you have any questions, we can discuss them now but otherwise you’re free to go.”

Sarah stood up immediately and walked out. Mercedes and her parents followed behind. Mr Campbell’s voice echoed through the school when he saved no words and no volume of his voice on reproaching Mercedes. Sarah almost felt bad for her.

When Sarah returned to the classroom, the lesson was almost finished. She quietly sat at her desk and pulled up her notebook so she could quickly scribble down at least some notes. But she didn’t get much. Only one slide was left of the presentation, and the Mrs Milton let them prepare for the school event. Sarah sighed and packed her bag for the second time. Amanda walked to her desk.

“How did it go?” she asked. A few rows back Castiel still lingered around with Leon, trying to catch any word he could hear.

“It went okay. Mercedes admitted everything she did. She got detention and has to pay the locker.”

“And nothing else?”

“I didn’t want to take it further.”

“You’re too kind. She would’ve absolutely deserved it,” Amanda huffed. “Do you have any plans for the event? Want to go together?”

“Sure, if you don’t mind. I don’t know what I’m looking for,” Sarah said as she stood up and threw the bag on her shoulder.

“It’s no problem. I already know what I want to do, so I don’t mind looking around,” Amanda smiled.

“Oh, that’s cool. Must be nice to know already.”

“It definitely is,” Amanda laughed. “Takes off a great deal of stress. But I’m sure we’ll find something for you too.”

They headed out of the classroom and as they walked past Leon and Castiel, Amanda smiled at the boys. The plan was to keep Sarah busy and positive, so she could finally think about something else than Mercedes.

When they arrived at the gym, many students had already gathered there and crowded in front of stands and stalls. The room was full of noise and people bumped into each other when they tried to walk around. Amanda clicked her tongue when someone pushed past her. No manners.

“Do you have any ideas of what you might want?” she asked from Sarah when they moved from blocking the entrance.

“Well, I like art. So, something related to it? But I don’t want to study just art art.”

“That’s something to start from at least. Let’s go. I’m sure there’s some art related fields represented.”

They shuffled in the crowd, looking at stalls and picking up a few leaflets and grabbing sweets the schools had set as a lure to get people visit their stands.

“So, what do you want to study?” Sarah asked from Amanda when they unwrapped protein bars they had received from a cute boy at a sports university’s table.

“I want to become a vet.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. I love animals. I have a dog and a bunny.”

“That’s so cool. It must be a tough field though. Lots of studying.”

“It is for sure. But I’ve wanted this for years, so I’ve prepared myself.”

“Sounds great. I wish I had plans ready…”

“Hey, you don’t need to have them ready. Leon doesn’t know what to do either. He’s said he’ll apply to the same place as Castiel if he doesn’t figure out anything else.”

“Is he not as passionate about music?”

“I think so. He enjoys music but Castiel has always been the more excited one of the two.”

“I think I could see Leon as an English major,” Sarah pondered. “Since he does song writing.”

“I’ve suggested him that,” Amanda laughed, “he said he’ll think about it. But I don’t think he was too excited.”

They walked past another stand and Amanda stopped. Sarah walked few steps forward before she realized her friend didn’t follow her.

“Hey, Sarah. Look at this,” Amanda waved her hand. “Courses in graphic design. That’s art stuff, right?”

The young woman behind the stand smiled. “Are you interested in graphic design?”

“I don’t know… I’m interested in art,” Sarah said. The smile on the woman’s face widened.

“Well in that case you’re in the right place. We take pride in our design programmes where we teach the most important skills any graphic designer will need in the job market and…”

Sarah struggled to keep up with the flow of information, but she found herself to be increasingly interested. When the woman ended her speech and gave Sarah a leaflet, she happily took it and placed it in her back instead of grumbling it there like with most other ones.

“I wrote my email in the back if you want to ask for more info,” the woman added when Sarah and Amanda started to head off.

“Thank you very much,” Sarah smiled. If all people in the college were that friendly, it would surely be a nice place.

“That sounded great. Do you want to walk around more?”

“We might as well check the last few tables since there aren’t many left.”

“True. Then we can go for lunch and head home. I love a short day.”

“Super optimistic from the teachers to think we’d spend several hours on this.”

“I know right,” Amanda laughed. “But better for us. I wasn’t on the mood for more classes today.”

Sarah smiled as they headed to the next table. Any of the schools or programmes hadn’t piqued her interest. Her thoughts returned to the graphic design leaflet in her bag. She was happy she had found at least something. Maybe this would help her make some decisions.