Monty hadn't stopped walking. He felt the need to get as far away from Winston as possible. He kept on going until he ended up in a part of the courthouse he didn't recognize. There were shelves of books along the walls and a large table in the middle of the room. It reminded Monty of a library.

Moving forward, he quickly sat down in one of the many chairs by the table and started thinking.

Winston can't love me. He just can't.

The more he thought, the more he began to question himself. Why was he so afraid of Winston loving him? Was it because he felt so unfamiliar with the idea of it? Or was it because he knew deep down he loved him too?

Just as soon as Monty thought his head would explode from thinking too much, he heard soft footsteps approaching him and looked up.

His eyes widened, "Mrs. Walker?"

"Monty." Was all she said as she walked closer and sat down in the chair beside him.

The room was painfully silent. Monty kept waiting for Mrs. Walker to say something, but she didn't. She only stared at the floor, seemingly unbothered by the quiet.

"How are you doing?" Monty asked, not sure what else to say.

Mrs. Walker crossed her legs and pushed her hair behind her ears, "You're the one who just went through a trial and you're asking me how I'm doing?"

Monty shrugged slightly, "I don't know."

Mrs. Walker sighed, "Then just listen to what I have to say, alright?"

She waited until Monty nodded in agreement, before continuing, "Back when I heard they were closing Bryce's case, I was angry. But not for what you'd think. I was angry because I knew that they convicted the wrong person."

Monty glanced up in surprise, but didn't say anything.

"I wanted so desperately to believe it was you, but I knew in my heart that it wasn't. I just needed peace. So I didn't say anything and I didn't argue when the police told me the case was closed."

Monty heard her sniffle and realized she was crying. He didn't know what to do in this kind of situation, so he just sat there looking down at his feet, hands clasped in front of him.

"I couldn't begin to express how terrible I feel about all of this. I'm so sorry, I can't imagine what you've been through."

Monty was in shock. How could she be apologizing to him?

"You have nothing to be sorry for, Mrs. Walker. I'm sorry that I wasn't a better friend to him before..." Monty felt tears roll down his face and realized, much to his horror, he was also crying. He put a hand over his mouth to try and stifle the sounds.

"Monty, please don't apologize. It's not your fault." Mrs. Walker said when she saw him crying.

Monty shook his head. It's all my fault, he thought.

"I'm so sorry." Monty sobbed, not listening. Mrs. Walker shifted her chair and pulled him into her arms, letting Monty cry.

"It's okay. You're going to be okay." Mrs. Walker kept repeating, trying to calm him down.

A few minutes later, Monty pulled away and rubbed his hands down across his face, "Sorry about that." He said, embarrassed.

"What did I say about apologizing?" She reminded him, teasingly.

He chuckled slightly, "Thanks, Mrs. Walker."

She shook her head, "Call me Nora."

Monty nodded, "Okay, Nora." The name sounded weird to Monty, always having referred to her as the more proper title.

"I know you didn't stick around much after your sentencing, so you wouldn't know this, but Ani is being required to pay a fine of two thousand dollars."

Monty raised his eyebrows, "Wow." He couldn't say that he thought she didn't deserve it. She did try to frame him while everyone thought he was alive.

"I offered to pay it, but she of course refused. I can always count on her to be stubborn." Nora said. Monty only listened, confused as to where she was going with this.

"After a few more minutes of convincing, I eventually got her to agree to it."

"Why are you paying for it?" Monty asked, trying to engage.

Nora smiled, "Because I know she and Bryce had a complicated relationship, but I think she was one of the only people that made him feel like he could've changed."

Monty nodded and smiled slightly, thinking of the one person who made him feel that same way.

Nora looked at the small smile that grazed Monty's face and smirked, "What about you? You must have someone like that in your life, right?"

At Monty's silence, she continued, "What about that skinny boy with the curly brown hair? Cause he's very cute."

Monty was about to lie, yet couldn't help but laugh. Before he could think about his answer, he replied, "Yeah, he is."

Monty's heart dropped when he let his guard down enough to say that and again when he realized what he'd done. He had left Winston. He'd left him when he told him he loved him.

Monty lowered his head and held it in his hands, "Fuck." He said, knowing he had messed up the best thing in his life.

When Nora saw him beginning to get upset, she spoke up, "Remember what I said? Everything's going to work out."

Monty shook his head, "I wouldn't be so sure."

Nora frowned, but stood up. Monty quickly made to follow. When they were both standing, she took hold of his hands, "I want you to promise me something."

"What is it?" Monty asked.

Nora made sure he looked her in the eyes, "Promise me that when you find someone worth holding onto, you'll never let them go."

Monty went silent for a moment and looked down at the floor. He was clearly thinking about something, before he looked back up at her.

"I promise."

, back in the main hall, Diego approached Charlie and Estela.

"What do you mean we have to do something about Winston and Monty?" Charlie asked.

"It's obvious they care about each other, but Monty's too scared to admit it." Diego told them.

"I mean, can you blame him?" Estela asked. "Our dad told us almost everyday that being gay is wrong. When Monty was fourteen and I was twelve, my dad chased after him with a smashed beer bottle because he heard rumors around town."

Diego and Charlie stayed quiet and Estela thought she might have sounded too harsh, "I just don't want to rush him, you know? With everything he's already been through, he deserves to finally feel safe."

"Exactly! He deserves to feel safe and happy. But I don't think he can be either of those without Winston." Diego said.

Estela sighed, "You're right, but I think we just need to wait for Monty to be ready on his own."

"If Winston actually cares about Monty then he'll wait for him, right?" Charlie spoke up.

Diego shook his head, "Winston does care about Monty. I know he does, but it's not him I'm worried about. I'm worried that Monty might never get to a point where he's okay with being who he is."

"Even though you're dad is gonna be locked up for a long time, I think Monty still has that mindset that being gay is wrong." Diego continued.

"Well, what are we supposed to do?" Charlie asked.

"Prom is tomorrow." Diego stated

Charlie gaped, "Oh my god, it is?"

"Liberty is still having prom at a time like this? Estela asked.

Diego nodded, "Yeah, apparently to draw attention away from all this."

Estela scoffed, "Typical. Of course they'd hold it on a day when my brother has his first meeting and can't go."

Diego smirked, "That's why I have a plan."

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