My Childhood Sweetheart Cheered as The Transfer Damsel Ruined My Future — Idiot, She Ruined YOURS! Chapter 03

My Childhood Sweetheart Cheered as The Transfer Damsel Ruined My Future — Idiot, She Ruined YOURS! Chapter 03

For the next few days, I was under house arrest.

Phone confiscated. Internet cut. Completely isolated.

It wasn’t until the school called about picking up graduation files that my mom finally let me leave.

The second I walked into the classroom, the noise died.

Every single person turned to stare. Eyes full of contempt and mockery.

“Well, well. If it isn’t the girl who threw away college for some guy.”

“Heard she changed her application to Riverside Community for that bleached dropout. True love!”

“What ‘threw away college’? Her scores could barely get her into a state school anyway.”

“Poor Katie’s been through hell, and she tried to pin it all on her. Absolutely disgusting.”

The comments buzzed around me like wasps.

I walked to my seat, face blank.

Someone had stuck notes all over my desk. LIAR. SLUT. FAKE.

My books were scattered on the floor, covered in footprints.

Katie sat next to Austin, holding this cream-colored certificate. Whispering something to him.

She saw me and immediately looked scared, tucking the certificate behind her back.

Austin patted her hand and stood up, walking toward me.

“You’ve got some NERVE showing up here.”

He looked down at me, eyes full of contempt.

“I warned you. Don’t mess with Katie.”

“I put those notes on your desk. What, got a problem?”

I bent down, picking up my books one by one. Dusting off the dirt.

“Austin, besides these middle school tactics, what else you got?”

“You think some sticky notes change the FACT that Katie’s a thief?”

Austin’s face darkened. He SLAMMED his palm on my desk.

“You DARE bring up thief!”

“Hailey, you really won’t learn until it’s too late, will you?”

Just then, Mr. Peterson walked in carrying his files.

Seeing Austin and me facing off, he frowned and rapped on the board.

“Everyone SIT DOWN!”

Mr. Peterson cleared his throat, giving me this complicated look.

“Besides distributing files today, there’s an announcement.”

“About this year’s Outstanding Senior Award. The school’s re-evaluated. We’re pulling Hailey’s qualification.”

“The award’s going to Katie Morgan instead. She’s shown real character overcoming hardship to achieve her results.”

The room EXPLODED in applause.

My head SNAPPED up.

“Mr. Peterson, on what GROUNDS?”

“I’ve been top 5 in my class for four years. Perfect GPA. My extracurriculars are stacked.”

“Katie’s not even top 50. What gives her the right to Outstanding Senjor?”

Mr. Peterson’s face hardened.

“What gives her the right? Hailey, you know what you DID!”

“Austin already told us everything.”

“You’re not just hooking up with dropouts and hanging with the wrong crowd-you sabotaged your own application, then tried to FRAME your classmate!”

“The school NOT expelling you is generous enough!”

“You DARE ask what gives her the right?”

I felt like all the air got sucked out of the room.

Austin had actually gone to the school and reported me.

To push Katie into the spotlight, he fabricated these disgusting lies and erased four years of my work.

Katie walked toward me, holding the certificate that should’ve been mine.

Her eyes were red, like she was about to cry.

“Hailey, I’m so sorry.”

“I never wanted to steal this from you. It was the teacher’s decision.”

“If you really want it, I can give it back.”

She tried to push the certificate into my hands.

Watching her little act made me physically sick.

I knocked her hand away.

“Get your filthy hands OFF me!”

The certificate hit the floor with a thud.

Katie deliberately stumbled backward and fell, screaming.

“Ah! My ankle!”

Austin rushed over, furious.

He scooped Katie up and whirled around to glare at me.

“Hailey! Are you OUT OF YOUR MIND!”

“Katie tried to give you back the certificate and you SHOVED her!”

He suddenly lunged forward and shoved my shoulder HARD.

I stumbled back several steps. My lower back slammed into a desk corner. Pain shot through me.

Mr. Peterson exploded.

Tuonefor Damsel Ruined My Future – Idiot, She Ruined YOURS!

“Hailey! You’re completely OUT OF CONTROL!”

“GET OUT! Call your parents!”

I steadied myself against the desk, coldly surveying these people who couldn’t tell right from wrong.

“No need to call my parents.”

I grabbed my file and walked toward the exit without looking back.

Austin bellowed behind me.

“Hailey, you touch Katie ONE more time, I’ll make sure you can’t find a single school to take you!”