Chapter 5: Breaking Point

"Something on you? Back then, you testified Rachel was suicidal. What kind of dirt could force our high-and-mighty Derek to lie?"

Sarah’s mocking voice cut the air.

Derek winced, clutching his head, voice raw:

"He had proof I cheated. I was counting on a college recommendation. If it got out, I’d be finished. I didn’t want to, but I had no choice. It was me. I hurt Rachel. I let her down."

Someone stood, chair scraping the floor with a screech.

"Enough, Derek. If you really saw something, go to the police. We’re just her classmates, not your therapist."

"Yeah, we haven’t seen each other in ages, and you come in with this weird stuff."

People started getting up, mumbling about babysitters and early mornings, desperate to escape.

Derek panicked, lunging to block the door, his desperation raw:

"Don’t go! I’m telling you! I know you’re here. I’m not afraid anymore. I’m giving you a chance—come to me, let’s turn ourselves in together, or else..."

He swept his gaze around. "We’ll go down together."

His voice cracked. He hunched over, shoulders trembling, eyes rimmed red. "It’s all retribution. My wife left, my daughter’s sick—this is my punishment."

The room erupted—voices raised, chairs toppled, people stumbling for the exit.

Jason and I hung back at the edge. I gave him a look, signaling him to check his phone, staying calm on the outside but panicking inside.

"Did you do this?" I whispered, hoping the noise would cover us.

Jason shot me a wild look. Before he could answer, someone called from the door:

"Caleb, you’re close with Derek—get this drunk out of here. Some of us actually want to get home tonight."

I squeezed through the crowd, grabbing Derek’s arm and dragging him out to the parking lot, the sticky summer air clinging to my skin.

He mumbled apologies, face streaked with tears, the smell of whiskey thick in the air.

On the way home, I drove in silence, every mile sinking me deeper into thought.

Judging by tonight, Derek didn’t know who threatened him back then. Nor did he know there were two of us.

But if he ever found out about Jason, would Jason keep my secret?

No way. Jason would toss me to the wolves the second things got hot. Probably already working on it.

I can’t let Derek ruin me. Is there a way to make him shut up, permanently?

Unless… unless he never gets a chance to speak again.

The thought startled me, cold sweat prickling at the back of my neck.