me as my evidence was leaked to the world.
“Attention, Arlington Preparatory.”
It was Jack’s voice blaring through the intercom, silencing the halls. He must have hacked the PA system. I looked up at the speakers in wonder.
“Your royalty aren’t who you think they are, and now the whole world knows. And yes. You’re hearing correctly. It’s me, the one you mocked. The one you stomped on so you could shine.”
“How did he do it?” William whispered.
“Is that Jack?” I turned to see Claire, her eyes wide and lips parted in disbelief, nearby.
“I hope you’re listening. I hope you know nobody could really love you for what you are, and after this you’re worth no more than your pretty faces. Nobody will be pushed aside again. I know everything. And I won’t hold back.”
My mouth was agape. I couldn’t believe it. He really was taking responsibility for it. All the acting, the lies, the planning—now it was all his.
“Play nice, Arlington.”
After that, the student body was never really the same. Just as fall started changing to winter, the Rutherford twins were unenrolled from Arlington Preparatory. After Sophie’s affair was exposed and Mr. Hammond fired, their parents were desperate to cover up the scandal. Not to mention, with Francis and Lola’s relationship over, they didn’t want to face any more embarrassment.
Zach Plympton had lost his bad-boy reputation. I suspected Max had dumped him, considering he’d openly criticized Zach as an ego-driven jock. Now Zach only seemed interested in sports, rarely showing up to any school parties. Not that the parties were anything like they used to be, with everyone unsure of exactly who might be waiting to expose them for what dirty work happened within their circles.
Maddy Danton had worn her mistakes, filming a teary YouTube video confessing everything, from the contents of the exposé to what it was really like to be a Level One girl. Across the world, her story resonated with thousands of girls—both being bullied and being a part of the bullying just to save face. It had stirred a viral movement to improve the social system. Apparently, Arlington wasn’t alone with its queen bees and peer pressure.
Lola Davenport changed the most since the video was unleashed, falling off the radar and rebuilding her entire character. She didn’t resent me for creating the footage, or even seem to care. It was a secret kept between us. She was suddenly free—abandoning the pressure associated with her rich family and deactivating all her social-media accounts. She didn’t try to hide her vulnerability. Having the Rutherford twins exposed and their grasp on her destroyed was the best thing that happened to her. Even I found it hard to hate her anymore.
That being said, Level One didn’t go unpunished.
The six of them, along with Monica’s family, the school principal, and police, met for several meetings, where—according to William—each of them confessed their part in Monica’s death. I wish I could have been there to listen to their accounts—not just of their responsibility in her death, but of what Monica had become too. I was starting to learn my best friend wasn’t the angel I wanted to see her as. She really was trying to become one of them, and if she had it her way, maybe she’d be the one enforcing the hierarchy today.
But I didn’t need to think about that. I could remember her as the best friend I grew up with and be at peace. I knew who she was beneath all of that, after all.
I didn’t regret my revenge plan, but now that the dust had settled I couldn’t help feeling guilty. Every piece of my plan relied upon a rage so uncontrolled and so personal that I lost part of me in the process. Since losing Monica, I had to rebuild, and I couldn’t do that while I was lost with grief. Instead I was busy formulating someone else, the Chloe that let me blend in with my worst enemies. The Chloe that past me would have hated.
I’d done things that made me feel so guilty to blend in with Level One, things that I think left some permanent marks, like the guilt I felt for Stephanie, or talking badly about Jack just to get the Level One’s approval. I’d gone to the principal’s office just that afternoon, confessing my part in Stephanie’s phone scandal. I’d earned detention, but it felt superficial in comparison to the torment Level One had inflicted on her.
Other permanent marks included things that weren’t all so bad.
Just as Thanksgiving weekend rolled around and the leaves of the oaks surrounding the lookout had turned a deep orange, William and I sat on the grass at the edge of the tree line. The sun was sinking over Wandemore Valley, and our conversation had lasted for what felt like hours.
“No, that’s the point. You’re supposed to knock people out of the way,” he said, going as far as demonstrating using a pretend lacrosse stick to nudge invisible players in front of him.
“Isn’t that . . . violent?” I asked, laughing as he put a hand to his forehead in amusement. I leaned back, feeling the breeze blow my hair from my face. I hadn’t worn lipstick in a long time or made myself uncomfortable with silk blouses and heels. I was me again—a different me, but still me.
“No, Chloe, it’s so you can win.”
Will’s eyes crinkled with his smile, and his laughter subsided so he could lean forward and kiss me.
Of all the things that had come from the semester, having a real boyfriend was the last thing I’d expected. I’d wondered a lot about what Monica would have thought of everything, but I think she’d find this the most bizarre.
Chloe Whittaker falling for William Bishop.