The hallway felt heavier than usual, thick with whispers and sidelong stares. As Alex and Max walked out of the art room side by side, she kept her eyes fixed on the floor. Every step echoed with embarrassment, fear, and the memory of the photos everyone had seen.
Max didn't touch her, but his presence was solid—like he was shielding her from the world without even raising a hand.
They weren't even halfway down the hallway when a voice called out behind them.
"Alexandra Rivers. Max Donovan. Report to the guidance office immediately."
Alex froze.
Max's jaw tightened. "Ignore the stares," he muttered softly. "Just walk."
But her legs felt like stone.
"Max… what if they think I did something wrong?" she whispered.
"They won't," he said. "And even if they do… I'll speak."
She swallowed hard. His confidence didn't make the knot in her stomach disappear, but it kept her from falling apart.
They walked together to the office.
The Guidance Office
The moment they stepped inside, Alex already felt outnumbered.
Three teachers were seated at the table—the guidance counselor, the vice principal, and the ICT teacher. Their expressions were calm but serious.
Chloe sat in a corner chair, pretending to look worried but failing miserably to hide the smugness in her eyes.
Ryan was standing near the window, his hands balled into fists. He didn't look smug. He looked guilty. Ashamed. Conflicted.
"Alexandra," the vice principal began, "we called you here regarding the photo circulating among students."
Alex's stomach dropped.
Max stepped closer to her—not touching her, but close enough to show where he stood.
"We want to understand what happened," the counselor continued. "We've heard different versions of the story."
Chloe's eyes sparkled. This was her stage.
Alex took a deep breath. Her palms were sweating.
"May I speak?" she asked quietly.
The teachers nodded.
"I didn't take that picture," Alex said. "I didn't send it. I didn't even know it existed until people started whispering." Her voice shook, but she didn't stop. "Someone edited it."
Chloe's smile faded slightly.
The vice principal frowned. "Edited?"
"Yes," Max cut in before Alex could respond. "I checked her phone myself. There's no such photo anywhere in her gallery or deleted folders. Someone else did it."
All three teachers glanced at one another.
"And why," the ICT teacher asked, "would someone do that?"
Alex hesitated.
Ryan looked away.
Chloe blinked innocently.
Max answered for her. "Because someone wanted to ruin her reputation."
The teachers didn't reply immediately, but they didn't dismiss him either.
"We will look into the metadata," the ICT teacher said. "If it was edited or distributed by another device, we'll know."
Chloe stiffened.
The counselor leaned forward. "Alex, did you feel unsafe?"
Alex nodded slowly. "I still do."
Ryan finally stepped forward. "Let me speak—"
"You've said enough," Max muttered under his breath.
The vice principal raised a hand. "One at a time."
Ryan swallowed hard. "I… never wanted this to happen. I was only trying to stop everyone from gossiping. I didn't mean—"
"You didn't stop anything," Max snapped. "You made it worse."
Ryan flinched.
Alex looked between them, feeling her chest tighten.
The counselor cleared her throat. "Alex, for now, we advise you to stay away from any confrontation. We will handle the investigation. If anyone bullies or harasses you, come directly to us."
Alex nodded again.
"That's all for today. You two may return to class."
Outside the Office
The hallway was empty, quiet, peaceful in comparison to the tension inside.
Alex stepped out first. She didn't realize she was shaking until Max placed a steady hand near her back—not touching, just offering support.
"You did good," he said softly.
"I hate this," she whispered. "I hate all of it."
"I know," he murmured. "But I'm not letting anyone tear you apart. Not again."
Her breath hitched.
For a moment, the world stilled. No whispers. No judgment. No fear.
Just Max.
"Alex!"
Ryan's voice broke the moment.
She turned reluctantly.
Ryan jogged up to them, breathless. "Can we talk? Please."
Max stepped slightly closer to Alex. "She doesn't want to."
"I wasn't talking to you," Ryan snapped.
"And she wasn't talking to you either," Max shot back.
Tension crackled in the air like electricity.
Alex stepped between them. "Stop. Both of you."
Ryan swallowed. "Alex… I'm sorry."
Her chest tightened painfully at the sincerity in his voice.
But she also remembered every moment he let her drown.
"It's fine," she said quietly. "But I don't want to talk right now."
Ryan's face fell. He stepped back, defeated.
Max gently nudged her arm. "Come on. Let's go."
Alex nodded and walked with him, leaving Ryan behind.
As They Walked Away
They walked down the stairs slowly. Alex was exhausted—emotionally burned out.
"Max," she whispered, "why are you helping me so much? We barely even knew each other before all this."
Max slid his hands into his pockets.
"Because," he said simply, "someone should have been protecting you from the beginning."
Her heart skipped.
"And… because I don't like seeing you cry."
Alex stopped walking.
Her heart thudded loudly, confusion and warmth swirling through her chest.
Max didn't look at her.
Didn't push her.
Didn't try anything.
He just waited patiently.
"Let's get you to class," he said quietly.
And for the first time all day…
Alex felt like she could breathe. Sense of relief