"When it all comes to an end, I hope we'll still be friends."

❥

Scotty ❤️

babe, I'm sorry okay?

please let me know if you're alright

Are you still with monty?

Ellie

no, I'm with Jeff and Sheri

Just leave me alone for some time

Els, why are you so mad?

I can tell you tomorrow

but right now I don't want to talk about it

just know that I'm sorry

"Uh, hey", I muttered weirdly when I stood next to Clay at court, "Can we sit with you?" "Of course", he smiled knowing why I suddenly changed my mind. Jess sat in the first row. I wanted to talk to her later and apologize but I was really nervous. I felt guilty for sticking with Bryce. Sheri, Jeff and I sat between Clay and Justin, Scott was next to Tony behind us.

"Stand up for the verdict. The upright judge Martin Campbell." "Sit down", the judge said, "Bring in the jury members, please." "Chairlady, did you reach a verdict?" "We did, your honor." "What is it?" "We, the jury members, in the case of Andrew and Olivia Baker against the Evergreen county school district find the accused guilty."

Jeff left the room with Clay and the others. Sheri and I waited for some time. We still tried to find a way how to tell them that we're sorry. We couldn't just say „sorry" and everything would be alright. But talking to them was the first step. "Sheri, Els", Bryce turned around to look at us. "Don't even dare to look at us or any other girl in the world", Sheri hissed angrily, "You better go to hell, Bryce Walker."

"Monty confessed it", I sighed shaking my head, "He protected you all this time. We defended you the whole time, you know. Even after the tapes, after Chloe's testimony. You're disgusting." "Come on, Bryce, let's go", Barry laid his hand on Bryce's shoulder and they walked away but Nora still stood in front of us. "Nora, we would never-"

"I know what my son did, girls. I've felt it even before the testimony. And I'm sorry for all the pain that he caused to these girls and you as his friends. You never gave up on him but that was a mistake", her voice cracked, she almost cried in front of us, "I'm going to make sure that he won't come close to you anymore. He's a monster."

Before tears would stream down her cheeks, she left. We didn't know what else to say, just followed the others outside where Mrs. Baker spoke about the case happily. My dad smiled widely, he had won another case. This was amazing for Mrs. Baker, Jess, Alex, Clay, my dad. It was good for everyone. But it still felt wrong. It felt wrong because we had lost our best friends, basically our brothers to their mistakes. 

Nora and Barry had offered me a home when no one else did. Bryce helped me when no one else did, Monty fought for me. And we had lost good friends to our behavior, by protecting them. We chose the wrong side. Everyone except for us believed the truth, we trusted the liars. I was ashamed that I've been friends with people like Bryce but also of trusting him and telling others to trust him. I've told Chloe she could trust him.

"Alex and Jess are over there next to Clay and Jeff", Sheri pointed to them, "We should do it now. Come on." But as we walked over to the people we used to be friends with, we noticed Sheriff Standall speaking to Bryce. "Bryce Walker, you're arrested on a charge of grievous rape." Everyone's jaw dropped, some seemed to be happy, of course. Did that mean he would get what he deserves?

"Justin Foley, you're arrested on a charge of being an accessory of rape." "Fuck."

"Have you seen Montgomery since he drove you to school?", Sheri asked me during lunch when we sat on the schoolyard's ground. "I didn't see him and he didn't text me any more. Luckily", I sighed, „I think I would beat him up if I saw him again."

"Els, I'm not going to say he deserves a second chance but he's not Bryce", she started thoughtfully, "I've made a huge mistake by driving away. Jeff's been in a coma for months because of me and you forgave me. Monty's always been an idiot and covering Bryce was way too much but he didn't do what Bryce did. Bryce would have made his life a living hell, he would have lost everything."

"He wouldn't have lost us, Sher. He'd still have us but he decided to lie and hurt others." "I know.. All I'm saying is I think we should forgive him someday. He had a reason. Even if this reason is no excuse for what he did.. But I made my mistake because I didn't want my dad to know that I come home late."

"You didn't know what would happen, he knew it!" "I don't even know what we should really do. But I think I'm going to think about it. Monty was the one who saved your life when you overdosed." "Maybe you're right", I laid back in the grass, "Maybe." "What are you going to do about Scott?"

"I think I'm going to join a convent", I laughed, "He just.. He should have told me, you know? I mean although Monty did the wrong thing, he shouldn't have betrayed him like that. Or is this stupid? I don't know.."

"Els, whatever you feel is right. Your mind, your feelings. If you need a break, take it. Whatever it is, just don't leave me", she smiled. That's when I felt like that there was still hope. Hope for Monty to change and be a better person. Hope for everyone and for every relationship to heal. 

"Are you going to the dance with Scott?", Jeff asked, he swung his hip against mine playfully. "You're in a good mood, huh?", I chuckled, "I don't think so. We didn't talk to each other. What about you? Found a victim to go with you?" "No, I thought we could go together."

"Jeff", I sighed not knowing if that would be a good idea, "I don't know. I mean if we go as friends-" "Just as friends", he nodded. "Then why not? I'll ask Sheri", I smiled and kissed his cheek before I went to look for my friend.

I'm not stupid. Of course I knew that he only said it because I wasn't sure about it. And I knew that he didn't mean Sheri and I. But he shouldn't think that only because Scott and I are having troubles in our relationship, we could go back. Right now, all of our friendships have changed.

"You need to join Jeff and I at the dance", I begged Sher half an hour later, pouted my lips. "Els, he didn't ask you and I, he wants to go there with you, only you." "I know but we decided it would be as friends so I told him I would ask you. Please."

"Ugh, I can never say no to you. But what are you going to tell Scott? You didn't break up and as much as I heard from Justin, Scott planned on asking you", she gave me her typical "You-need-to-talk-to-him"-look. "He wouldn't understand it if I said it would be the three of us. He would only hear the words "Jeff, me, the dance"", I rolled my eyes. 

"You're going to the dance with Jeff?", Scott's head shot up, his green eyes scanned my facial expression. "Scotty", I turned to him surprised, "No, I mean yes. Sheri, Jeff and I are going together. It's not a date." "Yeah, alright", he nodded pressing his lips together, "Enjoy it then."

"You know the last dance we went to was with all of the boys", I thought back, my eyes followed Scott who walked away through the hallway. "I miss those times", Sheri mumbled, "We had a great time with her. And don't forget the time with the boys. It's been so amazing and now we don't even talk to the boys anymore. If we had only known about Bryce earlier, we could have helped her.."