[Nona Larsen]

Just as hope grows inside me, here comes the biggest blow yet. Jarvis has been suspended over his findings. It turns out the Principal finds him too troublesome to simply confront him. Silencing Jarvis is much better under his twisted point of view.

Fuck that irresponsible piece of shit. At this point, why do I keep fighting for a cause no-one else is willing to embrace beside Jarvis? Why do I have to keep bearing the brunt of something I never did? It's all pure narrative at this point. If I want to save face, I have to accept it. It's unfair, but it's what it is.

I sigh as I scroll through my social media and continue my massive account decluttering operation as I stop following and straight out block most people on any platform. No-one stood by me when I needed, except Jarvis. I hate repeating myself, but I need to remark this every time.

Speaking of Jarvis, I check on him. "Are you okay? You were so close to finding out the full truth. What a shame."

"Well, it's okay. He suspended me just because he feels threatened and can't accept he was wrong," he points out. "Even though the school doesn't care for the truth, social media does." He shows me his phone, where he posted what he found on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

That answer sheet may no longer be valid; yet, the Principal's measure shouldn't be either. He wanted to cover the true culprit's ass. He think he succeeded. In a way, maybe he did. Jarvis and I have both been punished for defying the school's authority.

As much as I want to keep wallowing over the past, I have to focus on the present and, most importantly, on the future. There has to be something more to make sure Jarvis' sacrifice hasn't been completely useless.

I convince Jarvis to take me to the local library. "The librarian knows the ID and passwords to an external site indirectly linked to the school," I explain as I catch him not grabbing the sense of this new task.

"Like a secret portal, right?"

"Yeah. I stumbled upon it for the first time during sophomore year, merely by chance. I've browsed it around fifty times since. The last time I did, however, was four months ago."

"Before that incident, then."

"Correct." Jarvis has no more questions to ask me on the matter, so we continue down the way to the library in silence, which is only broken by my crutches on the pavement.

As soon as we reach the entrance, Jarvis leads me to the accessible entrance. Then, he opens the door for me and closes after I'm through. There's no-one else inside; it looks like most prefer loaning books from here and taking them home to read.

We gesture at the librarian to say hello without making noise; then, Jarvis and I head straight to the computer area. He helps me sit at one of the stations, so that I can enter the portal. The ID and password are correct. 'Good job, Nona.'

I whisper to Jarvis. "You have your pen drive ready, right?" He nods as he extracts the item from his backpack. Without needing to be told, he plugs it to the computer. Meanwhile, I scan through the portal's most recent files.

One of them is courtesy of yours truly, myself. "What is it?" asks Jarvis, struck by curiosity.

"Look it for yourself. I don't think I can describe it properly with words." I pass him a pair of headphones, which he plugs to the computer. I don't need sound to understand what's in the video, since I took it myself behind the subjects' back.

The clip, which lasts four minutes and a half, shows Catela Layne cozying up to the Principal and Vice Principal in a suspicious manner. The three of them discuss ways to maintain their prestige, especially the latter two. They also mention other teachers as potential accomplices.

Jarvis stands open mouthed for a while after the video is over. As much as he wants to shout, he maintains his control, as well as his voice low. This is a library. Making noise will get us kicked out from here and unable to make the next move.

I pat his shoulder to get a reaction from him, which I get. "Wow. So, this isn't just a coincidence. It's a pattern. I'm starting to think Catela knows more than she lets know," he states as he recollects himself to save the file on his pen drive.

"There's one more file here," I point out. "It's more recent than my video."

"Let's open it, then."

The document is very large. It consists of ninety-eight pages saved as a PDF file, likely exported from Word. Each and every page lists all the shit my detractors have planned against me. This further confirms they hated me from the get go. It isn't a conspiracy theory, it's the truth laid bare on a document.

The worst part about it is that the Principal and Vice Principal, along with their cohort of trusted subordinates, were the ones corrupting students' minds to plant the seeds of prejudice against me inside them. That is, discounting people like Catela, who has never liked me, or my traitorous ex friends.

This file looks like it came out of a dystopian novel. The problem is, it isn't. It depicts perfectly how corrupt the system at that school is, punishing those who dare to stand against injustice while rewarding those who fully align with their distorted views.

This has to end once for all. I gesture at Jarvis to save the file on two different pen drives: one for himself and one for me. We'll both spread this proof like wildfire on social media. We'll get authorities involved. We'll break the fucking chain of corruption.

***

I never thought the process of undoing years of turmoil and uncertainty would be triggered by... the quest for the actual answer key thief. It turns out the Principal and Vice Principal orchestrated this stunt themselves as way to make it harder for those who originally failed the Maths quiz to recover from that stumble.

Jarvis and I were among them; this fueled a desire of retaliation towards us in those wankers. After being exposed, the Principal and his deputy came clean, admitted guilt to all allegations and voluntarily stepped down from their roles, knowing they had no other choice. Thanks to a direct measure from the Superintendence, Jarvis' suspension over the most recent facts is cancelled and he can return to school.

As of me, I didn't plan to go back to the place that caused me trouble. Jarvis, on the other hand, insists that I shouldn't let others have the last word. After all, I'm used to fighting back. It will take me some time to get back to the gist of it, but Jarvis reassures me it'll be worth it.

***

After completing the needed procedure and getting someone to sign the paperwork, since my birth family and I are no longer in touch despite them being literally next door to Jarvis, I get the green light to go back to school.

As expected, Belkis and Beulah avoid me like the plague, preferring sticking with Catela and Fallon. Their choice. I won't hold onto false hope that they'll mend their ways and detach themselves from those two monsters.

On the other hand, I feel even more sorry for Jarvis. Jay and Audrey, his friends, are still cold towards him and don't want him around anymore. Those two believe I'm the reason for Jarvis changing. If anything, he changed for the best.

I reassure him. "We have each other, don't we?"

"Yeah, that's right. I really looked forward to having you back, Nona."

"I'm glad you feel this way. Let's go to class, then. I can't wait to see the rest of the school turn green." I laugh loudly as I finish my sentence, followed by Jarvis. If there's anything I've learnt over the past months is that trust, if wrongly given to undeserving people, can turn into a double edged sword.

Of course, Jarvis and I had to learn that the hard way. But it was worth it.