[Jarvis Harding]

Jay and Audrey have been avoiding me lately. I can't blame them, they're not exactly fond of Nona and I don't see the point in them sugarcoating their feelings towards her.

On the other hand, Mom and Dad are getting closer to me in an unexpected way. Since that dinner where I opened up about my stress involving school and friends issues, I've felt relieved to have parents who actually listen to me.

This is why I'm more than set on proving the Principal wrong and show him that Nona has nothing to do with stealing those freaking test answers.

But where can I start from? It's not like I can find someone who isn't hostile to her that easily. I need to plan something big that can prove that Nona can be trusted. However, to do so, I need help. Easy, right?

I overhear Audrey talking to Fallon about how many students have been missing classes lately. I approach them as soon as they mention Nona. "She hasn't been in school in, like, one week. Isn't it too weird?" asks Audrey, raising an eyebrow as soon as she notices me. "Jarvis, what are you doing here?"

I pretend not to know what they're talking about. "Nothing serious, I was just passing by-" Okay, judging by Fallon's glare and hands on her hips, it doesn't look like she or Audrey believe me.

I raise my hands. "Okay, you caught me. You know what? I'm worried for Nona. She's gone and we still don't know who stole the papers. To be honest, I don't even think she's guilty," I admit, triggering negative reactions from the girls. I get they're biased against Nona, but how can they be sure she's the culprit? I think both of them are hiding something.

"Jarvis, trust me, she is trouble. Are you willing to defend her? She's not even your friend!" Audrey's answer, unfortunately, reeks of gaslighting. A true friend wouldn't pull such shit. Does she dislike Nona? Okay, I can try and understand, but I can't accept is prejudice. She's trying too hard to suck it up to Little Miss Perfection Fallon Snow.

For the first time in ages, I yell at one of my best friends. "I wish you would understand my point of view! Why can't you form your own opinion without letting someone else get under your skin?" This was probably uncalled for, but at the same time I hope this is a good wake-up call for Audrey.

Not that it has any effect, since Fallon intervenes, ruining everything. "Actually, Nona quit. She admitted to being guilty just yesterday. Quit dreaming, Jarvis. You'll never get her. Stay on your fucking lane." She's implying I should give up on Nona, after all, and probably go after a stupid Mary Sue like her.

I flip her the bird. I'm done with her and her antics. "Fuck off, Fallon. And, by the way, forget it. I'd never go out with you even if you were the last woman on Earth."

"Your friend Jay thinks otherwise," she retorts, much to my dismay.

"I said fuck off. Do I have to spell it our for you?" I clench my fist, ready to fight her and erase that smug smile off her puncheable face.

Still, Audrey blocks me. "Jarvis! That was uncalled for!" she yells. I stop on my tracks and turn my back at the two girls as I leave the hall.

***

"What the fuck is happening to you? What did that girl do to you? Now, you'll take every length to defend her!" I keep not understanding why Audrey won't accept that, to me, Nona's quitting is a wound that won't heal.

"You know what? I thought you were loyal, but I guess you're not. How can I trust you when you let that double-faced bitch get away with her shit?" Anger clouds my mind. I want to punch everything and everyone around me, even myself.

Audrey frowns at me, raising her voice. She usually keeps it low, though, which means I have more than one reason to be scared. "Are you calling me a traitor? If anything, the traitor is you, who'd rather choose some wild child over your best friends! Shame on you, Jarvis!" she yells, her face turning beet red.

Fallon definitely has an influence on her and Jay. They're so desperate to suck up to her. I don't know why and, at this point, I don't even give a fuck. I'd rather be alone than with someone who throws me aside just because I want to expand my close-knitted circle.

Still, it's Audrey who's making me choose. "Jarvis, at this point you have no other option. Either you choose us," she says, pointing the finger at herself, but also ideally including Jay and, to my disgust, even Fallon, "or her. In that case, you're done with us. What you did is clear to us, and I personally can't forgive it. Not if you keep making the wrong decisions."

She thinks I'm making a mistake. Oh, she's so wrong. This might be the most difficult decision I've faced since entering high school, but it's the right one, the one that will bring me closer to the truth, the one that will finally make me at peace.

I'm done with this toxic friendship, with Fallon's interjections, with the constant doubt around Nona, as if she were some criminal. I can't take it anymore.

Audrey can kiss me goodbye and take her new friend along. She'll have to let Jay know we're all over, unless he's smart enough to finally form his own opinion and stop following the mass like a fucking sheep.

I don't want followers. I want real friends.

***

I guess I'm alone, for real. Everyone accurately avoids my desk in class and refuses to sit next to me in the cafeteria. What's worse, Nona hasn't been at school for a while and there's no clue of what she's up to. Maybe the Principal did suspend her, after all.

Now, it can't be it! There must be evidence of someone stealing the test keys. If video footage is out of question, then what is acceptable as proof? Considering that no-one wants the truth, but just for Nona Larsen to be isolated for good reasons, everyone is succeeding in their intent.

But I still want a chance to prove them all wrong. The first thing I need to do is to take a deep breath. Tension runs down my spine, which is not good for my health. If I keep my mind clear of all the toxic shit I face every single day in this hellish building, I'll achieve what I want more easily.

It's now time to devise a plan. Since I can't rely on anyone but myself, I'll make sure it's well developed but also doable without the urge of finding someone else for the nastiest tasks. Last but not least, I need to keep it quite short. It's just a bunch of papers containing the answers of that goddamn text, not the State's secret.

When the last bell rings, I rush back home without saying goodbye to anyone, not even the teachers. The plan is a lot more important than the rest. I'm the only one who can potentially restore Nona Larsen's reputation. I'm the only one who isn't enough of a sucker up to feed the rest of those sheep with a convenient lie.

Only the truth matters.