When I’m called down to Joyner’s office, a few of the kids in my English class go “Ooooooooh” just like they did in elementary school. The rest turn and look at me as I gather my things and leave, some with curiosity and others like I’m the worst person in the world. Ada, at least, seems sympathetic because she whispers, “Hang in there.” She means well, but the words off a kitten poster in the guidance counselor’s office can’t fix this mess. MJ, who is sitting in front of Ada, seems to be making it a point not to look at me.

But she’s Will’s best friend. She probably believes I would do something this awful to someone I really like. Someone I’ve been dating. Someone I risked saying I loved. Or at least I thought I did.

People in the hallways have been asking me why I’d do that to Will. At first I tried just telling the truth—that I didn’t do it. But no one really wanted that answer. So my reply became: “I don’t know, because I didn’t do it. Why do you think I would?”

Most of the replies people gave me were nasty. I’ve been trying to pretend I’m encased in ice and I can’t see or hear anyone. If everyone is so quick to jump to conclusions and think of me as a horrible person, ignoring them can’t make it that much worse.

At least now the hallways are empty because people are in class, so I don’t have to pretend. But that leaves me time to think, which is almost worse.

When I enter Joyner’s office, he gestures to one of the chairs in front of his desk and I sit on the edge of it, my knee bouncing with nervous energy.

“Dara, I’ve asked you here because you made substantial allegations in the video posted on Rumor Has It,” he says. “Allegations that I have to take very seriously.” He leans forward, pinning me with his gaze. “How about you tell me what you know about Will paying someone to take the SAT for him?”

I put my hand on my knee to try to stop it bouncing so Mr. Joyner will take me seriously. “So … I know this is going to sound totally ridiculous but …”

“But?”

“Mr. Joyner, I never said the things in that video.”

He raises an eyebrow. “Then how would you explain the fact that this video of you making the accusation exists?” he asks.

“I don’t know!” Desperation claws at my belly. “Will is my friend … We’ve been dating—” I have to stop and swallow the lump rising in my throat. “At least we were, until this happened.”

Joyner leans back in his chair and eyes me thoughtfully. In the silence, I feel my heart starting to beat even harder in my chest and hear blood rushing in my ears. He has to believe me. He has to. If he doesn’t … I don’t even want to think about it.

“Dara, you’re the top student here at GHS, and I’ve always had the greatest respect for you,” Mr. Joyner says. “But here’s what I think happened. I think you and Will had a fight, and you decided to get back at him by revealing what he did. And now that you see how it’s blown up, you’re having second thoughts and denying that you had anything to do with it.”

Seriously? He thinks I would do something like this because of a fight with my boyfriend?

Anger gives me the courage to push back. I force my voice to stay even, despite wanting to pound on his desk. “Mr. Joyner, you’re not listening to what I’m saying. I don’t know anything about Will paying anyone to take the SAT, and I never said he did.”

He frowns. “To the contrary, Dara. There’s a video of you saying exactly that. But your contention notwithstanding, I’m going to have to investigate. News of your accusation has spread very rapidly. Thanks to Rumor Has It’s reach, I’ve already had members of the school board calling, wanting me to do damage control. It’s not every day a school’s prospective valedictorian accuses the prospective salutatorian of academic dishonesty.”

“But I didn’t say he did it!” I repeat. “I don’t think there was any academic dishonesty.”

“Thank you, Dara. You can return to class now.”

My fists clench. Why won’t he listen to me?

I get up, holding on to that tiny piece of anger.

Everyone thinks this video is the truth, because they can see me saying those things. I don’t know how anyone could fake me doing that, but I have to find out a way to prove they did. Because I realize, this isn’t just about Will. It’s also about me.