The Prank That Broke Her

ed toward Cooper. He had to

y voice trembling. "She tortured h

antic words like a shard of glass. "Alai

uncomprehending

e most reasonable thing in the world. "Besides, he's

itting me with the force of

I whispered, the memory a fresh

shrill with disbelief a

er. "Pathetic. Getting this wo

for Sunshine's lifeless body. "Let's just

creamed, shielding Sun

ience clearly wearing thin. "It's just a

ing facade had completely dissolved, revealing the cold, empty

he floor, cradling Sunshine's body, and I didn't move for the rest of

ash I had, every last dollar, and found a 24-hour pet cremation service. I bro

dull throb compared to the gaping hole in my heart. Sunshine ha

t. He sounded worried. "Alaina, are you okay? There's

ampus. Students stared and whispered, their eyes dar

right turned his laptop towa

iny, shot from a hidden camera, and the content was private, intimate.

, exposed, violated all over ag

from?" I asked, my vo

ompassion. "It's all over the campus foru

e to the bone, who was responsible. "It

dentified you in the video, and there are awful rumors spreading. Some peo

. My reputation, my future, a

refused the professor's offer to accompany me t

Kenya were gone. Their phones went straight to voicemail. A part of

the front door swung open. It wasn't Cooper. It w

r you, Alaina," one of

you get in here?" I

u gave us the key, remembe

s another lie, another t

aid, advancing on me. "Our empl

one, my fingers sha

phone and bolted, slamming the door behind them. I s

again. This time

He looke

me. The old instinct to run to him, t

b catching in my throat. I wanted to ask abo

m. Her face was a mask of fury. She stepped

it sent me st

the cops on my friends? You're coming with me