Alana's POV
I had just stepped out of class into the hallway when I noticed it—people whispering, pointing, and staring at me like I had grown another head. My heart dropped. Then I saw my best friend, Natalie, rushing toward me, her face tight with worry.
She definitely knew something I didn't.
"Hey, Nat."
"Hey, Lana," she replied, almost breathless. "Have you seen the video?"
"What video?"
"The one Derrick posted… about you."
She hesitated, clearly reluctant to show me. But I wasn't having it. I reached for her phone.
"Show me the video," I demanded.
The moment my eyes landed on the screen, my breath caught in my throat.
I gasped. "How could he?" I whispered, more to myself than to her. "He said he loved me."
Right there in the middle of the hallway, surrounded by judging eyes and murmurs, I started breaking down. I didn't care. I just turned and ran, fast and blindly, my tears blurring everything in front of me.
That's when I crashed into something. Or rather—someone.
I lost my balance, but he caught me. When I looked up through my tear-filled eyes, I saw him. Xander Hale.
Of all people.
My nemesis. The last person I expected to see. The last person I wanted to see me like this.
And yet… he did something completely unexpected.
Without a word, he took my hand, turned around, and started walking. I was too drained to protest. I simply followed, letting him guide me to the nearest storage room. He pulled me inside with him.
Then he hugged me.
And not just any hug—it was warm, comforting, real. That was it. I lost it. Completely.
I cried into his T-shirt like my heart was falling apart, and he just held me. He rubbed my back gently, whispering soothing words I couldn't fully make out. But somehow, they helped.
Being in his arms felt natural. Safe. Way more than it was supposed to.
After a few moments, I pulled away, blinking up at him.
"Thanks, Xander," I whispered.
"Anytime, Alana," he replied with a smirk. "But don't go falling for me just because I comforted you."
I rolled my eyes, but a smile tugged at my lips. "In your dreams, Xander boy."
Even in the middle of my worst day, he somehow managed to make me smile. What an irony.
I didn't go back to class after that. I left school for the day—maybe even the week. I had no idea when I'd be ready to face everyone again. But one thing was for sure…
Everything had changed.