Page 74 of Cruel Steps

It’s not an easy road, and I still struggle every day. But let’s be kinder. Let’s build stronger communities with safe places for people to be themselves without judgment.

Alexander Pope said hope springs eternal. I hope it’s enough.

“Wow. I can’t believe she wrote this.” I blinked, my eyes shiny with unshed tears for the girl who’d gone through all of this alone.

“It’s what we’ve been working on for our anthropology assignment,” Cody said.

“You really care about her,” I said as shouting started.

“I didn’t do anything, Holden! Why do you even care about her? She’s nobody.”

I turned toward the group and realized Rose and Milton had joined us. I handed Cody’s phone to Rose and Milton, pointing at it for them to read, and then finished the last few steps toward Holden.

“I don’t know what’s going on, but I will get to the bottom of this, Hope. It would be better if you told me now.”

“I can’t believe you’re accusing me of something. I told you she was a liar and would use you against me. I never thought I’d be right,” Hope huffed, crossing her arms in defiance. Her eye kept twitching, and I knew she was lying.

“Hope, what’s the meaning of this?” Rose asked, flashing the phone.

“Mom!” Hope said, her voice changing. At the sight of the phone, a murmur grew around the crowd and everyone pulled out their own.

“I asked you a question, Hope.” Rose’s words were harsh and even I felt the mom-wrath they held.

“I don’t know, Mommy. I’m sure it’s nothing.”

“Let me see,” Holden said, taking the phone.

“Sure, just keep taking my phone,” Cody grumbled.

The crowd around us grew, more students joining with their phones lighting up their faces. Their eyes would shift from Hope to the article, then back, and the murmurs grew.

“Oh, my gosh! That’s so horrible!”

“I had no idea.”

“I feel bad for helping.”

“She seems so nice.”

Hope’s face fell, and she grabbed a phone out of someone’s hand. Holden’s hand tightened on Cody’s phone with each word he read, his anger mounting, and I worried Cody wouldn’t have a phone left by the end.

Hope began to panic, knocking phones out of people’s hands in an attempt to stop them from reading, but it was too late.

“Hope. Explain. Now,” Holden demanded in a growl.

The group of Zeta girls, Wolfettes, and football players who’d previously fawned over Hope stepped back, leaving her isolated. Hope had transformed from holding court to a deer in headlights as she glanced around the group. Everyone waited for her to explain, the whispers growing as she stood stock still.

Instead of responding, Hope took off. She pushed through students, knocking them down as she ran.

“Hope!” Holden shouted, attempting to follow her, but the cluster of students blocked him. “Hope. Wait!” Hope turned back, her dark hair flying as she ran, obscuring her face.

It was then I realized Holden wasn’t yelling for her to stop so he could question her, but for what was headed her way.

“Stop!” I shouted, my eyes wide.

It was too late.

The car hit Hope head on, and she flipped over the hood before landing on the asphalt. The black car didn’t slow down, just sped away; its fading taillights and dust were the only things it left.

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