Page 80 of Lords of the Campus

“My best guess is, they thought that the worst that would happen was a few loud bangs and people would get scared.” Levi shrugs. “I suppose maybe they didn’t realize how bad it would get.”

“I don’t understand how they managed to get away with it,” I mutter, my anger rising. Those assholes destroyed our lives and got off scot-free.

“We figured that part out too,” Zane says, speaking up. “You know how Madison and Cameron are cousins?” When I nod, he continues. “Madison helped them cover it up. With everything Lyric told us, I’m betting she was hoping that it would drive a wedge between us and she could help ‘pick up the pieces’.”

“Those assholes will get what’s coming to them,” I vow, “but this isn’t relevant to the investigation, unfortunately. All it proves is that Cameron and Madison might have a vendetta againstus.”

“Yeah,” Zane agrees, his face falling. “Even if we present everything to the committee, it doesn’t help Lyric look better. They might think she reported Cameron for assault as a retaliation.”

“Fuck,” I swear under my breath, clenching my jaw. “Well, let’s keep this information to ourselves for now. We should focus on helping Lyric win this case against her.”

“Without the sabotage angle, how are we going to do that?” Levi questions.

I scrub a hand over my face and glance at Lyric again, drawing the blanket up over her from where it fell in her sleep. “Let’s stick to the original plan. We focus on proving all the good that she’s done and how much of an asset she’s been to the school.”

“They never found any evidence on those drug charges, did they?” Levi asks, piping up.

“No, why?”

“Let’s find out who filed the report,” Levi replies, a gleam in his eyes. “I have a feeling that might help our case as well.”

I feel relief flood me. We have a plan in place, a way to prove Lyric’s innocence. I only hope it will be enough.

46

ZANE

The sun is barely up when we gather in the kitchen, a rare sense of optimism hanging in the air. After weeks of tension and sleepless nights, it's refreshing to feel like we finally have a plan that might work. Eli babbles happily in his high chair as we prepare breakfast, the sound a comforting backdrop to our morning routine.

Archer is flipping pancakes and Lyric is helping Eli with his cereal. I pour coffee for everyone, the rich aroma filling the room. “You ready for today?” I ask Lyric, handing her a mug.

She takes it with a grateful smile. "I think so. Having a plan helps. Thank you, all of you, for everything.”

Levi leans against the counter, sipping his coffee. “You wouldn’t be in this mess if it weren’t for us,” he tells her. “So, we’re going to fix it for you. We’re in this together now, baby. We’ll get through it.”

After breakfast, we gather our things and head out to take Eli to daycare. The morning air is crisp, the sky a bright, cloudless blue. Lyric holds Eli's hand as we walk, his tiny fingers gripping hers tightly. It's a small moment of normalcy amid the chaos and I can see it brings her some peace.

Eli is all smiles when we drop him off, waving goodbye with a cheery "Bye-bye!" Lyric kisses his forehead, whispering something that makes him giggle. As we walk away, I can see her shoulders relax just a bit.

“Feeling better?” I ask as we head toward the building where the hearing is taking place.

She nods, her grip on her bag tightening. “A little. It's just… there’s so much riding on this going well.”

“You are going to be fine,” Archer says, placing a reassuring hand on her back. “We’re all behind you.”

We reach the building, the early morning quiet punctuated by the sound of our footsteps. Lyric takes a deep breath, her eyes brimming with determination. Archer pushes the door open, nudging her inside and we follow behind like a cavalcade of guards.

Inside, the tension seems less pronounced today. Whether that’s because the committee is willing to hear us out or because we feel more confident about our plan, it doesn’t matter. We’re going to kick ass today and clear Lyric’s name.

Taking our seats, Lyric grips the arms of the chair and gives us quick glances, as though seeking reassurance. I give her my most confident smile and she steels herself, prepared to speak.

“I know that yesterday, I was given a list of ways I’ve broken the student code of conduct, but I want to assure you that despite the way it looks, I am not, nor have I ever been, a problematic and disruptive person,” she says, tone even despite the slight tremor in her hands as she speaks. “I have gathered a few witnesses to testify on my behalf, to prove that I’m an asset to the school and not a liability.”

“Very well, Miss Shaw,” Bainbridge says, nodding in her direction. “You may call your first witness.”

“Levi Cooper is here to speak on my behalf,” she says, tilting her head toward him. Levi stands, giving the committee a little bow.

“My name is Levi Cooper,” he begins. “And I’m here to talk about how Lyric helped the Alpha Lambda fraternity by participating in a car wash. She had no obligation to do so, no direct ties, but she volunteered her time and effort.”

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