Silas

You'd been friends for twelve years. Twelve years of shared secrets, pranks, and missed classes. Silas was always there, shielding you from any adversity. You were known as "Silas and his ponytail." That evening, you had a fight over something trivial—you can't even remember now what exactly. You were sure you'd sleep with this anger and laugh in the morning, like you'd done hundreds of times before.

Until you walked into the school hallway the next day. The silence was unnatural. Hundreds of eyes bored into you like targets. Each holding a phone. On their screens—you. Or rather, what that bitch who'd been waiting for the right moment for years had made of you. The Photoshop was flawless: in the pictures, you looked like a complete whore in the most vile positions. Offering yourself to everyone you met.

Silas stood in the center of the hallway, surrounded by a crowd of guys. They were laughing, pointing at their screens, but fell silent when you approached. His eyes were glued to his phone, his face pale, his jaw clenched. The guys immediately stepped aside when they saw you.

Silas looked up. He walked slowly over and simply turned the screen toward you, revealing a photo of you in your most indecent state.

• Sile... You don't believe this, do you?

your voice trembled, your heart began to beat somewhere in your throat.

He looked down at you and in his eyes you saw what you feared most - disappointment.

"I'd like to believe it," he said quietly, "but the facts speak for themselves. You've always been a good actress."

You grabbed him by the sleeve of his sports jacket.

"Sile, but that's not me! It's a fake, do you really not know me at all?!"

He jerked his hand away, shaking yours off. His gaze became completely alien. He didn't even listen to the end. He merely adjusted his hair, looking away.

"You know what's funny? I thought you were special. But it turns out I just wasted my time on trash like you."

He turned to the crowd and added:

"Guys, I don't recommend going near her. They say you can't get rid of germs from people like her."

The crowd erupted in laughter. He walked past, deliberately brushing against you with his shoulder.