Chapter 4: Accused and Alone

On the weekend, Maple Heights Square was packed to the brim.

Giant banners stretched across the plaza, and fans from all over lined up with glowing signs, buzzing with excitement.

But even more people, unable to get tickets, could only snap photos outside.

The organizers had offered to send a car for me, but I didn't want to give out my address, so I arrived early on my own.

Wearing new glasses and my school hoodie, I squeezed into the crowd.

After much pushing and shoving, I finally made it to the ticket check—only to bump into classmates from school.

The homeroom teacher was herding the students with tickets, waiting to go in. When they spotted me, they looked at me like I was a ghost.

"Maddie, what are you doing here?"

"I knew you wouldn't miss a chance to get close to Derek."

At the front of the group was Derek, dressed in a crisp sweatshirt, standing tall and head and shoulders above the rest.

Hearing the commotion, he frowned and shot me a cold look. When he saw my face, his frown deepened.

The homeroom teacher eyed me suspiciously. "Even if you're here, you can't get in without a ticket. You'd better just go home."

I pulled a ticket from my pocket. "I have one."

Their shock only deepened. "Where did you get that ticket?"

I couldn't exactly explain.

As I hesitated, a few girls who never got along with me sneered and said sarcastically:

"You guys don't know, huh? Maddie's been scalping tickets for cash. She grabbed a bunch to sell here."

I: "..."

Their imagination was truly something.

"Is that true?" the homeroom teacher asked.

"Of course it's true! We saw her backpack stuffed with tickets. Who else but a scalper would buy that many?"

Everyone stared at me like I was a criminal. Even Derek, who usually just looked at me with disdain, now looked downright disgusted.

The homeroom teacher stepped forward, trying to grab me. "You realize this is illegal, right? Go home. Don't embarrass our school."

I dodged his hand, face blank. Was this really happening? One rumor and suddenly I was the villain of the day. "Is it possible the organizer gave me the tickets?"

I tried to sound calm, but my hands were shaking inside my hoodie pocket. Everyone was so quick to believe the worst.