Something inside my chest cracked open.
But this time, it wasn’t shame.
It was the first tiny breath of justice.
Slowly, I turned toward the crowd.
Near the punch table stood Vanessa, the girl who had whispered about my face since freshman year. Her red dress sparkled under the gym lights, but her perfect smile had vanished.
Her mascara was already starting to smear.
I lifted one shaking hand and pointed.
“That’s her,” I said. “The girl in the red dress. And those five girls beside her helped.”
The officer nodded to his partners.
All three officers turned and walked across the gym floor.
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