Chapter 9: The Final Piece Of The Puzzle
I thought I knew who the enemy was.
First, I thought it was Mia.
Then Claire.
But standing there, hearing Mia say that name, I realized I had been looking in the wrong direction.
The person who knew everything wasn’t someone who hated me.
It was someone who claimed to support me.
“Mia, say it again.””
She looked nervous.
“Your friend, Jenna.””
I stared at her.
“No.””
Mia shook her head.
“I’m not saying she did everything.””
“She wouldn’t.””
Jenna had been my best friend since sophomore year.
She helped me choose the fabric.
She stayed late with me while I worked on the dress.
She told me I was going to make everyone proud.
“She was there when I took the photos,” Mia said.
I looked at her.
“What photos?””
“The showcase photos.””
My heart slowed.
Because I remembered.
Jenna was the only person who knew I planned to enter the design showcase.
The only person besides me who had the original pictures.
I grabbed my phone and called her.
One ring.
Two rings.
Three.
No answer.
I called again.
Still nothing.
“That doesn’t mean anything,” I said.
But even I didn’t believe myself.
Dad found us near the gym.
He looked between me and Mia.
“What happened?””
I held up the envelope.
“We found more.””
His expression changed.
“Where?””
I looked at Mia.
“Jenna knew about the showcase.””
Dad was silent.
Then he asked:
“Does she know about the fake account?””
I didn’t answer.
Because I didn’t know.
And that scared me.
We returned home after graduation.
The celebration was canceled.
The cake stayed untouched.
The decorations remained in their boxes.
My biggest day had turned into a mystery I couldn’t solve.
That evening, someone knocked on the door.
Dad opened it.
And froze.
I walked closer.
“Who is it?””
Then I saw her.
Jenna.
She stood there holding something in her hands.
Her eyes were red.
“Aaliyah…”
My heart dropped.
“What happened?””
She looked at Dad.
Then at me.
“I need to tell you the truth.””
Nobody moved.
She held out a flash drive.
“I have proof.””
My hands went cold.
“Proof of what?””
Jenna swallowed.
“Proof that I was the one who gave Mia the photos.””
The room went silent.
I stared at my best friend.
“You?””
She started crying.
“I didn’t know what they were going to do.””
Dad stepped forward.
“What exactly did you give them?””
Jenna looked down.
“The original design pictures.””
My chest tightened.
“Why?””
She wiped her face.
“Because Mia promised she would help me.””
“With what?””
Jenna hesitated.
Then she said:
“She promised she would make sure everyone forgot about the rumor involving me.””
I frowned.
“What rumor?””
Jenna looked terrified.
And before she could answer…
My phone buzzed.
Another message.
This time from the same unknown number.
But the words made my blood run cold.
*“Ask Jenna why she needed everyone to forget what happened last year.””*
I looked at Jenna.
She looked back at me.
And in that moment, I realized something.
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The destroyed dress wasn’t the beginning of this story.
It was the last piece of a secret that had been hidden for an entire year.
