Chapter 4

Armed with Leo' s evidence – screenshots, IP logs, even a deleted photo from Tiffany' s social media showing her at that specific coffee shop on the day the forum was created – I felt a surge of cold determination.

No more hiding. No more letting them control the narrative.

I emailed Principal Thompson, requesting an urgent meeting. I cc' ed my parents.

The subject line: "Cyberbullying and Defamation Targeting Sarah Miller – Request for Intervention."

The meeting was set for the next afternoon.

My parents were furious, but proud of how I was handling it.

"We won't let them get away with this, honey," Dad said, his jaw tight.

When we walked into Principal Thompson's office, Mark, Tiffany, and their respective parents, Karen Olsen and Gary Vance, were already there.

Tiffany looked nervous. Mark was trying to project boredom.

Karen Olsen immediately went on the offensive.

"Principal Thompson, I hope this isn't about those silly online rumors. My Mark would never be involved in anything like that. Sarah is probably just jealous of his popularity."

Gary Vance, a man who always looked like he was calculating his next shady deal, nodded. "Tiffany is a good girl. Sensitive. This is probably all a misunderstanding, blown out of proportion by an overzealous student."

Principal Thompson held up a hand. "Let's hear from Sarah and her parents first."

I laid out the evidence, calmly, clearly. The IP address. The timing. The nature of the posts, specifically targeting my tech project and my aspirations for MIT – things Mark and Tiffany had openly mocked.

The color drained from Tiffany' s face. Mark shifted uncomfortably.

"This is... compelling," Principal Thompson said, looking at the Vances and Olsens.

Gary Vance spoke first, his voice suddenly less smooth. "Look, kids do stupid things. Tiffany, did you have anything to do with this silly website?"

Tiffany looked at Mark, then at her father. Her eyes welled up with tears – crocodile tears, I was sure.

"Daddy," she whimpered, "Mark said... he said it would be funny. I didn't mean for it to get so serious! I just... I posted a few things. I' m so sorry, Sarah!"

Mark shot her a furious look. "Tiffany! What the hell?"

"So, you admit it, Miss Vance?" Principal Thompson asked, his voice stern.

"Yes," Tiffany sobbed. "It was me. All me."

Gary Vance put an arm around her. "She's learned her lesson, Principal. A suspension, maybe some counseling? We don't want this to ruin her college chances." He was clearly worried about a scandal affecting his own image.

Karen Olsen jumped in. "See? It was Tiffany! My Mark had nothing to do with it! He' s a good boy, focused on his football!"

Mark looked like he wanted to explode, but a sharp glance from his mother and a subtle glare from Gary Vance kept him silent. He was being thrown under the bus by Tiffany, and Tiffany was being pushed by her father to take the fall to minimize the damage.

It was a disgusting display of self-preservation.

Principal Thompson looked at me. "Sarah, given Miss Vance' s confession and apology, what are you looking for?"

My parents looked at me. I took a breath.

"I want the 'Campus Confidential' site taken down immediately. I want a public apology from Tiffany, read out during morning announcements. And I want assurance this kind of harassment will stop." I paused. "And yes, suspension and mandatory counseling seem appropriate."

Tiffany wailed. Gary Vance nodded quickly. "Of course, of course. She'll do it all."

They were sacrificing Tiffany to protect Mark, and to protect themselves from wider legal trouble.

It wasn't full justice, not yet. Mark was still smirking internally, I could tell.

But it was a start. A crack in their facade.