Chapter 4: The Other Name
“Say it again.””
Ariana's voice was shaking.
Miles swallowed.
“Tyler.””
Ariana stared at him.
“Tyler has that account?””
“I think so.””
“You think?””
“I've seen him using it.””
Jordan looked at Miles.
“You never told me that.””
“I didn't know it mattered.””
Principal Reynolds put the phone on the desk.
“It matters now.””
Ariana picked up the phone.
Her hands trembled as she scrolled through the messages.
“There are more.””
Mrs. Harris moved closer.
“How many?””
“I don't know.””
Ariana's thumb stopped.
“This one.””
She showed the screen.
A message had been sent from the anonymous account.
*She deserves it. Keep posting.*
Mrs. Harris looked at Miles.
“Did you write that?””
“No.””
“Did Tyler?””
“I don't know.””
Ariana kept scrolling.
Another message.
*Don't let her tell the teachers.*
Her eyes filled with tears.
Mrs. Harris felt her anger return, but this time it wasn't aimed only at her son.
“Who else knew about this?””
Miles stared at the floor.
“I told Tyler.””
“What did you tell him?””
“That Ariana was upset.””
“Did you show him the picture?””
Miles nodded.
“Why?””
“He asked.””
“And you gave it to him?””
“I sent it.””
Ariana's voice cracked.
“You sent it to everyone.””
“No.””
“You sent it to Tyler.””
“That isn't everyone.””
“It might as well be.””
Principal Reynolds held up his hand.
“Enough.””
The room quieted.
He looked at Miles.
“You've admitted sending a private picture without permission.””
Miles nodded.
“You've admitted making repeated comments about Ariana's clothes.””
Another nod.
“You've admitted laughing when she asked you to stop.””
Miles' eyes dropped.
“Yes.””
“And now we have evidence that the picture was circulated beyond the people you named.””
Miles whispered, “I didn't know.””
Principal Reynolds leaned forward.
“That's exactly what we need to find out.””
He turned toward Jordan.
“Did Tyler create the account?””
Jordan shook his head.
“I don't know.””
“Did he have access to the picture?””
“Yes.””
“Did he post it?””
“I never saw him post it.””
Ariana spoke.
“But he told people about it.””
Jordan looked at her.
“How do you know?””
“Because two girls came up to me yesterday and repeated things that only Tyler knew.””
Mrs. Harris frowned.
“Why didn't you tell the school?””
Ariana looked down.
“Because I thought nobody would believe me.””
That sentence landed harder than anything else.
Mrs. Harris sat beside her.
“I would have.””
Ariana looked at her.
Mrs. Harris' expression softened.
“I should have known the whole story before I came in here.””
Miles looked at his mother.
“Mom…”
She turned toward him.
“No.””
He stopped.
“You don't get to hide behind me anymore.””
His eyes filled.
“I wasn't trying to.””
“You were.””
“I was scared.””
“So was Ariana.””
Miles wiped his eyes quickly.
“I know.””
Principal Reynolds picked up another document.
“There is something else.””
Ariana looked at him.
“What?””
“This isn't just about the picture.””
Miles stiffened.
Mrs. Harris noticed.
“What else?””
Principal Reynolds opened a second file.
“Over the last two months, several students have reported incidents involving Miles.””
Miles shook his head.
“No.””
Mrs. Harris looked at the papers.
“What incidents?””
The principal read from the first report.
“Taking another student's hat and refusing to return it.””
Miles whispered, “I gave it back.””
“After an hour.””
He turned to another.
“Calling a student ‘teacher's pet’ repeatedly until the student stopped participating in class.””
“I was joking.””
“Posting a recording of another student stumbling during a presentation.””
Miles looked down.
“That was only in the group chat.””
Mrs. Harris stared at him.
“You recorded someone?””
“It was funny.””
“Was it funny to him?””
Miles didn't answer.
Principal Reynolds placed the report on the desk.
“There's a pattern.””
Mrs. Harris looked at the pile.
“How long?””
“Two months.””
She turned toward her son.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
Miles' voice broke.
“Because I knew you'd be mad.””
“I am mad.””
“I know.””
“No, Miles. I'm not mad because you made one bad joke.””
She leaned closer.
“I'm mad because you've been hurting people and calling it a joke.””
Miles cried silently.
Ariana looked away.
Principal Reynolds gave them a moment.
Then he said, “There is one final report.””
Miles looked up.
His face changed immediately.
“What report?””
The principal didn't answer.
Mrs. Harris noticed.
“What?””
Principal Reynolds opened the final folder.
“This one came in yesterday.””
He placed a single sheet on the table.
“Miles, this report says you threatened another student.””
Miles went completely still.
“I didn't.””
“You allegedly told him that if he reported you, you would make sure nobody sat with him at lunch.””
“That isn't true.””
“His name is Daniel.””
Miles' eyes widened.
Mrs. Harris whispered, “Daniel?””
“He's lying.””
Principal Reynolds looked directly at Miles.
“Daniel says you didn't just threaten him.””
Miles shook his head.
“No.””
“He says you showed him something.””
Miles' breathing changed.
“What?””
“A photograph.””
Ariana slowly looked at Miles.
Mrs. Harris' stomach dropped.
“What photograph?””
Miles backed away from the desk.
“I didn't show him anything.””
Principal Reynolds' expression was grim.
“Then perhaps you can explain why Daniel says you threatened him with the exact same picture.””
Miles stared at the principal.
“I can't.””
“Why not?””
“Because…”
He looked at his mother.
And for the first time, genuine terror appeared in his eyes.
“Because I didn't take that picture.””
Mrs. Harris frowned.
“Then who did?””
Miles shook his head.
“I don't know.””
Ariana stood.
“That isn't the picture I sent you.””
Everyone turned toward her.
She pointed at the folder.
“The picture Daniel saw was different.””
Principal Reynolds slowly opened the photograph.
Ariana covered her mouth.
Mrs. Harris stared at the image.
May you like
Then Miles whispered:
“That was never supposed to exist.””
