The officers stopped directly in front of us.
The tallest one, his badge catching the lights from the gym, looked at Caleb with a careful expression.
“Sir, you need to come with us immediately.”
My knees nearly buckled. I clutched Caleb’s sleeve, my voice barely more than a whisper.
“What is happening? What did he do?”
The officer glanced at me, surprise crossing his face. “So you have no idea what Caleb did?”
I turned to Caleb. He had gone pale beside me. The entire gym had fallen silent, phones raised, eyes wide.
Caleb finally spoke, his voice low and shaking. “Hannah, I have to tell you everything. Right now. In front of everyone. Three weeks ago, Brittany and her friends offered me money to ask you to prom.”
I burst into tears. “No, this can’t be true. Caleb, how could you do this to me?”
“I’m sorry.” Caleb reached toward me, but I stepped back. “They wanted me to dance with you, make you believe it was real, and let them film your face when they revealed the joke. I agreed, but only because I knew it was the only way to nail them.”
