Chapter 3
Rainey's POV
After the bathroom incident, strangely enough, no one bothered me anymore.
The girls who'd been hostile toward me now went out of their way to avoid me, as if I carried some dangerous plague. Even Jessica—the ringleader who'd bullied me—couldn't even look me in the eye anymore.
I didn't know what had happened, but this eerie peace made me more uneasy than before. Like the calm before a storm, I felt something bigger brewing.
The only constant was Logan. He remained cold and distant toward me, as if we'd never known each other at all.
Friday afternoon, the school held an assembly in the gym for the spring camping trip.
"This year's destination is Olympic National Park!" Mr. Johnson, the PE teacher, announced excitedly. "It'll be a three-day, two-night outdoor survival challenge!"
Students below erupted in cheers. I sat in the back row, trying to stay invisible.
"Remember, this camping trip requires pairs. You have one hour to find your partner," Mr. Johnson continued.
My heart sank. No one would want to partner with me. I was destined to face this camping trip alone.
Just as I was about to leave, a gentle voice spoke behind me:
"Rainey, would you like to be my camping partner?"
I turned around in surprise to see a bright, sunny face. It was Mike Thompson, the school's football captain. He had brown hair and kind green eyes—the type of guy who instantly put you at ease.
"You... you sure?" I couldn't believe it. Mike was popular at school. Why would he choose a transfer student like me?
"Of course." Mike's smile was genuine. "I think you're interesting. And we can look out for each other."
Warmth flooded my heart. Finally, someone was willing to be kind to me.
"Then... okay. Thank you," I smiled gratefully.
Just then, a loud BANG echoed from the other side of the gym.
Everyone turned to see Logan standing under the basketball hoop, holding a completely deformed basketball. The ball had been crushed like a deflated balloon, totally losing its original shape.
"Logan! What are you doing?" Mr. Johnson frowned as he walked over.
"Accident," Logan said expressionlessly, dropping the basketball. "I'll pay for it."
His gaze swept over the crowd, finally landing on Mike and me. Those deep eyes held a dangerous glint that made me shiver involuntarily.
The next morning, I saw Mike in the hallway. He was standing with some football teammates, but when he saw me, his expression turned strange.
"Mike!" I walked toward him. "About the camping trip, we need to discuss—"
"Rainey." He cut me off, eyes darting away. "I think... I think we shouldn't camp together after all."
I froze. "What? Why?"
"I... I remembered I already promised to team up with someone else." His lie was clumsy—even he didn't believe it.
"Mike, what happened? Yesterday you were still—"
"Sorry, Rainey." He hurried away without even looking at me.
I stood in the hallway feeling the world spin around me. Mike, who'd been so friendly yesterday, now avoided me like the plague.
Something had definitely happened.
I remembered Logan's reaction in the gym yesterday, and that meaningful look in his eyes.
It was him.
At noon, I found Logan in a quiet corner of the library. He sat by the window reading, sunlight streaming through the glass onto his profile, making him look almost gentle.
But I knew it was just an illusion.
"Was it you?" I walked directly up to him and demanded.
He slowly looked up, expression still cold. "What?"
"Mike." I kept my voice low but filled with anger. "He was fine yesterday, today he's avoiding me like I'm some ghost. What did you say to him?"
Logan closed his book and leaned back in his chair. "I'm not that bored."
"Don't lie!" I said angrily. "Besides you, who else would—"
"Would what?" He interrupted, eyes turning dangerous. "You think I'd threaten people because of you? Don't flatter yourself."
"Then explain why—"
"Why what?" Logan stood up, looking down at me. "Why no one wants to be your friend? Why everyone avoids you? Maybe the problem isn't with other people."
His words cut into my heart like knives.
"You have no right to decide who can be my friend!" My voice trembled.
"I have no right?" Logan laughed coldly. "Then what right do you have to come back here and mess up everyone's lives?"
"I never wanted to mess up anyone's life!" My voice was almost pleading. "I just wanted... wanted a fresh start."
"Fresh start?" There was something unreadable in Logan's eyes. "Some things can't get a fresh start, Rainey. Some people, once they leave, should never come back."
"What did I even do wrong?" Tears finally fell. "We used to be best friends as kids. Why are you treating me like this now?"
Logan's expression wavered for a moment but quickly returned to cold indifference. He opened his mouth to say something, but just then—
"Looks like you two are having quite the heated discussion."
A gentle voice suddenly interrupted. We both turned to see a beautiful girl. She had long chestnut hair, fair skin, and delicate features.
"I'm Leah," she extended her hand. "Leah Clearwater."
I knew who she was. Leah Clearwater, the school's prom queen—not only beautiful but smart, every guy's dream girl.
"I'm Rainey." I shook her hand nervously while secretly wiping away tears.
"I know." She looked at Logan, then at me. "Are you two... fighting?"
Logan sat back down, expression returning to calm. "Just discussing some issues."
"Discussing?" Leah's tone was slightly teasing. "From what I just heard, it sounded more like you were hurting each other."
I felt my face burn, wondering how much she'd heard.
Leah sat next to me and said gently, "I saw Mike's attitude toward you today. Boys can be like that sometimes—their feelings change quickly. Don't take it to heart."
"I don't think it's that simple." I said quietly, glaring at Logan. "I suspect someone warned him off."
"Logan's cold to everyone. Don't take it personally." Leah glanced at Logan. "He... he has his reasons."
There seemed to be some meaning in her words that I couldn't understand.
"Are you two... friends?" I asked carefully.
Leah smiled. "Friends? Maybe. Our relationship is complicated—hard to explain quickly."
Logan suddenly spoke up: "She's going camping."
"I know." Leah looked at me. "I'm going too."
"Good," Logan nodded.
Leah chuckled softly. "Don't worry, I'll take good care of your... friends."
The way she said "friends" had an ambiguous tone. I sensed some kind of understanding between her and Logan that I couldn't grasp.
Logan stood up, giving me one last look. "You'd better be careful. The forest is much more dangerous than school."
"Is that a threat?" I couldn't help asking.
"It's advice." He picked up his book. "Whether you listen is up to you."
Then he left, leaving Leah and me staring at each other.
"Don't mind him," Leah said gently. "Logan's like that—he always disguises care as threats."
Care? I couldn't see any care in that.
Watching Leah and Logan's earlier interaction, I felt an inexplicable sense of loss. They clearly had a deep relationship, a kind of understanding and intimacy I could never reach.
Maybe Logan already had a new life, new friends, a new... girlfriend?
