The hallway felt heavier than usual, You spotted Rick moving stiffly down the hall, shoulders hunched, his backpack hugged tight against his chest. He looked like a ghost—haunted, broken, and boiling just beneath the surface.

You stepped forward, your voice soft. “Rick… I didn’t think they’d take it that far.”

He didn’t even glance at you. His eyes slid right past, sharp and empty, and locked on Jimmy down the hall.

At first, you didn’t understand why. Then you remembered whispers, things you’d half-heard in the chaos after the game show. It wasn’t Jimmy at all, it was Jay and Spinner. They were the ones who thought it’d be hilarious to cover Rick in paint and feathers in front of the entire school. But somehow, Jay had twisted it around and planted the idea in Rick’s head that Jimmy was behind it.

And Rick believed it. You could see it in the way his jaw clenched.

“Rick, wait,” you said quickly, reaching for his arm before he could take another step. He ripped his arm out of your grip like your touch burned.

Your stomach knotted, and you moved after him as he walked, staying just at his shoulder, terrified of what you knew was about to happen.

Jimmy looked up from his locker when Rick approached. “How you holding up?”

Rick’s voice came out clipped. “Good.”

Jimmy nodded. “That’s good. Kind of surprised to see you here this afternoon.”

“Yeah,” Rick said, his voice tightening. “I bet you are.”

Jimmy shifted, his voice gentler now, like he thought kindness might help. “Look, I’m really sorry about everything, okay? And if those guys give you any more problems, I got your back.”

Rick froze, his whole body stiff, eyes blazing with betrayal. “You stabbed me in the back.”

Jimmy blinked, frowning. “What?”

“You set the whole thing up.”

Before you even knew it, Rick’s hand slid into his backpack.