Chapter 16 - Brooke’s Truth
Brooke showed up at Carla’s house forty minutes later.
Alone.
No makeup.
No perfect ponytail.
No white jacket with gold lettering.
She looked fourteen instead of untouchable.
Carla did not want to let her in.
Lily did.
“I want to hear what she says.”
They sat in the living room with David present.
Brooke stared at her hands.
“My mom changed my scores.”
Nobody answered.
“I didn’t know at first.”
Lily’s face hardened. “You knew you were bullying me.”
Brooke flinched.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Brooke’s eyes filled.
“Because every time you did better than me, my mom would tell me you were trying to take my future.”
“That’s not an excuse.”
“I know.”
“Then stop talking like it is.”
Brooke nodded.
Emma watched Lily carefully.
This was not forgiveness.
It shouldn’t be.
Brooke pulled out her phone.
“I have messages from my mom. And Ms. Vale.”
She handed it to David.
Texts instructed Brooke where to stand, which student would be moved, when judges would see certain routines, even which girls were “safe” to pressure because their parents were unlikely to complain publicly.
One message made Emma’s skin crawl.
VIVIAN: KEEP LILY SHAKEN. SHE DANCES TOO WELL WHEN SHE FEELS SAFE.
Lily went pale.
Brooke started crying.
“I slapped you because my mom said if you embarrassed me again, I could forget nationals.”
Lily stood.
“You still slapped me.”
“I know.”
“No, I don’t think you do.”
Lily walked out of the room.
Brooke covered her face.
Emma did not comfort her.
Consequences were not cruelty.
David copied the messages.
“Will you give a statement?”
Brooke nodded.
“Against your mother?”
A long pause.
Then: “Yes.”
The front door opened.
Everyone turned.
Carla had locked it.
But someone was entering with a key.
Vivian Sanders stepped inside.
She looked at Brooke.
May you like
Her face went white.
“What have you done?”
