Page 170 of Breakaway Hearts

“What are you going to do?” Colt asks me.

“Fight back.” And there’s only one lawyer I actually trust right now. “Can I have Haylie’s number? Please,” I ask Owen.

He looks relieved as he hands me his phone. It’s already ringing.

Chapter Eighty

Madison

I’d love to try

The Milligans clearly know people, because there’s an emergency hearing scheduled when I refuse to take down the article. Haylie has been amazing, explaining everything to me (as well as multiple calls with my mom), and setting me up with a friend of hers who specializes in these types of cases. This first hearing is just to try and get me to take down the article while we wait for the trial, but we prep for it like it’s the real thing.

Handling exams while prepping for a trial is not for the faint of heart. I don’t think I failed any of them, but I put way more energy towards building a case against Trevor and the teammates I named in the article than anything else. And while I felt so alone after it happened, just me and Jason against the world, this time I’m surrounded. Jason is still my head cheerleader, but he and Owen are down for whatever my lawyer thinks will help. Tab, Sav, and Bree help me comb through all the online comments so I can reach out to everyone who had a bad experience with Trevor or his teammates. Owen’s housemates keep stopping by with food, coffee, and treats. Even Michaela, after calling to tell me how proud she was of me, wrote an article for the Weekly Wyn detailing what’s going on. She used all the right ‘allegedly’ language, but it’s clear to anyone who reads it who’s side she’s on, which makes it seem like the university supports me.

My lawyer says public opinion matters, so I’ll take the win, but it would be more reassuring if I wasn’t summoned to meet with the dean before I can resume classes. Seems there’s more than just tuition that could prevent me from staying at Wynchester, but I can only handle one crisis at a time.

Only Trevor, me, and our lawyers are allowed at the actual hearing, so Jason gives me a hug and Owen kisses me before I follow my lawyers into the judge’s chambers. Now that it’s here, I feel like I am going to throw up and pass out, but Haylie gives me a smile, like ‘you’ve got this!’ and I nod, even though I really don’t.

When Trevor walks in, it’s like all the air is sucked out of the room and I can’t breathe. I want to listen to whatever the judge says, but I’m overcome by memories. Flashbacks of that night, but also fun times we had before. Everything blurring together until I’m surprised I’m still conscious. But then his lawyer says something about how damaging lies like this can be to this promising young man’s future and my anger is back in full force, grounding me.

This isn’t to prove I’m telling the truth, so I don’t have to testify, they just need to prove that me leaving the article up is incredibly detrimental to Trevor. Which it obviously is, so I’m not sure how we expect to fight it, but I trust that Haylie and her friend know what they’re doing.

“Is it over?” I ask in a whisper when we have to rise again.

“Just a short recess,” she tells me apologetically, then looks at Trevor’s lawyer and nods. “Stay close, okay?”

The lawyers talk while I scan the hall for Owen and Jason, but this is either a different hallway, or they cleared everyone out.

“They want to talk. Are you up for that?” Haylie asks while Trevor’s lawyer lingers nearby. She told me it was a distinct possibility, that they might try to buy me off, which she wouldn’t judge me for accepting. But the point of this isn’t to get rich, or even to punish Trevor, it’s to protect the next girl.

I’d rather never be in close proximity to him ever again, but I also want this over with, so I won’t have to come back in a few months for a full trial.

My insides turn to ice when we walk into the small conference room and find Trevor sitting with his parents and lawyer.

“We are willing to waive the damages, as long as your client retracts her story and publicly apologizes,” the lawyer offers.

“That’s a terrible attempt at a deal,” Haylie’s friend warns me.

As if I couldn’t tell.

“Come on, the girl was upset Trevor broke up with her and she’s been spreading lies ever since.” Mrs. Milligan looks at me like I’m a foul, disgusting creature while the lawyer attempts to quiet her. Her being cruel when she was only ever nice to me when I’d go over, telling me how much she loved having a girl around, hurts more than I thought it would.

“Is that on the record? Because your son’s story was that they never even dated in the first place. That he would never,” Haylie points out.

“I misspoke,” she defends herself.

“We can cover your lawyer fees. With interest,” Mr. Milligan offers, looking like an accident might befall me if I say no. “Enough to cover law school. All it takes is a retraction and an apology. You made a mistake; no one’s future needs to be ruined.”

It’s tempting. Not even the money so much as ending this. Being able to stay at Wynchester. But all I can think of is the other girls they’ll do this to, of all the women who reached out saying something similar happened to them, and I either gave them the courage to come forward, or the comfort of not being alone.

“I do apologize,” I begin, getting a look from Haylie. “For not posting it sooner. For letting everyone silence me. But I will not be complicit anymore.”

“How dare you?” Trevor’s mom asks.

“Your best friend supporting your lies won’t hold up in court when every other boy on that team backed Trevor’s denial. Who would a jury believe?”

I hate that he’s right. That this isn’t my word against Trevor’s, it’s one random girl against an entire team of rich, elite, athletes. But unfortunately for everyone involved, I’m not the only one they did it to.