Chapter 1"Listen up. Someone used a dirty needle in this line."
Freshman year, we're in line for bloodwork when the nurse yells.
Total chaos. Everyone's freaking out.
Then campus queen Brynn steps in front of everyone and bows to me.
"Rhett, I'm so sorry! I picked it up off the floor—thought it was still sealed."
"Didn't know it was dirty. And it ended up being used on you. You're not mad, right?"
Every head snaps toward me.
Oh. So I'm the one with the STD?
Before I can say anything, my boyfriend Jace jumps in front of Brynn.
"She was just trying to help! She said sorry. Take it and move on."
"It's just a disease. You'll live. But if you make this a big deal? I'm out. That whole family arrangement thing? Over. I'll dump your ass."
I just look at him. Smile.
Five minutes ago, Jace cut in front of me. Wanted to hurry up and go hang with Brynn.
Took my spot.
That STD needle? Yeah. That was on HIM.
---
"You serious?" I go. "You really wanna do this?"
God, please.
This was just some drunk shit our grandpas made up at a BBQ like fifteen years ago. I've wanted out since I was fourteen.
"Hell yeah I'm serious!" Jace's neck goes red—he does that when he's trapped. "Brynn apologized. What else you want? Get over it. "
Brynn clings to his arm, eyes all wet and fake. "Jace, don't be like that. Rhett must be so hurt. I mean, I grabbed the wrong needle, but she got it. Guess it's fate."
I can't even with this. "Fine. Break up. Cancel it."
Jace blinks. Didn't see that coming.
"Great!"
He whips out his phone. "Calling my parents. I'm dumping the STD girl."
Stands there yelling into his phone about finally being free.
Nurse walks up to me with a clipboard. "Sign here. Then private room for more tests."
Jace hangs up. Spits near my feet. Pulls Brynn back a few steps.
"Everyone hear that? Her name's Rhett Caldwell. Stay the hell away. This shit spreads fast."
I sign the paper. Nod.
"Yeah. Stay away. All of you. Especially you, Jace. And you, Brynn. Don't come near me."
Brynn's fists are tight. She wanted me to break down, cry—something to post.
But I'm just standing here.
She rubs her eyes fake and walks over, holding out a wipe. "Rhett, I'm sorry. Here. Even if everyone avoids you, I'll help you get aid."
I knock her hand away. Wipes hit the floor. "Stop. You suck at acting. I just ate—you're making me sick."
She gasps, grabs her wrist like I broke it, tears right on time. "I was just trying to help... why are you so mean?"
Jace snaps. He comes at me, hand up.
I lift my chin. "Go ahead. One hit, ten grand. Do it."
He stops. "You—"
"Instead of worrying about her, worry about yourself."
Chapter 2
They stick me in a private room at the end of the hall.
Everyone else gets sent to the group area on the other side.
I'm not even sitting yet when someone knocks on the glass.
My advisor's standing there in a mask. Behind her, Jace and Brynn are lurking.
"Rhett, I talked to the health center director. To calm people down and...for your own good...I think you should take a leave."
The investigation hasn't even started, and they're already trying to get rid of me.
"Why?"
Her eyebrows pinch. "The whole class is freaked out. This looks bad for the school."
"I'm the victim. We're all stuck here. We don't even have results yet, and you're already trying to kick me out?"
"It's for you—"
For me. Yeah, right.
"Blood results come back today. Tomorrow at the latest." I lean in. "You wanna kick me out before that? Fine. But is this official, or just you? 'Cause I'll call the cops. And the news."
Her face goes rigid.
Jace cuts in, pointing at the glass. "Rhett, don't be a bitch! She's giving you an out! You wanna get expelled?"
"You know what your problem is?" I ask him. "Brynn's so far up your ass, she's living in your head rent-free."
Brynn leans into him, all shaky. "Jace, don't push her...Rhett must be hurting so bad. I don't care if she talks crap about me."
She turns those big wet eyes toward the glass. "I mean, I did grab the wrong needle. But she's a risk now. For everyone's safety, we should probably tell her to leave."
Classic Brynn. Acts sweet while making everything worse.
Jace's lip curls. "One last chance. For our families. Sign it, pretend this never happened, and I'll send you a few hundred a month."
He smirks—that ugly thing he does. "Be real. Once people hear you got this, no guy's gonna come near you. You're ruined. I'm probably the only one who'd still deal with you."
I wave him off and lay back, pulling the blanket up. "Keep it. You'll need it for your own meds."
The advisor storms off. Window slams.
I grab my phone and open the group chat. Jace is going off.
Jace: breaking news—Rhett just got called in. Forced leave incoming!!!
Here comes everyone.
Jake: finally. Get her out.
Maya: gross. I know it was an accident but she's the one who got it. Basically a plague carrier now.
Tori: why is she even here? Trying to get us all sick?
Chapter 3
By afternoon, the rush bloodwork comes back. Clean.
I grab the printout, walk to the advisor's office, and slap it on her desk.
She stares at it. Says nothing.
No infection means no leave. No lockdown. I'm free.
I walk into Intro to Psych, the room goes dead quiet.
Before I can sit, people are scrambling back, hands over their mouths, pushing each other to get away.
"Why is she here? I thought she had...you know."
Jace is in the front row, Brynn tucked under his arm.
"I'm taking Brynn home this weekend for our engagement party," he says. "Rhett, stay away. I don't want you near her."
Brynn giggles. "Jace, don't be mean. Her body might be ruined, but at least her brain works, right? She wants to learn."
The whole room cracks up.
After class, I go to the bathroom. Brynn follows.
"So what if your test came back clean?" she says, fixing her hair in the mirror.
"All that means is you got lucky. Everyone still thinks you're sick. You're never gonna live this down."
I dry my hands. Hit record on my phone.
"So you knew that needle was dirty when you planted it. You tried to give it to me on purpose."
She covers her mouth, giggling. "So what if I did?"
"You think you're better than everyone," she spits, sweet gone. "I wanted to bring you down. Make sure you never looked anyone in the eye again."
She steps closer, voice low. "And guess what? Doesn't matter your test is clean. Everyone thinks you're sick. You'll never shake that."
She bounces off.
I stop the recording. Save it.
Assault charges. Minimum.
A week goes by.
Jace and Brynn are everywhere—holding hands, making out, posting pics every two hours.
I'm invisible. Eat alone. Study alone. Walk alone.
But I'm not worried. I did the math.
Incubation for what that needle carried? Symptoms should show up right about...now.
Friday afternoon, Jace is slumped over his desk. Looks like crap. Face red, coughing into his sleeve.
Brynn puts her hand on his forehead. "Jace, you're burning up!"
He waves her off. Voice rough. "It's nothing. Probably just a cold. Left the window open."
"My neck's kinda sore too," he says, rubbing that lump. "Feels like a lump."
Brynn digs through her bag. Pulls out Tylenol and water. "Here. It's just a cold. Sleep it off."
"We have the engagement party tomorrow," she says. "You can't be sick for that."
Jace takes the pills. Grabs her hand. "Don't worry. For you, I'll be fine. After tomorrow, I'm done with Rhett. For good."
Brynn's eyes get all wet. She leans into him.
I watch from the back. Say nothing.
Keep taking those Tylenol, Jace.
You'll figure it out—Tylenol won't fix this.
