A Popular Boy Asked Me to Dance at Prom When Everyone Else Avoided Me Because of My Scars — The Next Morning, His Parents and the Police Arrived at My House

Technically, that was the truth. But after they left, I couldn’t stop thinking about the place Caleb and the football players always went whenever they wanted privacy.

The abandoned buildings near the edge of town.

So I lied to my mom and told her I needed some fresh air.

Technically, that was the truth.

Then I grabbed my backpack and headed for the bus stop.

Because for the first time since the accident, it felt like the truth about the fire was finally within reach.

And I needed to hear it directly from Caleb.

The bus dropped me off three blocks away. The area used to be an old factory site before the town shut it down years ago. Now it was nothing but broken windows, graffiti, and teenagers hiding from adults.

I needed to hear it directly from Caleb.

I spotted a group of football players sitting outside one of the abandoned buildings almost immediately.

The second they noticed me approaching, the conversation died. A few exchanged looks. One guy laughed quietly under his breath. I ignored all of it and walked straight up to them.

“Has anyone seen Caleb?” I asked.

At first, nobody answered.…continue reading …