"Dad?" Poe asks that evening, after he arrives home from his internship. "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure thing." His father sets the newspaper down, and Poe tries not to let the title suck in his gaze: WILL MAYOR BE ABLE TO GET HUSBAND OFF FOR SCHOOL ARSONS? "I can't believe I used to write for this maniac."
Beebee-Ate leaps onto Poe's lap, and Poe cuddles the cat to his chest. "What if you knew someone had done something bad—like—" He wracks his mind. "—like cheated on a test, an important test like the SATs or something, but there was no real way to prove it? Would you tell?"
"Someone cheated on their SATs?"
Poe groans. "No. It's just an example."
Dad cocks his head, frowning as he studies his son. "It entirely depends on the situation, son. Unless you're willing to tell me, I can't really comment."
Poe runs his hands over Beebee-Ate's soft fur.
Dad sighs. "I'd say that you'd have to accept two facts that, unfortunately, most teenagers are unable to grasp. One, people are going to cheat and get ahead. Life isn't fair like that, and you'll have to learn when you should make it your business and when you shouldn't. Two, not everything is black and white, light and dark, good and bad. Maybe a kid who cheats on the SATs is under a ton of pressure."
Poe blows his breath out. Not super helpful.
Isn't Ben under pressure, though?
"That being said," Dad continues as Poe plants a kiss on Beebee-Ate's head. "If you can't prove it, the most you could do is confront that person."
Proof.
Poe hates proofs. In geometry, and math. And now, apparently in real life.
But he has an idea and texts Finn a picture of Beebee-Ate rolling on his back on Poe's lap with the caption "Eureka!"
You're both cute, Finn responds, and Poe grins at his boldness.
I have an idea, Poe texts. For how we can prove Han didn't do it.
How? U know he and Rey are hooking up. That makes me wonder whether he's even guilty.
We can get him to confess, and then record him. Poe stares at his phone, waiting for Finn's response. He hopes Finn doesn't lash out at him, tell him it's a stupid idea, that he should just let it go. Because Poe can't let it go.
How on earth are we gonna do that?
Working on it.
Finn watches as Rey texts someone in the morning. Just like she was texting all last night. Finn's fairly certain he knows exactly who's on the receiving end of her messages, and it doesn't make any sense. Why would Rey make out with Ben Solo unless she knew he was innocent? And if she did, why wouldn't she just say so?
People are like families, Finn decides. Way more complicated than he originally thought.
She's not going to like it if you and Poe go through with this.
Finn swallows. Poe's horn blares from outside.
"Have a good day!" Luke calls. "Snow's not starting until late tonight, so if you two decide to go somewhere after school, just text."
"Will do." Finn smiles.
"How's it going?" Poe greets them.
"Good," Rey says cheerily.
"Okay, Rey, I've just got to say it," Poe declares. "I don't like whatever's going on between you and Ben."
"I didn't ask your permission," Rey retorts, but her eyes narrow and Finn's stomach pinches.
"Rey, we're just worried about you because you're our friend," Finn tries.
"And you're both my friends," Rey pleads. "Can't you trust me a little? Ben and I—Ben—things aren't exactly what they seem. Can you cut me and him some slack for just a little bit longer?" Her voice cracks.
"Aw, shit," Poe says.
"Of course, Rey," Finn agrees. "I don't mean to make you upset—it's just—when we think about Han—"
"Han matters to me, too." Rey meets Finn's gaze, her hazel eyes unwavering. "Maybe Ben's not the one you should be angriest at, though."
"Snoke?" Finn ventures.
Rey bites her lip. She won't answer, but that's answer enough. Her hands grip her upper left arm, and Finn's mind travels back to Saturday night, when they came across Ben's car wreck, when Rey bandaged his arm.
Those bruises.
Finn claps his hand over his mouth.
"Okay," Poe says. "I'll trust you. I just—sorry."
"It's okay," Rey assures him.
Is it? Finn wonders.
During lunch, Rey slips away, and Finn and Poe head off towards the bleachers again. The sky broils above, bloated and gray and angry. Finn almost expects to find Rey and Ben necking each other, but they're not there.
"Poe," Finn admits. "I don't know that this is such a great idea."
"Me either," Poe says. "I mean—I can't let injustice—I mean, Han—" He blows out his breath. "But Snoke is scary, man."
"And Ben's just a kid, like us," Finn says. "Do you remember those bruises? On Ben's arm, the ones he said were from the crash?"
"Yeah."
"What if they weren't?" Finn reaches his hand out and grabs Poe's arm, pressing carefully so that Poe can visualize the splaying of his fingers with the bruises.
"Shit." Poe drags his hand through his hair. "What can we do?"
"No proof," Finn mutters, kicking at a stray rock that'll soon be buried under two feet of snow, if the predictions hold.
Poe grips Finn's other arm. "We're going to have to stay under the radar from Snoke, then. I can tell you he already doesn't like you, or me. We're too close to Luke, to the mayor."
"Yeah." Finn nods and moves his hand from Poe's arm to the back of Poe's neck, and then Poe's exploring his mouth with his own.
"I'm sorry," Poe says as he breaks apart. "I just—I feel this intense need to do everything right, you know? To fix things, make things right."
"I'm okay with that," Finn says. Because he is. Poe isn't perfect, but Poe likes him and wants him, and Finn likes Poe and wants him too, and Finn knows that Poe's heart is good under his skin. Maybe, Finn thinks. Maybe mine is, too.
"Would you look at that?" interrupts a sinister voice.
"Where are they going?" Rey gasps as she and Ben huddle behind a tree, her arms wrapped around his neck as they watch Hux, Phasma, Mitaka, and Nines march across the field. Their raucous laughter interrupted their make-out session, and Rey's annoyed.
"Presumably behind the bleachers."
"For what, an orgy?" Rey interlaces her fingers with Ben's, listening to the silence, until she hears Hux crow in an all-too-happy voice.
And Finn shouts something she can't distinguish, but she knows it's him. "Finn!" Rey yelps, tearing her hand out of Ben's and racing across the field. "Poe!" She can't see Poe, but she knows he has to be there.
Phasma taunts them. Something about not being able to escape in a car this time.
Hux yells his homophobic slur again as Rey draws close. She spots Phasma holding Poe with his arm twisted behind his back as if threatening to break it, and Nines kicking Finn.
"Wait until the school sees these!" yells Mitaka, holding his phone high. On the screen, Rey makes out what looks like photos of Finn and Poe making out.
Rey charges right for him and tears the phone out of his hand, smashing it on the bleachers. Glass splinters.
"You bitch!" Mitaka shouts, whirling on her, but Rey ducks his blow and kicks him square in the chest.
"Let him go, Phasma!" Ben rushes at her.
"Traitor!" Phasma yells at him.
Ben grabs her by the shoulders, trying to wrestle her away from Poe. "I said let him go!"
Poe slams the back of his head into Phasma's jaw. Her teeth clack together loud enough for Rey to hear it.
Rey lunges for Nines, shoving him. He grabs her by the neck and throws her to the ground.
"Leave her alone!" Finn scrambles to his knees, throwing his arms around Nines's legs and dragging him to the ground. Nines rolls on top of Finn, punching him in the face.
Rey tries to lunge for him, but Mitaka digs his fingers into her scalp, yanking her by the hair. She screams as he shoves her head into the dirt.
Concentrate. Rey closes her eyes, trying to remember all the fights she was in in Jakku. She throws her legs around Mitaka's waist, hurling him to the ground and leaping upright herself to see Phasma decking Ben in the chin. Poe grabs the girl by her shirt, trying to drag her away from Ben.
Hux is nowhere to be found.
Coward. Rey throws herself at Nines, kicking him off of Finn.
Stronger arms wrap around her. Rey flails, but to no avail.
"Stop fighting me!" bellows Mr. Statura as he hauls her onto the bleachers. Rey gasps as she watches Mr. Ematt jumping between Phasma and Ben, Mr. Ackbar grabbing Poe by the elbow and dragging him away. Nines backs away from Finn, his hands raised as if under arrest.
"Oh my God!" shrieks Jess. Rey turns to see her and Snap and about half the school racing towards them.
"Look!" Hux shrieks, crawling out from under the bleachers. "I still have pictures of the two—"
Mr. Ackbar snatches the phone. "Now you don't!"
Behind the mob, Rey spots Snoke striding towards them.
"We're dead," Poe says to her.
"What do you think it will be this time?" Rey wonders aloud as she, Ben, Poe, and Finn squeeze onto one bench. Hux, Phasma, Nines, and Mitaka sit opposite them.
"Not a one day suspension," Finn predicts. Mr. Ackbar, Mr. Ematt, and Mr. Statura are all in with Snoke, hopefully arguing in favor of mercy.
Rey takes Ben's hand and watches Hux's nostrils flare. She doesn't care.
The door opens. The teachers exit. "All of you, stand up," Snoke directs. "Teachers, if you please."
Scowling, all the teachers make to move the now-empty benches into Snoke's office.
"Your parents—or guardians—have all been called," Snoke informs them. "Each one of them is on their way. I daresay, Ben Solo, your mother might miss an important hearing this afternoon, won't she?"
Rey squeezes Ben's hand as he flinches.
"When they get here," Snoke continues. "I will talk to all of your parents together and explain the situation. Then I will see all of you in together. And if I hear any talking, or if my secretary hears any talking, none of you will ever darken my school again, do you understand me?"
"Mr. Snoke—" Hux tries.
"That includes you!"
Hux snaps his mouth shut, beady eyes narrowing on Ben.
"Until then, Mr. Statura has agreed to watch all of you in his classroom. Go." Snoke waves his hand.
"Do you think he had any idea how exhausting this job would be when he wanted it so badly?" Poe whispers behind them as they troop into the hall.
"Quiet, Dameron!" snaps Mr. Statura. "Don't make me report you."
Jess passes them in the hallway, mouthing good luck.
Thanks, Rey mouths back. She would text, but Snoke's confiscated all of their phones.
Mitaka titters as he sees Finn take Poe's hand, and Rey sees it happening before Poe turns around.
"Yeah, that's right!" Poe says, raising their intertwined hands high. "Finn and I are dating. Deal with it, homophobes!"
Mr. Statura windmills his arms. "Quiet!" But at the same time, he looks at Finn and Poe with a distinct smile.
Hux knots his brow together in rage.
Rey leans against Ben's shoulder as the minutes tick by. There's nothing else she can do except feel him breathe.
After a full forty minutes, Mr. Statura's phone rings. "No talking in the hall, and I mean that!" he threatens as he marches them back towards the office.
Rey wonders what Luke thinks. Did Snoke portray it fairly? How angry is Luke? She curls her fists, feeling the swelling in her knuckles. Will he understand that she was just trying to defend her friends?