The J. S. Thornton Rehabilitation Center officially released Miss Camilla Bronson last night, Wednesday, October 4th at 7:30pm which she did inform Dominic and Yor about. Yor sent a note since she had to watch Yuri, and Dominic settled for sending flowers since Camilla rejected his request to pick her up.

She did not, however, inform them that she would be back at school today. It wasn't because she was trying to stir up drama; it was quite the opposite: she knew she was infamous now and letting anyone know when she intended to return would've given her haters time to scheme. She simply wished to avoid a few barbs and some of the fallout that would inevitably hit Dominic and Yor.

She took one of those deep breaths and exhaled it fully before exiting the car. She kept her gaze fixed up and ahead as she walked around campus. Even without her periphery, she knew that there were shocked, confused, and angry faces around her. 'Keep going. You are Camilla Bronson. You can do this.'

And she almost did make it all the way to her first period English lecture without hassle except for those two. Sharon and Millie didn't falter when they saw her, bounding up to her with conspiratorial smirks.

"Cammy! You're back. How was prison?" Sharon said.

"Oops, I think you meant rehab. Camilla has a drug addiction, remember?" Millie said before laughing.

Camilla took another of her deep breaths. She was not going to let these two goons bait her with their petty insults. "Sharon. Millie."

"So cold for your best friends. Are we still heartbroken about Dominic?" Sharon said.

"Oh, he's still single? Do you think I have a shot?" Millie said.

Camilla snorted. "I wouldn't hold my breath."

"Like you're so perfect that he's going to be stuck on you forever. Someone certainly got a big head in rehab," Millie said.

"Get with the times, Camilla. You're not the head bitch anymore. Everyone knows that you're a druggie and a slut," Sharon said.

"Wh—what are you talking about?" Camilla said.

Sharon smiled condescendingly. "You didn't hear? I guess it must've happened when you were still locked up. Jared Vanderpool from Brightmore admitted that you two had hooked up three years ago. We may have helped spread that interesting piece of news."

Camilla had blocked out as much of that night as possible including the name. Hearing it had her heart racing and her breath short and fast as she clutched at lungs that wouldn't open enough.

"What is wittle Camilla gonna cry?" Millie said.

"Grow up!" Sharon said.

A weight fell on Camilla's shoulders. "Fuck off. Leave Camilla alone," Dominic said.

"Didn't you get the memo? You are broken up. You don't have to white knight for Camilla anymore."

"Yeah, besides there's other girls who aren't dirty who'd love a chance with you," Millie said.

"I guess I wasn't clear before: fuck off," he said.

The pair wandered off talking about what a joke Dominic was for remaining on Camilla's side.

Dominic turned to face Camilla fully resting both of his hands on her shoulders. "Are you all right?"

Camilla had started crying at some point in that exchange from the distress of the flashbacks and the panic. She was unable to answer his question but threw herself into his arms with her last bit of mobility before the panic paralysis began.

He hugged her tightly tucking her head under his chin. "For the record, I don't believe a word those two say. And I know that I don't have to stand up for you, but I want to. You don't let me very often."

He stayed with her holding her close until her panic subsided.

When she disentangled herself, she kept her gaze down and wiped her tears. "They're not entirely wrong."

"What?"

'About two things actually, but I can't talk about that yet.' She sighed. "There are other girls, girls who aren't drug addicts and messes."

"Eh. They aren't Camilla Bronson."

She blushed. "Dominic."

"I know, I know. Can I platonically walk you to class?"

She laughed. "Why not? People are going to speculate about us no matter what we do."

"I don't mind. It's sort of nice in a way: getting to be your boyfriend again. Well only in rumors."

She took his offered arm. 'I'm so sorry, Dominic.'