“If it weren’t for Melody, I never would have gotten into a top university!”
The bystanders nodded. “That makes sense. Someone who would give up their precious time in senior year
to help a classmate can’t be a bad person.”
“And what the officer said earlier, about her wanting to be under surveillance even in the bathroom for three
days to reflect on her actions.”
“All of this proves that Melody hasn’t changed. She’s still a good person.”
“So, what Mark said doesn’t add up. If Melody has been pointing the finger at Stella from the beginning, she
must have a good reason!”
Mark and Stella were completely blindsided. In just a short time, the crowd had gone from condemning me to defending me.
Mark’s voice rose to a shriek. “You people are all blind! The security footage shows Melody is the one who did wrong! How can you still defend her?”
“I know! You must be paid trolls she hired! I’m calling the police! I’ll have all of you arrested for inciting public
opinion!”
His words enraged the crowd. They couldn’t believe that just for speaking their minds, they were being acc-
used of being paid actors. They had been trying to be impartial, but now, they were firmly on my side. They
surrounded Mark and Stella, showering them with spit and vitriol.
“Who do you think you are, telling people what to say? We’re speaking our minds! We’ll say what we want!
What’s it to you?”
“You can’t control what I do or say! I’d say the same thing to God himself!”
Mark and Stella were red–faced with anger, on the verge of a full–blown argument with the crowd.
Just then, Officer Davis returned with the representatives from the surveillance room, a grave expression on
his face as he looked at me.
Mark saw his expression and was overjoyed. He pointed at me and shouted, “See! I told you Melody wasn’t
innocent! Officer Davis, she must have tricked you!”
“What’s the verdict? She wasn’t in the footage, was she?”
Stella’s expression also relaxed. After a long look at my chest, she said in her syrupy sweet voice, “Melody,
after all your troublemaking, I can finally have some peace.”
“Some people are just like mad dogs, biting at everyone they see.”
But the next moment, Officer Davis contradicted them. “What are you talking about?”
“The representatives all saw it. The surveillance footage shows that Melody was indeed in the holding cell for three days and never left.”
