Chapter 203

“Alright.” Fletcher didn’t argue. He turned to Claire. ““Let’s go, Claire p>

Claire thanked Sammie. Seeing Claire’s bright, genuine smile, Sammie felt a bit dazed. Before he could say anything else, Claire and Fletcher were already gone.

Out in the hallway, they ran into a tall, sharp-looking young man. Fletcher spotted him and called out, “Norris p>

Norris nodded at Fletcher.

“Claire, wait for me over there,” Fletcher said, pointing to a bench near the courtyard. “I’ll just be a minute. Need to talk to Norris p>

Claire glanced at Norris. He looked young and handsome, but there was something about his serious face that made him seem tough and a little intimidating. She wondered if he might be one of the instructors at the winter camp.

Fletcher caught up to Norris. “Norris, can I talk to you for a sec p>

Norris stopped, a book tucked under his arm. He looked at Fletcher. “What’s up p>

Fletcher lowered his voice, glancing around. “It’s about the stuff going on online He told Norris about the rumors and explained that Sammie wanted Claire to go to the police. Fletcher admitted he thought the situation had already gotten out of hand and dragging it out would just make things worse. If Claire’s adoptive mother got involved, Claire would be stuck in the middle of all the gossip. Either way, her reputation would take a hit, no matter what happened in court. Fletcher felt like he was just trying to protect Claire-and keep things from blowing up for the math association, too.

After listening, Norris actually agreed with Sammie. “Reporting it to the police is the best way to stop the rumors from spreading. It also keeps whoever’s behind all this from dragging other people into it p>

He looked at Fletcher. “You’re worrying too much. Have you even thought about what Claire wants p>

“If she goes to winter camp, her adoptive mother’s just going to keep harassing her. That’ll mess with her focus, maybe even ruin her shot at the competition p>

“Going to court is how she stands up for herself and makes her adoptive mother back off p>

“I’m with Sammie and the teachers on this one p>

That was that. Norris definitely wasn’t going to help Fletcher change Sammie’s mind.

Fletcher hesitated for a second. “Maybe you’re right.” Maybe he was overthinking it after all.

Once Claire reported everything to the police, the investigation started right away Tracking down the person spreading rumors online wasn thard for the cybertini Age soon as they figured out who it was, they let the Apex local police know.

The Apex police couldn’t believe someone would spend their time making up stories

to attack a high schooler in a math competition. What were people even thinking? Slandering a kid—what did they get out of it?

They traced the internet connection

back to a certain internet cafe, checked the security footage, and

quickly arrested the person responsible. It turned out to be Mario, a journalism major at Apex Communication University

At first, Mario wouldn’t admit to anything. He insisted he was just standing up for justice, exposing

wrongdong When the palice et

pressed him, he finally admitted that Molly had paid him to spread rumors about Claire cheating.

“Shouldn’t you be investigating that girl who actually cheated?” he protested. “Why

are you arresting me? I’m telling the truth. My cousin’s in her class and knows her really well p>

“She wouldn’t lie to me p>

“Claire’s got a sugar daddy—some big-shot official. How else could she have gotten the answers for the competition p>

Mario sounded completely sure of himself.