No one cared about my explanation when I tried to give one.

In fact, the more I explained, the weirder their looks became.

“Whatever,” Ethan scoffed. “It’s not like I’m hurting for one watch.”

He magnanimously told everyone he’d just consider it lost.

Case closed.

But I wasn’t about to let someone drag my name through the mud like that.

As Ethan turned to leave, I reached out and stopped him, telling him we were going to check the security footage.

Ethan shot me a cold, mocking look.

I expected him to refuse.

What I never, ever expected was for Chloe to be the one to stop me.

She leaned in close and whispered, “It’s okay, Leo. It’s over now.”

That’s what Chloe always did when I was getting upset.

Her soft words would usually be enough to calm my rising temper.

“I didn’t take it,” I said, looking down at her, a little desperate. “My dad came to bring me lunch. I went back to the classroom during P.E. to put the container away. I didn’t do anything.”

All I did was go back to the classroom to drop off the pulled pork.

My dad had made a special trip to bring it over.

He said it was my birthday, so I should have something good to eat.

But Chloe didn't seem to care what I was saying.

She said it didn’t matter, that whatever I did, she could fix it for me.

But why didn't it matter?

I didn't do anything.

Doesn’t Chloe know how important a person’s reputation is?

I insisted on checking the security footage, and Chloe, who had been trying to hold me back, finally lost her patience.

She suddenly let go of my arm and laughed.

It was a soft, faint laugh.

I finally realized something was wrong, and I slowly lifted my head to meet her gaze.

I saw the smile on her face.

And I saw, in her eyes, the same undisguised mockery as everyone else.

“Can you drop the act already?”

“Did you really not take it?” her voice was sharp with sarcasm. “I remember you saying a few days ago that you were short on cash?”

“Oh, and the security camera in the classroom? It just happened to break yesterday.”

“Leo, are you telling me you really didn't know that?”

A loud ringing filled my ears.

For some reason, in that moment, I suddenly remembered something Ethan had once told me.

He said, you still don’t get it. You and Chloe are from two completely different worlds.

I didn’t get it then.

But in that instant, I finally understood.

Chloe, the golden girl who’d been spoiled her whole life, had a prejudice against poor people baked into her bones.

When it came down to it, she would always, without hesitation, believe Ethan, the guy from her own circle.

Chloe knew better than anyone how much a reputation mattered.

She just never believed me from the very beginning.

The shrill sound of the bell rang.

It blended with Ethan’s laughter.

In the chaos, someone bumped into a desk.

I spun around in horror, just in time to see the container of pulled pork fall off the edge.

The food scattered all over the floor, and the saucy meat rolled a couple of times before stopping at my feet.

It was covered in dust and scraps of paper.

I stared at it, stunned, suddenly unable to say a word.

The last tightly wound string in my mind snapped.

Chloe’s voice was still going on beside me, saying, “If you need money, you just have to tell me. Why do this?”

But I couldn't listen anymore. I took a deep breath and violently kicked a desk.

The screech of metal against the floor cut her off.

I stared straight at her, my voice filled with utter disappointment.

“Chloe, my family is poor.”

“But I don't steal!”