That Popular Guy, Yeah, I Destroyed Him - Chapter 16: Chapter 16

Parker was suspended from school almost immediately.
The evidence of his cheating—that damning USB drive—sealed his fate.
Once the truth came out, everyone learned about his mental illness. Apologies flooded in, even from the school's golden girl.
But not all the reactions were remorseful.
Take Fiona, for example.
She'd picked up on Parker's bipolar disorder not long after I had.
So she came to me, hoping I'd help take him down.
"A few times when he went off the rails drinking, he wouldn't stop screaming your name," she said, handing me the USB with a knowing smile. "One second he was declaring his love, the next he was cursing you for being cold. That's when I knew—something was seriously wrong with him."
The suspension wasn't the only fallout. Rumor had it Parker's parents finally called it quits.
Years of chaos, screaming matches, and drama—all ending with his diagnosis.
His mother quit her job, determined to focus on his care.
When she called me, I was sitting by Luke's hospital bed, flipping through a book.
"Zoe... about everything that happened... I'm sorry. Maybe someday... you could visit him?"
I let her down gently.
Luke missed the joint exam, but his recovery was quick.
He was fuming, ruffling my hair like an overgrown puppy.
"You took Parker down behind my back? Didn't even clue me in? Way to make me look useless!"
I just laughed. "What's the problem? As long as one of us is useful."
He was getting discharged soon.
Out of nowhere, I asked: "That day outside the infirmary... were you about to confess to me?"
He froze, suddenly very interested in adjusting his sling. "...Why bring that up now?"
His silence was answer enough.
"Typical rich boy, falling for a pretty face."
I rolled my eyes. "Weren't you worried I might've been one of those tragic heroines? The kind who'd endure Parker's abuse a thousand times and still worship him like some tragic love story? Then turn around and rat out his best friend for having a crush on me?"
"No way," Luke scoffed. "You're way too sharp for that. Besides..." He smirked. "Who said it was just about looks?"
Luke was smarter than he let on.
Before I transferred, he'd visited our school for a competition.
Him and his friends looked like a walking detention slip—all leather jackets and cocky grins.
Someone joked, "Luke, with that face, you've probably got half the school swooning, huh?"
The idiot actually preened. "You're not wrong. My charm's a rare commodity."
That's when I walked past.
Back then, I wasn't isolated yet. Parker wasn't so far gone.
"There's a film crew outside the gates. Maybe you should audition—they're probably casting spoiled rich kids."
The words left my mouth before I could stop them. I didn't even glance at him as I disappeared into the building.
Luke's gaze followed me.
"Oof. This one's immune, Luke."
At the time, Luke's disciplinary file was thicker than a dictionary.
Only one rule remained unbroken: No early dating.
Then he turned and saw the school's honor board.
My name and photo front and center.
That's why he felt safe asking me to deliver love letters.
He stared at that photo for a solid ten seconds.
Then came the verdict:
"Yeah... I give up."
His friends howled with laughter.
But in that moment, something quietly took root in the idiot's heart.
From then on, two new lines appeared in Luke's diary:
[Stop being a spoiled rich kid.]
[Get my name next to hers.]