Jaden couldn’t help but burst out laughing. “You’re just way too cute. Relax. With me around, no one’s gonna dare mess with you. Just stick by my side, and I swear you’ll be able to walk around school like you own the place.”
Natalie thought, “This guy really thinks he’s all that. What a useless deadweight. I honestly have no idea how he even made it onto the team. Jaden only managed to get into grad school and stick around on Professor Lawson’s team because of the review guides Josie put together for him. That idiot Josie. She was always busting her butt doing thankless stuff, thinking she was helping out a bunch of good people. Little does she know, all those ‘good people’ are busy sucking up to me now. Once the online mess is sorted out, I am going to make Josie regret ever messing with me.”
Before Zoey could even step out of the dorm, Josie called her back. “Hold up, no need to dig any further. I already know who posted those threads!”
“Who was it?” Everyone turned back, curiosity written all over their faces.
Josie raised her phone. “It was Colby and Sean. They’re at the student affairs office right now and just told me to head over too.”
She didn’t have time to explain to everyone. “I’ll tell you all the details when I get back.”
“I’ll go with you,” Zoey said, grabbing her bag and hurrying after Josie.
As she walked, Josie glanced at the messages Sean had sent her last night and then looked over at Zoey. “Don’t you have any classes this morning?”
“I do,” Zoey said while checking the time, “I’ve got an elective at ten, but it’s still early, so I’ll go with you first.”
Josie nodded. “Last night, after Colby figured out who posted those threads, he probably messaged you. You must’ve missed it. Since you didn’t reply, he sent the info to Sean instead. Sean and Claire talked it over, and with the comparison posts we put up, they decided to post an expose and an analysis online. Sean mentioned it to me in the group chat. I went to bed way too early last night and slept like a log, so I totally missed his message.”
Zoey pulled out her phone and saw the message from Colby. It had been sent at midnight. By then, she’d already been fast asleep, so there was no way she could’ve replied.
Zoey said, “Well, it’s probably for the best. Even if they hadn’t posted last night, we would’ve had to find someone to do it today anyway. And who knows, it might not have gotten as much attention.”
Zoey quickly sent Colby a thank-you message and then looked up at Josie. She said, “Honestly, Josie, you’ve got some real luck. Whether it’s Claire or Sean, they’re both way better than those teammates you used to have. Not only do they never boss you around, but they’re always looking out for you. Other than your major being a bit off the beaten path, there’s really nothing to complain about! Just hanging out in the lab with you these past few days has actually made me want to join in too. If I had the energy for it, I’d totally sign up for acupuncture as an elective.”
Josie grinned. “Sounds perfect! Next time I’m pulling an all-nighter to cram for my test, at least I won’t be suffering alone.”
“Keep dreaming!” Zoey rolled her eyes at her and dashed upstairs ahead.
By the time the two of them arrived at the student affairs office, they saw that not only were Sean and Claire there, but Colby and Delilah had shown up as well.
Josie hurried over. “Professor, Claire, you’re all here too? Thank you all so much!”
Delilah said while tilting her chin toward the door to signal Josie to look inside, “Don’t say such nonsense. The only reason I’m here is because I know for sure that paper was yours, and someone really did plagiarize it.”
Josie looked up and only then noticed David inside, talking to the director of the student affairs office. Seeing her, David strode out of the office.
He said, “Josie, come here right now and explain to the director that Natalie didn’t plagiarize your paper. Tell him she never badmouthed you online. All that mess online has nothing to do with her!”