After her rebirth by Cici

Chapter 45

Katniss was totally blindsided when Ruby yanked her wrist like she was trying to rip it off. Instinct kicked in, and she shoved Ruby away hard, making her stumble and almost eat dirt.

Their little scuffle caught everyone's eye.

"What is going on?" Clara asked, looking all confused.

Juniper, seeing Ruby's sketchy reaction, got suspicious too. "Ruby, Clara, did you two mess with my water?"

She'd only had beef with these two before the competition.

Clara's eyes went wide, and she shook her head like crazy. "Juniper, what are you even talking about?"

Ruby's eyes flashed with guilt, but she shot back loudly, "Juniper, what kind of crap are you spewing? You're just trying to mess with Clara's head before the competition!" Ruby's voice was so loud it got everyone whispering, and even some teachers started looking over. Juniper was fuming, ready to throw hands, but Katniss held her back. "Juniper, don't fall for her BS. Let's go find a teacher and check the surveillance footage. The truth will come out," Katniss said.

Without solid proof, they couldn't just accuse Ruby of tampering.

Checking the surveillance footage was their best bet.

Taking advantage of Ruby's distraction, Katniss dragged Juniper towards the surveillance room.

"Stop right there!" Ruby yelled, throwing caution to the wind and chasing after them.

Clara wanted to follow but got held back by someone.

She turned around,

on the competition.

spreading nasty rumors to mess with Clara's head right before her competition. He must've been blind to think

stage, Simon stormed off to find Katniss and

was gonna settle all scores, old

the small clearing behind the bleachers, he saw

you

was about to step in when, to his shock, Katniss stepped

echoed, leaving

Ruby a full five seconds to react. She clutched her burning cheek,

Katniss's voice was icy, her gaze even colder. She'd just noticed traces of laxative around Ruby's fingernails, almost confirming Ruby was the culprit. "Stop falsely accusing me!

eyes showed more guilt. Drugging someone was serious business. If it got out, she'd definitely be expelled! Damn it, how did they

the collar and yelling, "Katniss, you psycho, come with me to see the teacher!" Katniss fought back, but Simon's strength was too much. She managed to scratch his face, leaving some nasty marks. Juniper jumped in to

mind? Katniss is your sister!"

Katniss's

Simon yelled,

gleaming. She yanked at Katniss's collar, but it just loosened more without tearing. Katniss,

were tangled in a chaotic fight, no one gaining the upper hand, when suddenly a furious shout rang out. "What are you students doing!" They turned to see several school leaders glaring at them, freezing them in

on the spot, so he had to take them to his

one of the fighting students was his daughter. When Ruby got closer, he saw her face was

happened

stand up for me!"

face, the school leaders looked