12:03 PM – Rooftop (Bruised Crowns & Battle Cries)
They needed air.
Not freedom—air.
Bee stood near the edge of the rooftop, the same place the photo of her and Kai had been taken. Only this time, she wasn't hiding in a kiss. She was standing in the full glare of daylight, fire in her chest, truth in her hands.
Kai joined her, handing her a soda like it was a trophy. "So. That was explosive."
"We're not done," she muttered, staring at the chaos below. Students roamed like bees after a hive's been cracked open. Buzzing, scattering, but angrier. Sharper.
"The board's going to bury this," Bee said. "Pretend it's all rumor."
"Then we give them something they can't bury."
Behind them, Zuri and Serena emerged from the rooftop door, Logan in tow with a camera.
"Student-led press conference," Serena said. "Live-streamed. We already have the Ridgewood Underground's login."
Zuri unzipped her backpack. "You want a crown? Here."
She handed Bee a folded sheet of gold paper. "Origami. Symbolic. Unburnable."
Bee stared at it.
Then placed it gently on her head.
"I don't want the crown," she whispered. "I want the kingdom rebuilt."
Logan hit record.
---
12:35 PM – Ridgewood Underground Livestream (Confessions & Crowns)
The screen flickered to life.
Bee sat in front of it, back straight, eyes steady.
"My name is Bellamy McKenna. Most of you know me as Bee. Some of you hate me. Some of you loved me. Some of you feared me. And all of you—every single one of you—deserve the truth."
She paused.
"I found files. On me. On you. On every whisper and bruise Ridgewood tried to paint over. We've all been puppets in a very old play—and I say it's time we burn the script."
The chat exploded.
[username: dramaqueen88]: SHE'S ACTUALLY DOING IT
[username: notkaii]: let's gooooooo
[username: madwhip]: QUEEN STUFF
[username: anontruth]: I saw my own file. She's not lying.
Bee breathed. "This isn't about revenge. It's about reclamation. I don't want to rule you. I want to free you."
Her voice cracked, just slightly.
"And if that means I get expelled, so be it. But they won't silence me. Not again."
---
1:10 PM – Student Council Room (Backlash & Bravery)
"I told you," Madison said, tossing a copy of the school constitution on the table. "They'll try to remove you."
Bee crossed her arms. "Let them try."
The room was filled with seniors. Some scared. Some impressed. All watching Bee like she was both phoenix and flamethrower.
Madison leaned in. "But if you're serious about rebuilding… you're going to need allies. Old ones. Even the ones you burned."
Bee met her gaze. "You offering?"
Madison smirked. "I'm considering. But only if you make me Vice President."
Kai snorted. "This is blackmail."
Madison winked. "This is Ridgewood."
Bee stared at her for a long moment.
"Deal. But you play by the new rules. Truth over tyranny."
"Truth and style," Madison corrected, and held out her hand.
They shook.
---
1:45 PM – Art Room (Silent Sketches & Subtle Strength)
Hailey was gone.
But her shadow lingered.
Bee stood over a charcoal sketch someone had taped to the art room corkboard—an image of a broken crown held in a burning hand.
No name.
Just power.
Serena stepped beside her. "That you?"
Bee shook her head. "That's all of us."
---
2:00 PM – End of Lunch Bell (Sirens & Silence)
The bell rang.
Bee walked down the hallway, not as a queen, not as a villain, not even as a rebel.
But as a girl who had told the truth—and dared to live with the fire it lit.
Phones were out. Eyes were wide. But this time, no one whispered.
Someone clapped.
Then another.
Then the hallway broke into scattered applause.
Not for a hero.
For a survivor.
For a storm.
For a girl who said no more—and meant it.