“I checked it out after…after I saw Tessa’s comments. It’s on the dark web, which we both know means the person is trying to hide. And even if the topics it discusses are helping people, the owner would be naive to think people wouldn’t get hurt in the crossfire.”

I gaped at him, guilt and anger twisting my stomach. “Crossfire?”

He tilted his head, his eyes searching mine. “The parents who are protesting it, the people who are writing in. Tanner being up in arms about it. The stuff the blog is posting about. It’s awesome, but it’s dangerous. Things like that are begging for conflict. One person’s beliefs will always offend another. It’s just the way the world works.”

I narrowed my gaze, trying like hell to calm the fire inside me.

“The way the world works,” I said coolly. “You know, you’re right.” I shook my head, adrenaline coursing through my veins. “It is the way the world works. People get offended. By legit everything. And maybe it is risky for someone to want to help on a social media level and leave their self so open to attack and criticism, but at least that person is trying to create change.” I huffed.

The parents’ outrage, Hannah’s situation, Tanner’s personal vendetta against the school.

I was over it.

Over so many things.

Thousands of people wrote in to Ask Me Anything.

Thousands of people searching for comfort in a world full of judgment.

And I would not shy away from that. Not because of backlash or fear or any of it.

I trashed the post I’d mentally sketched earlier.

New words and ideas took shape, forged in anger and hurt for my friend. She was a great person. Her grades stellar, her aspirations for the future even better, and she had a boyfriend who loved her. Like the kind of true love you read about in books.

“I get that,” Dean said, drawing me back to the present. “I’m just saying I hope the person behind it has a thick skin and is ready to deal with the hits that will inevitably come.” His eyes churned with worry and…regret?

I nodded, trying to calm down. Several months ago, I might’ve torched the blog because something like this had happened.

Hannah didn’t deserve this.

But I had gained strength and had healed through the posts, through connecting with the people who needed it. So, I’d have a thick skin, sure, and I’d keep on going. Keep on doing what little I could to change…something. Anything.

One post at a time.

And in the meantime, I’d just have to find a way to make it up to Hannah.

“How’s your TOC prep coming? The challenge, too?” I finally asked Dean after I’d cooled down a bit as we walked to the parking lot.