Chapter 49

    Chapter 49: What Are You Doing?

    The principal’s office smelled like old books and burnt coffee. The air was thick with silence, aside from the ticking clock on the wall.

    I sat stiffly in the chair, my injured arm stinging, but I refused to look at it. Across from me, Emilia sat with her arms crossed, her cheek still red from my slap. She didn’t look scared. If anything, she looked amused.

    With the power her father had over Velmont, it was expected.

    Gavin stood beside me. Too close. His fingers twitched like he wanted to reach for me, but I ignored him.

    Principal Holloway sighed, rubbing her temples. Curly gray hair touching her shoulders, "Fighting? Again?" Her tired eyes swept over all of us. "This is becoming a pattern with you, Miss Davidson."

    Emilia smirked. "I was attacked."

    I tightened my grip on my phone. Liar.

    Wren scoffed, leaning forward. "Oh, please. She tried to slap me first."

    "She’s right," Aaron added. "Lyric only defended her friend."

    His eyes flicked toward Wren, standing protectively behind her chair. For the umpteenth time, I felt jealous. Wren appeared to have everything I wanted, but I knew better than to assume her life was perfect.

    No one’s life was—not even Little Miss Davidson’s.

    Principal Holloway shot Gavin a look. "And you? What’s your part in this?"

    Gavin leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. "I stopped it before it got worse."

    Holloway sighed again and shuffled some papers. Then she stood up and walked over to the printer at the edge of the room. The space suddenly felt larger than it was.

    Soon, the sound of the machine filled the room. Across from me, Emilia typed away on her phone while her minions hovered over her shoulder, their education depending on her favor. Wren whispered to Aaron.

    And Gavin—well, Gavin was being Gavin.

    He was staring at me.

    My heart plummeted into my stomach. I looked away, focusing on Principal Holloway instead.

    "Suspensions are not off the table here," she said.

    I tensed. Suspension? No. That would mean more time at home—alone with my thoughts, with the looming fear of my uncle’s return. Worse, I could lose my scholarship. Why didn’t I hold myself back?

    I just had a year left in this shithole. Nineteen is the goal, I reminded myself.

    "But," Holloway continued, her ponytail bouncing as she turned to face us, "given the circumstances, I’ll let you off with detention."

    Emilia’s face twisted in disgust. "Detention? With her?"

    "Or a suspension," Holloway offered dryly.

    "I don’t think my father—the mayor—would like me staying away from school," Emilia said smugly. "Unless, of course, you write it off as a holiday. A treat."

    "Miss Davidson," the principal drawled, her jaw ticking with anger.

    Here we go.

    I had seen this play out so many times. It was fun when I was in primary school, but now that I was on the opposite side of the verdict, I didn’t like how it made me feel.

    "We should discuss this somewhere else," Holloway finally said.

    Bingo. Emilia had gotten her way out.

    "Principal Holloway, does this mean Emilia is off the hook?" Her friends asked in ecstacy, looking at their queen completely dazed. 

    "Wel...l um…" she stammered. "Given her health status, Emilia is receiving a lighter punishment."

    "Excuse you?" Wren yelled.

  She frowned deeply, "Miss Evergreen, lower your voice."

 Wren went on rambling, her voice growing higher and higher "This is not fair! It’s injustice! Why should Emilia get a way out? We weren’t even using physical violence—"

  The principal slapped on her table, causing me to flinch "I have decided to show mercy on you and your friends. No detention or suspension. Instead, you’ll receive a different punishment."

    "What is it?" Gavin asked, his tone gruff with frustration.

    No one liked the favoritism going on here.

    Most of them came from reputable families, but no one held the power Emilia did over our little town. She once got the park shut down when we were kids just because a man refused to give her a second ticket after she failed to hit her target. It was fun for us because we had the place to ourselves for a day.

    But now, being her enemy, it only enraged me. I understood how disgusting it was.

  Handing over sheet, she ordered we wrote our full names and matricule at the side. "All of you will participate in the drama class for the annual Valentine’s special."

    Acting?

    I couldn’t even talk. How was I supposed to act?

    "What?"

    "Come on!"

    "I have practice."

    "I can’t act to save my life."

    Everyone complained in unison, their voices blending into chaos. It felt like I was standing in the middle of a market. My head hurt.

    I wished I could voice my frustration too.

    One day. I hoped.

    "No excuses," Holloway said. "I’ll speak to your coach, Gavin and Aaron, to adjust your schedules. As for the girls, you have enough time for cheerleading practice. And Lyric, you need the extra credit for your full-ride scholarship. Wren, you’re already on the acting team, so stop being a bitch about it."

    Wren scowled but didn’t argue.

    I let out a slow breath. Could’ve been worse.

    "Now, get out of my office," Holloway said, waving us off.

    ---

    Hallway

    The moment we stepped into the hall, Emilia whirled on me.

    "This isn’t over, you little mute bitch," she sneered, her voice low. "You’ll regret ever touching me."

    Wren stepped forward, but I put a hand on her arm. I wasn’t scared of Emilia. Not anymore.

    Instead of responding, I simply smiled.

    I needed to be more careful. I had almost gotten suspended because of that witch today.

    Something in my expression must have unnerved her because she scoffed and stormed away.

    "Ugh," Wren groaned, massaging her face. "She’s insufferable."

    Aaron chuckled, looking at his sister with a strange expression. "One day, she’ll get what she’s asking for."

    "I can’t believe she gets off the hook every single time," Wren muttered. "I must have been born in the wrong story because it feels like I’m in her plot."

    "I guess this is the part where you turn into a villain and ruin her life," Aaron said, casting a glance toward Emilia, who was deep in conversation with Gavin at the end of the hall. Whatever they had going on, it looked serious.

    "I wish," Wren sighed. "But for now, I have enough on my plate. Designing isn’t for the weak."

    "Should I walk you to class?" Aaron asked.

    "No," Wren said, shaking her head. Then, to my surprise, she took my hand in hers. Warmth spread through me. Being chosen.

    "Thank you, Aaron," she added.

    "Okay. See you later," he said with a wide grin. Then he winked at me.

    I blushed foolishly.

    Exhaling, I glanced down at my arm. Blood had already dried around the scratch marks. It stung, but I could handle it.