Prologue

Leila checked the time on her wristwatch for the sixth time that morning. She moaned as she slumped against the car seat; it was nearly nine o'clock, the first period would have ended, and she would have already missed her Chemical techniques test. She used to be a straight-A student in junior year, but her grades began to slip as she entered senior year. Ms. Annabeth, the chemical techniques tutor, was the only teacher who seemed genuinely concerned about this and took the time to talk to her. She'd promised her that she'd work on herself and try harder to read, but now she'd not even been on time to take her test!

"Excuse me, mister," she said as she leaned forward to speak with the cab driver. "Can you please drive faster, I'm already late for school."

The cab driver turned to look at her with contempt written all over his face “Well, miss, if you were so eager to get to school, you could as well have left your house early enough. You can't expect me to break traffic rules just because you slept in” he retorted.

Leila snarled under her breath, "I didn't precisely..." she said as the driver blatantly ignored her, turned up the volume on the car radio and began whistling to the melody playing.

She murmured, "You know what, forget it." She'd had her fill of disputes for the day and needed some peace and quiet.

Her dad's voice kept replaying in her read “You can never do anything right, can you? Why do I even bother about you anyway, good thing we have your brother”

“And for God's sake Leila, stop talking back at your father!” her mother had added.

Leila bit her lower lip, fighting back tears that threatened to fall down her cheeks. She knew the dam would be breached as the first tear fell. As a child, she had mastered this skill. She would retire into her room and lock the door whenever her father said something insulting to her, shutting out the world and letting her tears flow freely. She had never sobbed in public before. Her parents brought it up now and again when they were pointing out how heartless she was.

“And here we are, finally!” The cab driver announced, breaking into her thoughts. “That would be hundred Percans”

“Oh, yeah...sure" Leila replied, retrieving her purse from her backpack,“Thank you".

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She strolled into the school a few minutes later, making a mental note to see Ms. Annabeth in her office and request a make-up test. She was almost at her locker when she became aware of the whispers and weird looks she received from students as she strolled through the school corridors.

“Well, y'all don't have to gossip like I did something really terrible” she said to herself, “I can't be that late”.

She checked her wristwatch once more. "Oh wonderful," she grumbled, relieved, "just in time for second period." Someone grabbed her from behind as she was putting books into her locker.

"Girl, you came!," said a familiar voice. "I thought you wouldn't be in school today." Ella, her best friend, had called.

Leila sighed. "Yeah, I should have texted you or something, but I wasn't in the mood," Ella said, it was just like Ella to worry about her constantly.

"Are you really fine?" You can return home and take a day off...or a week, depending on your schedule. On your behalf, I'll speak with the counselor."

"Whoa, Ella, relax. I'm alright, really... My father's continual retributions is nothing new to me. It's just one of those things” Leila smiled sadly.

She had contacted her best friend the day before and cried to her over the phone, something she did virtually every week when she was upset.

"Continual retributions..." Leila repeated herself. "That's right. Yes, but that's not what I'm referring to, Lei."

"Isn't that it?" "What then?" Leila inquired, puzzled.

"I assumed you had seen it." Almost everyone has, after all. "Have you not been online?"

"Nope, not all all. What is it, Ella? "You're terrifying me." Leila asked as she unlocked her phone.

"I'm very sorry, Lei." "It was put on the class discussion group chat by Jason early this morning," Ella murmured.

Leila's face widened in shock as she stared at the picture she just downloaded... little wonder she got so many odd stares earlier. She whimpered, this was her worse nightmare.

Leila's eyes widened in shock as she stared at the photo she had just downloaded... no wonder she had gotten so many strange looks earlier. She whimpered, this was her worst nightmare.

She whispered to herself, "Ackleth...my trust, my reputation, my pride, Oh my God, my parents!" Her phone fell from her grip as she sank to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably, she was in huge trouble and she knew it. The school authority would definitely get her parents involved and once they heard about it, she didn't even want to imagine what would happen then.

Ella sat next to her against the lockers, her arms wrapped around her. She kept mumbling, "I thought you knew, I'm sorry, I'm really sorry," as she stroked her hair.

“Why would he do that to me, Ella? I trusted him with everything. I thought he was different. Ella, you know I wouldn't have sent them to him on a normal day. I'm so stupid...so so stupid!” Leila cried.

“I know Lei, I don't even know what to say, I'm so disappointed in him. How could he do this to you?”

“I don't understand, I really don't. Oh my God Ella, I may get blacklisted for this...when I'm even still trying to improve my grades” she sobbed on

Ella looked at her friend pitifully, she was going through enough at home and didn't deserve this extra burden on her, she drew her closer as she tried to pacify her.

They remained in that posture for several minutes, ignoring the start of the second period bell.

They looked up at the sound of approaching footsteps “Uh, sorry to interrupt, but I was sent by the principal to summon Leila” came the voice of one of their classmates, Kazim “She says you should be in her office within ten minutes”

Leila looked up at him with bloodshot eyes “Okay” she whispered, watching his mouth hang open awkwardly before he stalled away eventually.