Chapter 16

Still not saying a word to each other, Leo and I got out of the car and made our way into the school building. There was a change in the atmosphere and was expected and everyone was silently moving from the front doors to the assembly hall. And in the assembly hall the administrators and teachers stood on the stage waiting as students filled in the seats. I went upstairs leaving Leo behind and took a seat away from him. My other classmates began to troop into the hall and leading then was Parker, Todd, Keith, Lizzie and Jeannie. Jeannie’s nose was red as if she had been blowing her nose all night but strangely her eyes were as dry as a desert. She looked up and saw Leo and immediately left her group of friends to hook her arm through his, that was the only time any sign of tears appeared in her eyes as she clung to him.

“It’s so awful,” I heard her say. “I don’t think I can stand being here knowing that only a few hours ago Emerald had an accident here.”

She turned her big blue eyes up to him, batting her long lashes. “Do you want to get out of here?” she asked.

I tried really hard not to roll my eyes but I couldn’t help it. Leo put his hand on hers and said something. How can he not see her game? She was playing on his sympathy and taking advantage of Emerald’s absence. Even Todd, who I’m suspecting is her boyfriend could see right through her. He wore a heavy scowl on his face and he said something to Parker.

Parker’s scowl was heavier and I know he would love nothing more than to punch Leo in the face at that moment. Not only had Emerald flirted with Leo, now even Jeannie was doing the same while Lizzie watched them green with envy.

Parker stopped glaring and his eyes searched the hall and I knew instinctively that he was searching for me so I looked away immediately but gaze fell on the railings surrounding the gallery and I couldn’t help the small shiver that ran through my body.

Emerald had come into the hall but there is no way she would have thrown herself down. Not even an attention whore like her would do something as foolish as that. At what point did she come back and who was there with her?

The area where she had fallen still had a large area of faint red mark despite the efforts of the cleaners to wipe it off. The police would most likely be involved but for now no one knew better yet.

I felt sick thinking about it so I looked instead at my hand folded in my lap.

 I don’t know how I expected everyone to be this morning when only last night they were all making fun of Emerald and making edits of her picture, laughing at them and joking around. But somehow this morning everyone appeared to truly care that something happened to her. Even the Outties and the nerds were sobbing their eyes out as they took their seats and I had the sudden urge to stand up and yell at all of them. They were all fakes! Weren’t they the same people texting and joking all night while hiding behind their phones? Who are these people?

Somehow, I guess the human part of me felt sorry for Emerald. She did so much to construct a hierarchy amd now that she’s gone (because there is no way a human would survive that kind of a nasty fall with her neck twisted back and so much blood around her) everyone is happy. If only she could see how much relief her death brought.

But it’s still unfair. Regardless of her vain life and vile ways, she’s the human and she deserves to be mourned.

The hall finally filled up and Mary Thompson dragged herself to the microphone. She looked like she didn’t have a good night sleep and her hair looked like she forgot to put a nightcap on while she slept like last – if she did. Sleeping may not be her priority now given what has just happened.

“Good morning students,” she began. “Some of you may have seen the news or heard…from your friends about what happened yesterday. One of our beloved students had an accident right here in the hall. We would have given you some days off to adjust to the incident but the board and I agreed it would be unfair to stall your education while we sort out the nasty business with Emerald Cole.”

Ah yes of course, the board probably doesn’t want to lose money. Besides, why dam the money ocean when you can use it to your benefits? Publicity about a nasty accident suffered by one of the students in good publicity.

“Because of the nature of the accident, and because her parents want answers as fast as possible we don’t want you to be frightened when you see the cops around here. They will be working hard to prove that she had fallen. Unfortunately we will be facing charges for installing railings that are not tall enough to keep students from falling.”

Like it’s the school’s fault she fell.

Someone behind me yawned and someone else plugged a headset and closed his eyes.

Wow, no one really cares.

Mary continued talk about how she wanted the rest of us to be careful when we stood beside the railings, how we were to continue studying and yada yada yada.

The assembly only lasted a few minutes, there was no singing of the national or school anthem and when Mart finished her 15 minutes speech she stepped back from microphone.

“You may all go to class.”

Everyone rose at the same time and immediately they hit the hall they began to talk about the latest celebrity news. Did you hear about Justin Bieber’s new girlfriend? Have you heard that Katy Perry’s new song?

It seemed to me that I was the only one interested to know about Emerald’s condition.

And when we got into class it was no different. No one mentioned Emerald’s name and they took advantage of the fact that the teachers were having a meeting to discuss how to go about class as usual to talk about the latest gossip. Lindsay for once did not come to my desk, she was talking with some other Outties and they were laughing over something she showed them on her phone.

I hadn’t noticed someone was coming over until I felt a chair being pulled to the front of my desk and when I looked up, it was Parker.

I didn’t know what to say. Why is he here and not with Todd and Keith. Although, Todd and Keith were not in class so I guess they were with Lizzie and Jeannie and Leo having a drinking party to celebrate Emerald’s downfall or something – pardon the pun.

“Ironic isn’t it?”

“You talking to me?” I asked.

He rested his forearm on my desk and propped his other hand on it so that he lean his chin on the back of his hand. “You know what I am talking about.”

“I guess I do but I am more concerned about the fact that you are dining with the enemy while your girlfriend is invalid. What makes you better than any of them?”

He seemed to be staring too intently at me then with a small laugh he lifted his chin off his hand. “You are right.”

I expected him to get up and get lost but he remained where he was.

“I would rather be anywhere but here but I can’t stomach everyone’s false sympathy.”

“I can’t detect any kind of sympathy. Everyone seems more relieved that anything now that she’s gone. Didn’t your friends go to the bathroom to drink or something?”

He nodded, his hazel eyes searching the classroom.

I guess the conversation should have felt kind of awkward but it was anything but that. We both knew we didn’t care one bit about each other and were only now in the same space because of our shared disapproval about how everyone was going about the whole Emerald issue.

Then he asked, “What do you think about Emerald?”

“Are you asking me to give an opinion based off of how shitty she’s being to me the entire two days I have been here?”

He smiled and it was cute. “Yes.”

“I have just given you my thoughts. She’s shitty but if you are asking if she deserves this treatment right now, the answer is no.”

“So you don’t hate her.”

“I don’t care about her. But obviously someone cared enough to push her.”

His eyes snapped to mine and he narrowed them with suspicion.

I let a small smile curve my lip up. “I am not an idiot, Parker, I know you didn’t just come here for a friendly conversation. You know someone pushed Emerald and you are here to investigate your first suspect. Well sorry to burst your bubble but I didn’t push her. Like I told you, I don’t care enough to harm her.”

His face cleared and he dropped the pretense. “I knew there was something about you. You love to play the fool but you know so much more than you let on.” He pushed the chair back but didn’t get up. “I’m onto you.”

“So am I. After all I saw you going back with Emerald into school after we closed yesterday.”

His eyes were two hard granite hazel, shooting hatred at me. I thought he was going to say more, I wanted to hear what more he had to say but simply pointed at his eyes with two fingers and turned those fingers to me in a gesture that meant: I am watching you, before storming off.

Great, like I don’t have enough stalkers already.