Eden

19

It doesn’t come as a surprise when I’m called in to see the headmaster first thing the next morning. I’m not someone who has the resources to throw hundreds at a problem to make it go away. Whatever punishment is coming my way is one I can’t escape.

I release a heavy sigh as I trudge through the administration building to Headmaster Aldridge’s office. When I step inside, I pause briefly. Saint’s already here, and I’m embarrassed to admit I didn’t really think about the fact that we might be punished together. His bronze jawline tenses but he doesn’t say a word.

Aldridge is sitting behind his desk and extends a hand toward the empty chair next to Saint.

“Please take a seat, Ms. Ellis.”

I move to obey. Once I’m settled, he folds his hands together and darts his eyes between both of us.

“Now, you both know why you’re here, so I won’t waste our time with the details,” he begins in a hard voice. “For blatantly disrupting and walking out of class, you’ll both receive a week’s worth of detention. You’ll be cleaning up litter around campus every day after classes. You’ll report to the head groundskeeper, who’ll have your supplies.”

I fight not to groan out loud. Even though I knew it was coming, I thought we’d be stuck somewhere inside. Being forced to clean up litter around campus will no doubt feed fuel to the anti-Mallory flames. I can almost hear Laurel’s taunts already.

“Headmaster Aldridge, I think you’re forgetting something,” Saint says. I lower my eyes to my lap so Aldridge won’t see me roll them. Of course he’s going to try and weasel out of his punishment. I bet he pulls the my-family-founded-this-school card.

I pop my head back up to find the headmaster’s eyebrows making a slow ascent toward his balding hairline. “And what is that, Mr. Angelle?”

“I’ve got a home track meet on Friday.”

I have to admit, I’m floored that’s his only objection. I steal a glance Saint’s way. His expression is dark, his eyes flashing dangerously, but his tone is calm and controlled, if not subzero cold. “I’m the team captain.”

Aldridge stares at him for several moments, and I hold my breath, waiting to see what he’ll do. Bring down the hammer? Bow down like a bitch?

“Very well, Mr. Angelle. I’ll make an exception in your case. You can complete your last day of detention Sunday morning instead of Friday night.”

Bitch it is.

I shouldn’t feel disappointed. It’s not like his capitulation is surprising. I know, though, that if I tried to make a similar request, I’d be shot down. After all, I was kicked off the swim team just for being a suspect for something, granted a pretty extreme something, but I was never given the chance to plead my case.

All Saint has to do is level a person with his frosty glare, and they crumble to dust before him.

I’m pissed, which is why I totally lose my mind for a second and grumble under my breath, “Must be nice to have the red carpet rolled out.”

Of course, Headmaster Aldridge hears me. His sharp gaze locks on me and his lips thin into a disapproving line.

“You’re free to return to class, Mr. Angelle,” he says. “Ms. Ellis, I’d like you to stay a few minutes longer.”

“That’s not necessary—” Saint begins, but Aldridge puts his hand up to silence him. Great. He grows a pair of balls when it comes to punishing me.

“To class, Mr. Angelle,” he barks. “Please.”

Releasing a low rumble from the back of his throat, Saint shoves to his feet and marches toward the door, gazing toward me as he passes. I slash my lips into a tight line, then return my attention to Headmaster Aldridge.

He waits until the door slams shut behind Saint before he speaks.

“Ms. Ellis, tell me, are you doing your utmost to stay out of trouble?”

“What exactly are you implying?”

“I’m not implying anything,” he insists, which I know is bullshit. “Simply curious how you’re doing.”

I narrow my eyes. “With all due respect, sir, we both know that’s not true.”

He frowns and doesn’t appear impressed by my challenge.

Eventually, though, he sighs and says, “Alright. You’re an intelligent young woman, Ms. Ellis, so I won’t insult you further by pretending otherwise. Here’s the truth. I continue to receive daily phone calls and emails from concerned parents asking me to remove you from this school.”

“Why? The dorm fire was faulty wiring. I had nothing to do with it.”

Not that I ever thought he actually believed I was i

“That may be, but there’s still the matter of Jon Eric Carr’s disappearance. His mother—Senator Carr—is convinced you had something to do with it. She holds a great deal of … sway over the other parents and has expressed her concerns of you to more than just me.”

“Headmaster, I had nothing to do with Jon Eric’s disappearance,” I say on a shaky breath. “What could I have possibly done to him? I have no idea where he is.”

The worst part is, almost every word that leaves my lips is the absolute truth.

“It’s well known that you two were at odds,” he says, completely disregarding me.

“Because he’s a piece of shit. He tried to rape me and threatened me countless times.”

“Then it would make sense that you would want to get back at him.”

My muscles quiver with rage. I just told this man that I was nearly raped by another student, and he doesn’t even bat an eye at that. It’s crystal clear where I stand with Headmaster Aldridge. I’m just the piece of trailer trash he was forced to accept within the walls of his precious school, but he doesn’t even pretend to actually give a shit about me.

Jon Eric’s disappearance is far more concerning to him than any assault on my body.

Slapping my hands on the armrests of my chair, I stand to my feet, holding my head high.

“You know, I’m really sick of being accused of every bad thing that happens at this school,” I confess. “Either expel me and get it over with so I can call my lawyer or let me get back to class. I’m done.”

I can tell by the sudden wrinkles around his eyes that he really doesn’t like being talked back to, but he nods—probably because the mere mention of Chandler Branson, the fancy attorney Saint had hired for me, makes the word lawsuit swarm his vision. “Very well. You’re dismissed. Go back to class and stay out of trouble.”

I turn without a word and start for the door, but his voice whips through the air the moment my hand falls on the knob. “Oh, and one more thing, Ms. Ellis?”

I pause and wait for him to continue, but I don’t look back at him.

“You should be more respectful toward Mr. Porter. After all, it was his recommendation that won you your scholarship here.”

I shuffle to my next class in a daze, Headmaster Aldridge’s words ringing in my head. Dylan recommended me for my scholarship?

It’s too crazy to be true, but why would Aldridge lie about that?

I’m so caught up in my thoughts, I don’t notice Saint standing in the hall waiting for me until I practically run into him.

“Move.”

He doesn’t. Go figure. “Why the fuck didn’t you answer your door last night? Or your phone?”

I grit my teeth. “I was busy with my friends. Plus, I really didn’t feel like dealing with your trashed ass again.”

I shove past him to go into the classroom. He follows close on my heels.

“I expect you to answer when I call you,” he rumbles. “That’s the deal.”