Page 88 of King

Allie and Nate sit by the back. Willow way at the front in a row with her friends. Allie sits up and waves me over but I’m not sure I’m ready to deal. I'm also not about to take a seat in front of the entire school. So I choose to sit next to Beth a couple of rows up.

“Hey,” I say, flipping down my chair, but she doesn't look at me.

“You sure you wanna be here?” she whispers.

“What?”

“Welcome to today's assembly!” Lea appears onstage behind the wooden podium, a few groans starting around me like a chorus of frogs. Mr. Beckett and his secretary sit behind her.

“Teacher fucker!” Someone calls and I can see Lea’s grip tighten around the wood.

Fixing her green headband she continues, “If you don't know, I'm Lea Huang, Student Council President. Headmaster Beckett asked me to lead today’s assembly because well, look at me I’m perfect.” He clears his throat from behind her, and she carries on, “ERA is all about making the best out of the youth in Eden Gardens. As the best, we act like it. In school and out."

My name is a whisper behind me. It's coming from Damien but I act like it's not there. It's hard to listen to Lea. She's babbling on about the many successful rich assholes who graduated from ERA. How they continue to carry the legacy through their contributions to society.

"Our alumni help change the world," Lea keeps talking. “Doctors. Lawyers. Mayors.” I'm almost completely zoned out when her eyes land on me. "They're not murderers."

Headmaster Beckett sits up. “Miss Huang?"

“That’s right. Our very own Joelle Rowland committed real-life murder. Death by fentanyl.” Lea points a finger right at me, eyes like slits. “Looks like our resident drug dealer wasn't always known for her clean product. Don’t worry Jo, as a new student at ERA, we’re here for you.”

Lea's smiling but I’m fuming.

He told her.

He fucking told her.

Damien turns to look at me, all sounds becoming muffled. It takes everything inside me not to lunge across the auditorium at Lea. Every muscle in my body is stopping me from kicking Damien in the face.

Fighting my urges, I storm out before I hear anything else.

I’m only out for a second when I hear Nate’s voice behind me, “Jo wait!” There are already tears in my eyes when I turn around. “What’s going on?”

Fuck it. I let it all spill out, “Lea’s right, I’m a drug dealing murderer.” Allie and Christian come through the doors behind him. “And I don’t belong here.”

I turn to walk away, my chest feeling like it's about to close in.

I’m halfway to the exit before I hear Isaac’s voice behind me, “You should’ve told me, Jo.” Isaac doesn’t sound concerned. He sounds angry. When I turn around, the tightness in his cheeks confirm it. “Now you've fucked up my whole operation.”

Nate catches up to us, pushing him aside. He eyes Isaac before saying, “Oh is it every day someone tells you they’re involved in a murder?” Nate takes me under his arm. “You're the one who put her up to this Isaac.”

“Yeah, and now I’m fucked!”

Nate scoffs, “Grow up Johnson, and lay off the baking soda.”

“Fuck you, Quinfrey.” Isaac walks away, but not without another glare at me.

“Shit, Jo.” Nate puts his arm around me. “What did you get yourself into?”

I rest my head on his chest, unable to fight back any more tears. "I'm fucked."

Nate offers to get me out of school for the day, and Allie gives him her keys to do just that. He’s calling the rest of our day a "Mental Health Break". When we get back to his mansion we throw towels under the bathroom door and light up the rest of Nate’s stash.

His bathroom is like one from a showroom. Since his mom is always gone, he gets the master bedroom. His glass-walled shower can host a party, and the gold decor makes it feel royal. This golden face-mask and the fluffy robe around my body only adds to the experience.

“What did you do for this?” I ask, my mind already hazy, stupid smile on my face.

I’m passing him the joint as he gives me a scowl, “Ew, this is from Canada. I don’t go to Isaac.”

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