Page 87 of Fighting the Odds

Standing up, I open the stall door and step out into the bathroom. One more class and this day is over.

At least I have the date with Zander to look forward to. I know we’re working on our project, but at least I know everything he says is truthful.

I take a look at myself in the mirror before I walk to the door and step out into the noisy hallway.

Chapter 41

Wesley

When she wasn’t in gym, I got worried, until I overheard Savannah say she was called to Mr. Stevenson’s office.

Why does he want to see her? The guys should know. As soon as the bell rings, I dart out of the gym to look for them. I need to know she’s okay. I’ve heard through the grapevine that my order to leave Sierra alone isn’t being followed as it should. Something I plan to remedy.

As I round the corner, I bump into the guys, but Sierra’s not with them.

“Where is she?” I ask, my voice raised.

“She’s in gym. You fucking know that,” Colton barks. Guess he’s taking this redemption protection thing to the full extent. Good. He should. We all should.

“No, she isn’t.” They look at each other as if this is news to them.

Braxton pulls out his phone and his fingers fly across the screen as he frantically types out a message.

A moment passes as we stand there, six eyes glaring at me while we wait for a reply. The tension’s broken by the buzzing of a phone.

Braxton looks at it, then smiles. “She’s in the library. I’m going to tell her to wait for us there at the end of class.”

“I can tell her,” I announce loudly as I step around them, rushing off to see her.

“Fuck off, we don’t need you to relay anything,” Zander hollers at me.

I don’t give a shit. I’m going to do it. My focus is on the library, and I ignore every person calling out to me as I pass by them. The only thing on my mind is Sierra. I need her to tell me how she is and get her forgiveness. I need it before I can begin to pursue the relationship we should’ve had before I fucked up.

When I open the library doors, I scan the room, looking for her. But I don’t see her.

Where is she?

It’s then I hear Mrs. Pearl’s annoying high-pitched voice. “Sierra, I really don’t know how long I can keep you working as an assistant. You’re absent more than you’re here and it’s like pulling teeth to get you to work. Either you show an improvement this week or I’ll be contacting the principal to have your schedule changed. This time, I have proof of your incompetence to be an assistant during this period. Now I need you to re-stack the shelves with the books on the return cart.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Sierra’s soft, broken voice replies.

Fuck no. She’s been harassed by Mrs. Pearl all because of me. The slutty skank of a librarian believed all the lies out of my mouth because she wants to fuck my father. She doesn’t even care that he’s married.

Sierra steps out of Mrs. Pearl’s office and I see her wipe at her face. She’s crying. I’m gonna kill the bitch. She takes the cart and pushes it towards the stacks, disappearing down one of the aisles.

I wait until she’s out of earshot and place my bookbag behind the desk before paying Mrs. Pearl a visit.

Stepping up to her office, I knock on the door.

“Wesley, dear, come in. How can I help you?” she purrs.

I shut the door behind me and take the couple of steps to her desk. She makes sure to press her arms tight to her side, pushing her breasts out more.

How sick can she be? What’s worse, she did this shit before I was ever eighteen. She’s as bad as my dad and needs to rot in a cell.

“What I need you to do is lay off Sierra. She’s done nothing wrong and yet you’re treating her like shit.”

“Excuse me, Wesley? Since when do you speak to me like that or have the right to determine how I discipline my students?”

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