Page 98 of Cruel Steps

Dean Adroit stared at Rose, her jaw clenched tight as she drilled holes into my stepmom’s head. It was silent for an extended period, and I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. Eventually, she returned her stare to me, and I lifted my head despite wanting to run and hide.

“Miss Adams, I believe you misunderstood. Now that Miss Adler has admitted to her indiscretion, perhaps we can have a different outcome.”

“No. I will take the expulsion,” Hope interrupted.

“Hope! Let’s think about this,” Rose whispered, but Hope shook her head, her eyes staying forward. Something akin to admiration hit me for Hope. I wanted to believe her act was to take responsibility for herself and not because she didn’t want to face her peers. An idea popped into my head, and I interrupted the mother-daughter stare-off.

“What if Hope withdraws from Hayward instead? It’s only a week into the semester, so she could drop her classes without any penalties. While she’s recovering, she could do research on anti-bullying programs and develop something for Hayward. If it’s a program that would add value to the school, then her enrollment would be reinstated. If she didn’t want to do the program, she would be free to attend elsewhere next semester.” Without an expulsion on her record.

Dean Adroit studied me, and I worried she’d say no. “What do you think, Miss Adler? Is that agreeable?”

Hope hesitated, and my gut sank. She did want to run. She didn’t really care about being a better person. “I actually really like that idea,” she said. “The zero-tolerance policy is a great start, but it implies that the bullying has already occurred. If… if there’s a way to prevent trauma, I think that would be worth spending my semester doing.” She cleared her throat and blinked. I had to be mistaken because there was no way Hope Adler was fighting tears.

“The optics would be great for the school,” Dean Adroit muttered. “All right. I’ll allow it on one condition.” The room stilled, and the three of us waited with bated breath. “Miss Adams, you will take Hope’s spot on the Wolfettes and start a weekly column for the Chronicle, showcasing how you’re thriving at Hayward. As a special admission, I want you to be more involved and give back to a school that is giving you a voice. It would help me forget about that conversation with the editor.”

I gaped. Was this woman serious? I’d decided to step back from the Wolfettes this weekend. I didn’t want to be any part of it. And now she wanted me to stay on it and join another club?

“Blackmail again, Melinda?”

“It’s a negotiation, not blackmail, Rose. Your daughter admitted to violating a school policy, and the other one somehow bypassed the school firewalls and published an unauthorized paper that named our campus and implied we had mean girls. Do you know how many phone calls I’ve received from concerned parents this weekend, threatening to pull their kids? Or how this will affect enrollment next year? If I’m not going to publicly make an example, I need something in return.”

Rose clamped her mouth shut, and I wilted in my seat, properly chastised. Okay, so Dean Adroit had a point.

“I’ll do it.”

Dean Adroit smiled wide, and I suddenly felt we’d been in checkmate well before we stepped into this office today.

“Very well. I look forward to seeing your first official piece once approved.” The woman sure knew how to dig her claws in.

I grimaced and stood with Rose, who stepped behind Hope’s wheelchair. I opened the door and waited for them to pass through before closing it. The three of us were quiet as we exited the building. When we got to the edge of the parking lot, Rose stopped and turned to me.

“Thank you for offering kindness when you could’ve chosen revenge. I wouldn’t have blamed you if you had, but I appreciate the chance you’re giving Hope.” She pulled me into a hug and squeezed me. Each time she hugged me, I sank into her embrace a little more and soaked up her motherly goodness. Her eyes were wet when she withdrew, and she glanced between Hope and me, giving her daughter a pointed look. “I’ll give you two a few seconds while I pull around the car.”

Hope continued to stare off into the parking lot. I had nothing new to say to her, so I waited her out.

“Was it him?” she asked.

“I don’t know. Colter called the police, and we submitted an official report. They took the mascot head and notes, but the detective wasn’t confident they’d find anything.”

“If it is him, you’re not safe. You know that, right?” She finally turned and stared at me. The hate I’d long associated with Hope wasn’t present. Instead, there was only fear. Her eyes watered, and she brushed them away with her uninjured hand.

“What’s going on, Hope?”

“It’s nothing you need to worry about.”

I furrowed my brow. My feelings for Hope weren’t friendly on the best day, so I shouldn’t care that she was hiding something. But my gut told me there was more to her reaction. “If you say so.”

“Watch out for Kimmy and Brittney. I tried to control them as much as possible, but Kimmy has a mean streak and Brittney will follow anything she tells her to do.”

I nodded, confused as to what this was… Was Hope giving me advice?

“Avoid anyone from Zeta. They’re cutthroat and believe they own the campus. Every guy on campus is listed on a ranking system. It includes current financial status, potential gain, sexual prowess, and looks. They’re superficial and only care about status. They will see you as a threat, especially if the heart eyes I see on my brother are any indication; they won’t be happy.”

“We’re not together.” While it was the truth, it felt like a lie.

“Don’t play dumb, Emerson.” Hope rolled her eyes, and I wanted to laugh at the absurdity of this conversation. “Regardless of your relationship status, it’s clear to anyone within five feet of you two that he’s smitten. Holden has never had a relationship. He’s never given a girl more than a cursory glance. Especially during football season. The female population on campus will notice, and some will not be happy about his choice.”

“What about you?”

---