Page 102 of Pure Vengeance

“Enter.”

I open the door and walk in. Dean Rochester is sitting at his desk and he looks up, looking at me over his spectacles. He takes them off and sets them down. “Mr. Carter. Thank you for coming in.”

He motions for me to sit in the armchair opposite his table. I do so, already uncomfortable. He turns his laptop around and presses play. My voice plays back to me on the video that Maria recorded. He pauses it.

“Mr. Carter, this is a very serious issue to announce on media. Your stepfather is most displeased, he doesn’t even want to come here to speak about the repercussions of your actions.”

“The repercussions, sir? This has nothing to do with the university,” I say.

“Unfortunately, it does. Campus News is broadcast not only to our university, but to other schools in the country. A slight likethis could affect the name of the university. Action must be taken to show that the university does not tolerate or condone these kinds of infractions. Until further notice, you are suspended, pending a university investigation into what is going on with you and your stepbrother. Incest is a crime. I can’t let this fly if that’s what’s actually happening.”

“He has nothing to do with this,” I say quickly. “That was why I broadcast that video. Because I didn’t want him to take the fall for me. And he’s my stepbrother, it’s not incest.”

“I wouldn’t admit guilt when you’re facing the panel of investigators Mr. Carter, they will not look favorably on this. Now, I don’t want to see you expelled and barred from this institution, but I will do whatever is best for the school. I am hoping for your sake this is an overblown prank gone wrong.”

I nod. “Yes, sir.”

“You’re also banned from playing football. You will not represent this institution until the investigation is complete. You may continue to live on campus grounds as the panel will need to speak to you, your frat brothers, the girls, and Mr. Bennett.”

I nod again, swallowing.

“That is all, Mr. Carter, and I am really disappointed in you.”

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Noah

It’s early, but I’m thankful one bar on campus is open. The guilt is eating me alive. I can’t believe Adrian took the fall for me. When Richard showed me the video, I knew what Adrian’s next stop would be, and like the coward I am, I hightailed it out of there.

I don’t even count how many beers I’ve had, I just keep them coming. The bartender doesn’t seem too bothered by me. Probably because I’m just sitting by myself.

My phone buzzes in my pocket, but I ignore it. If it’s my father, I don’t want to know what he’s saying, and if it’s Adrian, I don’t want him to know where I am.

“You know you’ve got track my phone on, right?” he says from behind me.

I grimace and sip my beer. “Fuck.”

Adrian sits beside me and orders a beer. “Well, I’ve been suspended pending investigation, I’m banned from playing football, and my frat house kicked me out. How is your morning going?” He looks at me with a smile.

“This isn’t funny,” I mutter. “This is serious. You shouldn’t have done that. I thought you had a grand smart plan, not a stupid idea.”

I get up and sway my way toward the bathroom to take a leak. The door slams behind me, and I go to the urinal. I hear the door open and I mutter, “Can’t even take a leak in peace.”

“It’s not anything I haven’t seen,” he says, leaning against the door once it’s closed. “Noah, we need to talk.”

“No, we don’t. Just recant your statement.”

“I will not do that.”

“I don’t need this hanging over my head,” I retort. I wash my hands and look in the mirror, then I look at him through the mirror.

He’s leaning against the door so calmly, and it’s frustrating. “How can you be so cool with this?”

“I’m the star quarterback, they’re not going to do anything to me. They’ll give me a slap on the wrist and I’ll sit out a few games,” he says.

“And when the girls won’t corroborate your story?” I ask.

“That’s why you’re going to pay them to. Abigail is out, but if we get the others to say that I paid them to tell people I had sex with them, then we might just come out of this okay.”

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