Page 154 of Tis the Season to be Bullied

“Well I hope you get it sorted out because, Nim, I’m afraid I have bad news.”

My chest goes so tight, I couldn’t have said anything if I’d tried.

“It’s about the insurance payout. I’m afraid...well...there’s been a setback.”

“Mm?” It’s about all I can articulate.

“The Insurer completed their investigation on Wednesday. They’ve...they’ve repudiated the claim.”

“Why?”

“The autopsy report showed that your parents’ blood alcohol level was over the legal limit at the time of the accident.”

“So what, they’re not going to pay?” My voice is shrill, and I clap a hand over my mouth to silence myself.

“I’m fighting it. Even if the driverwasintoxicated, that shouldn’t affect the passenger’s claim. Also, in my mind, their deaths weren’t the result of their intoxication. That rockslide would have—it’s a bit technical, but I want you to know that I’m top of it.”

A bright, feral anger bubbles up inside me. “So I’m still broke?” I ask Quinton. “Even if I wanted to leave the Academy, I couldn’t afford to?”

“I would highly recommend you stay there as long as you can. You have a chance at starting a career. With the right attitude?—”

“I have to go,” I cut in, a tide of emotions threatening to bowl me over.

“Nim, I know this is hard?—”

“No, Quinton,” I snap. “What’s hard is being forced to stay in this shit hole because my parents died and left me in so much debt, I’ll be paying it off for the next ten years.” I drag in a deep breath, and let it out in a rush.

“I’m doing everything I can to help. Just hang in there, okay? You have a roof over your head, and you’re making a positive change in your life. That’s all any of us can ask for. I’ll contact you in a few days with an update.”

“Thanks.” I quickly end the call before I can yell at him. It’s not in the least his fault but it feels like a dam inside me has burst.I throw my phone onto the carpet and slap my hands over my face, my fingers digging into my scalp.

Why can’t something just go right for once in my fucking life?

I wish my parents had never come to Cinderhart. No...I wish Vicky had never invited them! I hate her, and I hate this fucking town, and I hate everything and everyone...myself included.

Because I could have stopped them that night.

If I hadn’t been such afuckingcoward, if I’d told them what had happened in the woods, we’d have been at the police station that night.

No rockslide.

No dead parents.

That’s when the tears finally come. Three odd months’ worth of emotions slam into me like...ha...like a fucking rockslide.

And I’m as powerless to prevent them as my parents had been.

Chapter 26

Knox

Ms. Carling looks up when I saunter into the library, and gives me a double take. Her surprise is a given. I don’t come in here often. If I need to look something up, I do it on my laptop or I send a lackey to get it from the reference section. It’s not that I don’t like libraries...I guess it’s just because I can.

I do a lot of things just because I can. It’s one of few indulgences I allow myself these days.

“It’s so funny you should stop by,” Ms. Carling says, waving me over with her bony hand so vigorously that the chains on her spectacles clatter against her cardigan’s plastic buttons.

“I’m in a hurry?—”

---