Page 87 of Science Project

Imani turned on her heel, walked to the other side of the room, and sat against the wall. “Fuck you, João. I hate you.”

When the room finally went quiet, I cleared my throat and sat next to Allie, unsure if she would let me. But she didn’t say a word.

“Well …” I started, explaining what Dad had texted me earlier. I didn’t partake in Jace’s or my father’s drama, but Jace had a right to know that the police chief was blaming him for this mess tonight. I didn’t know why, nor did I know much about the supposed files that Jace had stolen from my house.

But I cared.

Even if Jace hated me. Even if Allie hated me. Even if Redwood hated me.

I still cared about them.

Landon waved his hand dismissively. “Don’t worry about the police chief. We’re taking care of him next. He’s the only person standing in the way of Redwood’s fall. All the other police officers don’t know shit about all the blackmail your father has been doing throughout the years.”

I teetered back and forth on the sofa and toyed with the ends of my skirt.

Kai and Jace began chatting tensely about something that I couldn’t care less about, so I let my mind wander. If Poison took care of my father like they said they would, then maybe I could be with Akio without him getting himself in trouble with Pick.

Akio didn’t know what Pick looked like, and I had made sure not to give him any more details than just his name. He was too cute and small, too sweet to get in the middle of any of my crazy drama. Plus, I didn’t want him to find out the truth.

Pick would surely spill it if put in a life-or-death situation.

“Will you really take care of my father for me?” I asked Landon.

Jace, Allie, and Kai were still chatting. João and Imani had disappeared upstairs, screaming at each other like an old married couple. And I was so, so alone with nobody to lean on, nobody to talk to. I had even lost Akio tonight.

“I don’t know when,” Landon said. “But that’s the plan.”

“Good,” I whispered, tucking some hair behind my ear. “That’s good.”

CHAPTER

FORTY-NINE

AKIO

While the world burned around me, I stayed glued to my spot and scanned the stadium. Someone–and my prediction: Poison–had released the video thirty minutes ago, and the crowd had trampled a handful of students and parents while trying to leave.

My hands tightened into fists as I watched EMTs tend to wounds and broken bones. Other victims were driven off in ambulances to the hospital. And three of Redwood’s finest police officers stood around Principal Vaughn’s head on the field.

I leaned against the fence to get a better view. None of the cops on the field were Pick, but Pick had been here tonight. I knew that I had seen him a moment before the chaos. Yet now, he wasn’t even on campus anymore.

“Akio, right?” someone asked to my left.

After peering over, I stiffened and stood up taller, spotting Nicole’s father. I didn’t know whether or not I should tell him about Pick—because if he had known, then surely, he would’ve done something, right?—but I decided to keep my mouth closed.

“What’re you still doing here?” he asked. “Yui is probably looking for you.”

Yeah, right. Mom doesn’t give a fuck about me.

“Is everything all right?” I asked.

The police chief looked onto the field. “Just great. What are you doing here?”

“I didn’t want to be trampled,” I lied, nodding to the others. “Like the rest of them.”

Once he peered at the last few victims being treated, he placed his hands on his hips and rocked back on his heels. “Have you seen Nicole? You and she have been getting pretty close lately, haven’t you?”

I paused. “No. We’re just working on a project together.”

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