I do as he says, but I make sure to glare at Sloane as I walk by her. She’s smirking, and I want nothing more than to wipe that smug smile off her face.
When I’m alone with him, the headmaster looks pissed, even more so than he did in the hallway. The door is closed, and his assistant can’t hear anything.
“I’m very disappointed in your behavior, Isabelle.”
Hearing him call me by my real name makes me cringe.
“Isabelle is dead. I’d prefer it if you called me Nicola,” I grit out.
He folds his hands on the desk and leans forward. “Very well,Nicola. Your parents went through a lot of trouble to get this second chance for you. I’d hate to see you squander it with pettiness.”
“I was defending myself,” I say through clenched teeth. “I didn’t realize you condoned bullying at Maverick Prep.”
“I don’t. I didn’t ask you to follow me here because of what I witnessed just a moment ago.”
“Oh? Why am I here, then?”
“We have footage of you vandalizing Jason Novak’s car on Friday night.”
My stomach bottoms out. The altercation with Sloane made me forget about my problems with Jason.
“He deserved it. He trashed my room.”
His eyebrows shoot up. “And do you have proof that he did that?”
“No, but I know it was him. He has a master key.”
Mr. Cain laughs. “There isn’t a master key to any room in the dorms, Ms. Devlin.”
I don’t know if he’s lying to save face or if Jason lied about his master key. It doesn’t matter, though. I can’tprovethat he messed with me first.
I cross my arms. “He has a key tomyroom.”
“If that’s the case, we can easily change the lock. But I’m afraid I can’t ignore the fact you destroyed his car.”
The sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach intensifies. “What does that mean? Am I suspended?”
“No. It turns out Jason spoke on your behalf.”
My heart skips a beat, and then it accelerates to a hundred. “He did?”
“Yes. He made me aware you have a recital coming soon, and that you must practice until then. It’s for that reason, and that reason alone, that you’re not getting a suspension. But I advise you to work out your issues with other students in a less destructive manner.”
“I’ll try.”
“No, Ms. Devlin. Don’t try. Simply do. You can head to class now.”
My mind is spinning like a top as I head to Spanish. I wish I could believe that Jason interceded on my behalf because there’s something good in him. But the most logical explanation is that he wants to deal with me in his own twisted way.
I spot him ahead of me in the hallway, talking to Sloane. They look chummy, which causes an ugly feeling to spread through my chest. I can’t possibly be jealous of him and that bitch. I should look away, but I don’t before Jason turns his head in my direction. Our eyes lock. I can’t glance away first. I don’t want him to think I’m afraid of him. He smirks before he returns his attention to Sloane.
He tucks a strand of her hair behind her ear and then kisses her cheek. I don’t know if he’s doing that because I’m watching or not.
Look away, Isabelle.
I don’t and end up bumping into someone.
“Hey, wat—” Luke starts before he sees me. “Oh, it’s you.”