Page 30 of Unspoken Truths

“Rachelle, I think it’s time to go home,” Emil interrupts him. “Let’s go.”

Thank God. Getting up this time is a little more difficult, my head swimming as I see several men in front of me instead of just two. Emil takes my backpack from me, glancing at me strangely as I force myself completely upright.

“I’m good,” I rasp, walking forward. “Definitely ready to go.”

“Miss Thomas, you have to understand the difficult position we’re in with the other parents if we allow you to stay,” Mr. Lee attempts yet again.

“Emil, you know most of the parents at the high school, right?” I ask, my hand fisted in my skirt, my nails digging into my palm.

As long as I make it out of the school without fainting, I’ll be good. Come on, Rachelle. Keep it together.

“I do, maybe I should make it a very specific point to make some calls,” Emil says, opening the door and walking me out of the office.

“This is absurd!” Mr. Lee yells, while we studiously ignore him, continuing into the hallway.

“He’s the absurd one,” Emil fumes. “How dare he speak to you like that. The secretary said they lost you for most of the day. Where did you go?”

“The tunnels,” I reply sluggishly. Fuck, this hallway feels so long.

“Smart,” he mutters. “Do you think that Liliana did this?”

“Initially? I did, because she kept telling me the newspaper was her domain and nothing passed without her say so,” I explain.

“Is Liliana flirting with you?” he asks incredulously.

Cheeks burning with blood flow I’m not sure I can spare, I shrug.

“Interesting, but you don’t think she did this anymore?” Emil asks.

Opening my mouth to respond, my legs fail me, buckling as my eyes roll back. I hear Emil roar as he catches me, my head falling over his arm as everything goes black.

Well, I tried to leave on my own two feet.

* * *

LILIANA

I’m in the hallway under the guise of going to the restroom when I watch Rachelle faint into Mr. Emil’s arms.

“Rachelle?” I ask, rushing forward. “Is that blood?”

Trying to juggle both the backpack and his stepdaughter’s body, he finally chooses to toss the bag to me once I’m close enough. Moving closer, I push her skirt up, showing him the blood.

“Why is she bleeding? Did she get her um…” Mr. Emil struggles to explain what it could be before I finally catch on.

“I don’t think this is her period,” I tell him. “She wouldn’t have passed out from it. Are those cuts?”

“This fucking school,” Mr. Emil growls, bursting into motion. “What is she cutting with? What’s in her bag?”

“They look like knife cuts,” I say guiltily. “I gave her one of my knives yesterday because it felt like she would need them for protection. I didn’t think she’d do this to herself. Some of these cuts are deep.”

“That was a nice thought,” Mr. Emil says, continuing to walk. “I’m not completely sure what her mental health background is like, because her mother and Rachelle don’t discuss it with me. I have a feeling my stepdaughter may be holding onto a lot of secrets.”

“Liliana, where are you going? I don’t believe you have permission to leave early,” Mrs. Hartwell calls out to us. “Nor do I believe that Mr. Emil can check you out.”

Turning while he walks, he allows the nosy assistant principal to see the way he’s carrying Rachelle.

“I will have Liliana’s father call to confirm that I do have permission, and there is also a note in her file that I’m her emergency contact,” Emil says. “I am currently having an emergency and I’m taking her with me. Have a wonderful day, Mrs. Hartwell. Thank you for policing the hallways oh so well.”

---