Page 162 of Unspoken Truths

“Miss Cruz, I believe the exit is in the other direction, and your bag appears ready to leave as well,” Headmaster Cooper booms from down the hall as he strides out. “New rule, unless you can prove you have club meetings, you’re all to vacate the school on Friday within fifteen minutes of the final bell.”

“What?” I ask. “No, I’m looking for my girlfriend. We’re riding together. I can’t leave without her.”

“Then you can wait for her in the parking lot,” he says, his heavy hands turning me around and pushing me firmly toward the exit. This isn’t possibly an actual rule.

Is he for real right now?

Everyone follows suit as they trudge out of the school, shrugging that they’ll just finish their conversations in the parking lot.

“So I’m just supposed to hope she comes out?” I ask, turning to face him as I stand on the front steps outside of the school.

He’s unlatching the doorstops that hold the doors open before and after school so they won’t auto lock on people, shrugging.

“Maybe she shouldn’t have gotten on the Kings’ radar, Miss Cruz,” he says, his voice soft enough that only I can hear.

Allowing the door to close, he moves to the other door as students begin to rush out. I guess it would be awkward to wrestle with the heavy door after he closes it. Once he does, the doors will be locked from the outside.

I won’t be able to get back inside. Fuck!

“You know this isn’t right,” I hiss, starting to seriously panic.

This can’t be happening right now. I’m supposed to be able to protect her. What’s worse is that Nacio rushes out as well, oblivious to my current turmoil.

“I know no such thing,” Headmaster Cooper says. “This is the way our world works, and you know it.”

“What’s going on?—”

Nacio’s words are cut off as the headmaster slams the door shut as the last student escapes, and I swallow back a scream.

“Rachelle is still inside,” I finally gasp, turning toward him. “Do you know if the guys are gone yet?”

Nacio turns to face the parking lot, his teeth grinding together in anger. He’s beginning to see a set up just like I am.

“They’re all here,” he mutters. “I’ve been slammed today, and no one told me they were planning something with her.”

“Are they suspicious?” I rasp, my body coiled and tight with anxiety.

“Of me? No, not yet,” he says. “I guess we’re breaking into the school. It just won’t be this door that's locked. Let’s go.”

Blowing out a breath, I whisper a prayer that we’re able to get to her in time and help her. God, I fucking hate our new headmaster.

* * *

THEO

This isn’t a planned Kings’ punishment, but I can’t help myself. I’ve been watching her walk from class to class alone, as if she doesn’t have a care in the world. Her short hair pisses me off. I fucking hate how adorable it looks on her.

If she wants short hair, I’d rather shave it all off. Which is exactly what I plan on doing. I brought scissors and my electric razor to school in my backpack, hoping for a chance at the little mouse. Smirking as Headmaster Cooper glances over his shoulder, I pull the scissors out of my pocket to wave it at him discreetly.

The first day of school he pulled the Kings into his office to discuss how he would help us anyway he could. I guess he means it as he turns and yells at Liliana to get her ass in gear. He’s clearing the halls, which is perfect.

Replacing the scissors, I roam the hallways, looking for the little mouse. Just as she tries to open the door to the bathroom to leave, I catch the door, shoving her back in as I follow her.

I have no idea where the guys are, but I have pockets filled with hair cutting tools, my backpack left in my locker for now. I’m too impatient to wait for them to join me.

“Going somewhere, Little Mouse?” I croon.

“What do you want?” she snarls, her feet losing ground as she continues to step back.

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