Page 99 of Unspoken Truths

“Is that how we’re going to play this?” Emil asks with a cruel smile. “I demand an exam that will be weighted high enough to diminish the damage of the zeros in the system.”

“Why should we have to create an exam when we didn’t have anything to do with the issue?”

The question comes from my seventy-year old chemistry teacher. Mr. Barnes. He’s crotchety, mean, a pervert, and seems to believe he’s always right. Lili warned me early on about him. Unfortunately, most of my work in his class revolves around lab work and exams. I’m completely screwed there. I have a single A, which is from an exam I took the first week I came into school.

“How do you suggest we resolve this?” Emil asks.

“Miss Rachelle needs to take the responsibility for her bad grades,” the teacher says. Apparently he didn’t want to fuss with my last name, and is taking liberties.

Fuck this school.

“That’s the issue,” Mr. Richardson says, “the responsibility lies with the computer system, not her.”

This leads to a discussion about how to tighten the firewalls and systems surrounding the grade books, but that’s not going to help me now. I also doubt it’ll work if Theo can pull apart the records and recordings of my rape case. No one is safe from him.

Two hours later, some of my grades are higher than they were previously, but they’re still atrocious. While I’m angry, it’s clear that I’m not going to be able to change it.

“We’re going to pretend grades don’t matter this semester,” Emil sighs as he drives us home. “None of this is your fault, Rachelle.”

“I know,” I whisper, blinking hard as I gaze out the window. A tear slides down my cheek despite trying to hold them back. One by one, they slip away from me, an equally useless battle.

I’m going to give myself until we get to the driveway, and then shelve this. I refuse to make myself sick with sadness over it.

“I really hate this,” I admit, sniffling. “I was really excited about doing well in school. My exams aren’t even going to matter.”

“As difficult as it is to say, I still think you should take them for yourself,” Mom says. “You’ve never half-assed anything in your life.”

“That’s true,” I say softly.

The gates of the house come faster than I was ready for, and I start to slowly pack away my grief. New girl, new school, the school and the bullies win this one.

I certainly didn’t come close to making a dent. Sighing heavily, I wipe my face and get out of the SUV. It’s been hours, the sun is already beginning to disappear behind the horizon. I can’t believe Lili is still here.

Trudging inside the house, I shove my memory stick in my pocket.

“Hey,” Lili says waiting for me by the door. “No luck then?”

“No,” I sigh. “I’m definitely not passing my classes. I mean, if Cs and Ds count, I’m technically passing.”

My stepbrother is nowhere to be seen, and all I want is a shower. I feel disgusting, my face is sticky from crying too.

“It’s better than it was,” Lili murmurs. “I have a surprise for you, if you still want it. Do you want to change?”

“Yeah,” I tell her with a nod. “I need something good today. I need a shower, too. I’ll be back.”

My parents retreat to the kitchen to talk, while I walk up to my room. Ignacio is in his room with the door open as I walk by, his head rising to watch me. Ignoring him completely, I shut my door behind me, pulling my clothes off.

Standing naked in front of the mirror, I touch my hair that’s curling down my back, and decide I need a hair cut. That’s what I’m doing tomorrow. I know better than to do it myself at least.

The door slams open, causing me to jump, gasping as I remember I’m naked. Wrapping my arm around my chest and twisting my body to the side, I gaze wide eyed at my stepbrother as he stands in the doorway.

“Fuck, I didn’t realize you were undressing,” he mutters, shutting the door behind him instead of leaving.

“Ignacio,” I hiss, looking around for some way to cover myself. “I’m naked! Do you think you could leave?”

“I won’t touch,” he says, his eyes moving over my body as if he wishes that he could. “Why are you so pretty? Fuck, I came in here for a reason. Rachelle, I can’t concentrate.”

“I’m trying to take a shower,” I squeak. “God, turn around and get out!”

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