Page 102 of Promises We Meant to Keep

Her feet took her down the neighboring sidewalk and straight toward the administration building, but she wasn’t entirely convinced it was of her own volition. Elia’s breath came in short rasps, and she stood in front of Kamryn’s office, debating whether or not to actually knock on the door. This wouldn’t end well, would it?

Her knuckles hurt against the door.

Elia waited with bated breath for Kamryn to answer. When she did, she seemed surprised to see Elia standing there. “Did you need something?”

“To talk.”

Kamryn’s lips twitched forward. Was that an objection that she wanted to make? Did she want to hide away in this pain too? Or was she willing to put some of this away?

“I don’t think it’s a good idea for us to talk here.”

“I seem to make very poor decisions when you’re around.” Elia put her hands out to the side. “I’m tired of not talking, Kam. Please indulge me.”

Kamryn hesitated again, but she did open the door to let Elia inside. When the door clicked shut, Elia’s heart was in her throat. This was a bad idea. The entire room smelled like Kamryn, and it was a strong, overpowering scent that sent her body into overdrive. Kamryn followed her inside, crossing her arms and staring at Elia.

“What do you want to talk about?”

“Please let me resign now. Don’t make me wait this out.” Elia’s lips tingled, her tongue dry in her mouth as the words spilled out. She hadn’t thought that she was going to talk about this. She’d wanted a more reasonable way to navigate the conversation with Kamryn, but she was tired of watching her step and her words.

“This isn’t the time for this conversation,” Kamryn responded. She relaxed and sat down at her desk, which was covered with papers again.

Stepping closer to Kamryn, Elia glanced down at the papers and squinted to read them. The paper looked old, but as soon as she saw Rylann’s name, Elia panicked. “Did you find it?”

“Find what?” Kamryn muttered back.

“The confession.” Elia reached down, touching the papers before picking up the handwritten confession from Rylann. “I’ve never read this before.”

“Never?” Kamryn turned around to look up at her and furrowed her brow in Elia’s direction.

Elia shook her head. She read through the confession, word for word, her heart hammering away loudly. It was hurting with how tight her chest was. Her hands shook. “Where did you find this?”

“I didn’t,” Kamryn replied, taking the paper and shoving it into a folder. “You shouldn’t be seeing this.”

Elia reached forward swiftly and took the other papers before Kamryn could stop her. “These are the other girls’ confessions?”

“Yes. Everything that was in the original investigation folder. And the rest of your personnel file—though I left that back at my place.” Kamryn leaned back in the chair and rolled her shoulders, seemingly relaxed. “You don’t have any idea how it ended up in my possession?”

“No.” Elia continued to read. Each word brought back all that pain from eighteen years ago, but also the vindication she’d had because she had been right, and she’d told the truth the entire time. She wouldn’t have fought it otherwise. “Felicity made one?” Elia was so near to tears. “I didn’t think…of all of them, I never expected her to do this.”

“She was the one whose accusations were the most benign.” Kamryn took the papers and settled them down. She took Elia’s hands in hers, squeezed once and then let go.

“I never wanted kids of my own, but I could see myself playing stepmother to her.” Elia frowned, struggling to tear her gaze away from the papers on the desk. “That hurts more than Rylann.”

“You said you didn’t care if Yara blamed you.”

“I didn’t.” Elia’s nose stung with tears. “I didn’t, but I didn’t think that Felicity would turn it into something like this.”

“Well, she did. She got her friends to start a mob against you, and then she barely helped to make it stop when they were called out on it.” Kamryn crossed her legs and stretched them out.

Elia stumbled back slightly, her chest tightening even more. This school hadn’t ever done anything for her. It’d only ever caused pain and suffering. “Please just let me leave, Kam. I can’t keep doing this.”

“No.” Kamryn closed the top of her laptop and spun around in the chair, staring Elia down.

“No? Just no. You’re not even going to negotiate this with me?” Elia’s voice struck a nerve. She knew it would. “You’re just going to ignore the fact thatthisis what I want?”

“I don’t believe for a second that this is what you want.” Kamryn sat up straighter and squared her shoulders, preparing for an argument.

“How would you know?” Elia raised her voice, her anger getting the better of her.

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