Page 34 of The Broken Note

Immediately, my body tightens with guilt and I drop my gaze to the ground. When I suspected that Dutch and his brothers were responsible for the fire that got my friend kicked out of school, I completely destroyed their practice room.

And then Dutch came over to my house to confront me.

And then mom showed up to prove she wasn’t dead.

And I haven’t had time to think about or visit Serena.

Call me the worst friend ever.

“I spoke to a few more security guards. I was trying to find more information on the person who left The Kings’ practice room around the start of the fire.” Miss Jamieson taps a manicured nail on the desk. “It turns out that person was their private cleaner, Martina.”

I frown. “They sent her to clean early in the morning?”

“She chose to go that time. She said it was more convenient.”

As someone who does her work service early in the morning to avoid people too, I can’t argue with that.

“And she didn’t see anything?”

Miss Jamieson shakes her head. “I hit a dead-end.”

“Without evidence, we won’t be able to bring Serena back to school.” I chew on my bottom lip, my stomach swirling. “I told her not to tell her mom about being expelled. I promised her I’d get her back.”

What if I got her hopes up only to disappoint her? How do I face Serena now?

“And we will. Don’t worry.” Miss Jamieson squeezes my shoulder. “I’m still advocating for Principal Harris to give her another chance.”

“He’s not going to do that if we can’t find the real culprit behind the fire.”

“There’s something else.” Miss Jamieson shifts.

I brace myself.

“Serena had a provisional scholarship. Although the school won’t charge her for the damages caused by the fire, the board has decided to sue for the money that they invested in her.”

My heart drops to my toes. “How much?”

Miss Jamieson rattles a figure that makes my head explode.

“They can’t afford that! Serena’s mom is getting treatment for cancer and they can barely keep up with the hospital bills. A law suit will ruin them.”

“It’s happening.”

“When?”

“We have about a week,” Miss Jamieson says. “If we can’t find the culprit…”

“Serena will be ruined.”

“I don’t believe this is the end. I know we’ll find a way out. We just have to look hard enough.”

Her words are meant to give me hope, but all I feel is darkness. I can barely keep my head above water and now Serena is counting on me too.

Between mom, Viola, Serena—it all feels overwhelming.

I shuffle through the hallway, my vision blurry.

Silence falls as I enter another hallway.

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