Page 176 of As the Rain Falls
The bell rings. Our eyes meet. She flinches, like she’s seen a ghost. I don’t make a move, but the hair at the back of my neck starts rising. Mr. Fernandez isn’t buying any of it.
“Both of you. Principal’s office. Now!”
Mateo steps forward, pulling Angelina into a hug. “But sir, we just told you—”
“Mr. Rivera gets to figure this out, not you.” The supervisor turns towards the rest of us, the audience still watching. “Everybody, back to class. Right now, come on! Back to class!”
The students scatter.Kayla walks back to our table to grab her backpack. The expression on her face is one of disappointment and confusion, and I can tell she’s worried about Alice now.
I don’t know why, though.
There’s no way in hell Alice will get more than maybe a few days of suspension for misbehavior. And I’ve seen her do a lot worse over the years to other people, going as far as threatening them. I still remember how she pushed a boy down the stairs after he tried to kiss her on the cheek.
“Kayla! Where are you going?” She doesn’t even look back. I race after her quickly, leaving our plates behind. “Hello? I asked you a question!”
“Principal’s office,” she snaps. “Where else?”
My lips purse. “But why? I don’t get it!”
“It’s not for you to get, Cassie.” My friend just shakes her head. “And I know you’re right about the dance thing; I know she’s in the wrong right now. I’m not asking you to agree with me, but I’m asking you to drop it.”
“Kayla!” I groan. “Is she really that worth it to you?”
“Please, I…” She looks torn. “I can’t leave Alice all alone, okay? I just… can’t.”
My eyebrows shoot up, understanding dawning on me that she really means it. Kayla’s trying to be nice, do the right thing when it concerns Alice for once.
“But why?”
“It’s none of your business.”
I flinch, startled by the harshness in her voice.
“Oh.”
“I’m sorry, but right now, she’s going to be alone.” Kayla’s gaze drops to the floor, cheeks turning a soft shade of pink. “I’ll see you later, okay?”
“Okay, Kay-Kay.” I nod. “Text me after, alright?”
“I will.” A weak smile tugs at the corner of her lips, uncertain and weak. “I promise.”
I’m pretending to understand, but Kayla and I haven’t been talking much these days unless it’s superficial conversation about Caleb and school. I don’t know what’s going on with her anymore, and she doesn’t know everything that’s going on with me, either.
Though maybe it’s for the best that she doesn’t, I think to myself. By keeping her away from my mess, she becomes the only thing that’s left untainted. I’d rather go through all the pain a thousand times than to ever allow my friend to be in the same position I am.
A bit of distance. And this is not the first secret I keep from her, anyway. Even if it hurts a little, Kayla deserves to be worried about far more than me, and it’s time that I accept that.
DISSECTING MORE THAN FROGS
Cassandra
DECEMBER, 2016
Neither Alice nor Angelinagot suspended.
I figure this out when they walk into our biology class, one after the other, like scolded dogs with their tails tucked low. Alice’s eyes are red-rimmed and puffy, which is not a good look for a girl who supposedly is the meanest of them all. Angelina waves around a piece of paper that looks a lot like a nurse’s note.
“We’re very sorry for being so late and interrupting your class, Mr. Valdez.”
