Page 97 of Bleeding Hearts
“Friends, huh?” I pull her down the sheets. “Want me to show you just how friendly we are?”
Her laughter fills the air, but it ends in a moan as I slide my hand into her shorts, reminding her exactly just how much we aren’t friends.
I feel like I’m walking toward a death sentence, but Alice’s hand is in mine, and she’s giving me a supportive look that stops me from running. I won’t do that anymore. It won’t change anything. The board called this meeting to discuss my payment or dismissal from Pine Valley.
I can’t pay. I won’t take the money from anyone despite them offering it multiple times. This is my life, and I want to make my own way. If that means leaving Pine Valley, then so be it. At least I will know I tried, and that’s all I can do sometimes.
No matter what my future holds, I know Alice will be a part of it, and so will the idiots I spy waiting outside of the administration building.
Alek, Evan, Skylar, and Bones all stand there with handmade signs.
Alek’s reads “She’s a pain, but she deserves to be here.”
Evan’s sign is more subtle. “Let her stay.”
Skylar’s has boobs all over it, but it reads “Don’t make me hit you.”
Bones’s is more logical. “As stated in your code—everyone shall be given a second chance at Pine Valley.”
As I read them, I can’t help but smile. “How long have you idiots been here?”
“All morning. We watched them go inside and made sure they saw us.” Evan smiles. “It’s going to be okay, no matter what they say.”
“I know.” I look at them. “Thanks for coming.”
“That’s what family is for.” Alek pats my shoulder. “Give them hell.”
“Always.” I look at Alice then steal a quick kiss. “For luck.”
“You don’t need it. Whatever happens, I will be right here, okay?” she assures me.
Nodding, I take a deep breath and straighten my blazer. I’m even in slacks today, and my hair is styled. My makeup is subdued, but I couldn’t quite cut out my entire personality, so my tank under the blazer reads “This is my top, but you should meet my bottom. She’s prettier.”
“You’ve got this!” they cheer as I head inside. This time, I control my panic. I stride past the desk with a nod at the receptionist and push the doors open. There are two men and two women waiting within, one of them Mr. Weaver.
“Ms. Stewart,” he greets kindly. “Please take a seat.”
I sit opposite them, refusing to cower.
“I’m sure you know why you are here,” he begins carefully.
“I could not pay my tuition. This meeting is to dismiss me from Pine Valley College,” I reply calmly as I cross my legs. I have been through far worse, so I can survive this as well.
They share a look, and he leans forward. “Actually, we have changed this meeting’s agenda. Ms. Stewart . . . Lally, you have done so much for this college by exposing Risk, something evenwe could not do. We have decided to reinstate your scholarship. It would be a dishonor and a waste to lose a student like you. We will forgive your prior breaches of student conduct, and you are free to carry on as normal as long as you promise to, um, behave more.”
I gape, shocked to my core. “Wait. I don’t have to leave?”
He smiles. “You’re an asset to this institute, Ms. Stewart. If we let you go, we would be fools. Everyone should be given a second chance, and I hope you will give us a second one and stay.”
“I don’t have to pay?” I whisper.
“You earned your scholarship. As long as you promise to behave from now on, we see no reason to take it away. We offered it to you in the first place for a reason. You were right. As a school, we should have done more to support you. We failed you, and yet you still tried to save our students. Such bravery should be rewarded, Lally. Don’t you agree?”
I nod mutely, and he stands. “Good, then I believe you should be in class, should you not?” When I just stand, he laughs. “Don’t let me down, Ms. Stewart. I’m expecting great things from you.”
Everything starts to sink in, and I rush toward him, picking him up and swinging him around. When I put him down, I grin. “Sorry, not sorry. Thank you!” I look at the others. “Even you in those horrible suits, thank you. I won’t let you down, I promise.”
“Yes, well, go to class,” Mr. Weaver mutters, but he’s smiling.
