Page 35 of The Lie
Ashley sits beside me, and as soon as Mrs. Hadley returns to her chair, her demeanor changes. She leans forward on her desk with her hands clasped. “Tell me, Ashley. Did you hear what Britney said before Mila became enraged?”
I grit my teeth and keep quiet. Enraged?
The poor girl goes pale as she looks at me then to one of the dusty plaques behind the principal’s head. “Yes,” she squeaks out.
Oh gosh, she’s so painfully shy. It isn’t fair for her to be put on the spot like this. Hell, Britney will probably go after her, blacklisted or not. You can’t just switch a bully off like that and expect her not to lash out.
“Can you tell me?” Mrs. Hadley prods.
Ashley nods a little, and I watch as she picks at her short fingernails. I reach over and hold her hand. “It’s okay. This is a safe space. Right, Mrs. Hadley?” I look over, and the principal’s eyes widen before she nods.
“Yes, it’s a safe space, Ashley.”
Ashley looks at where my hand holds hers. “She called Roman and Hunter…she called them…f–a–g–g—”
Mrs. Hadley holds her hand up. “That’s enough. I have the picture now. You can go and call in Britney.”
Poor Ashley. I’ve never seen someone move so fast.
Britney comes in and closes the door. I don’t look over, but I can feel her eyes on me.Bitch.
“You look lovely today, Mrs. Hadley.”
I snort and then cough to hide it. What a suck-up.
“Britney, your language is unacceptable. You will be punished for your choice of words.”Choice of words, my ass. They shouldn’t have come out of her mouth at all. “But, Mila, two wrongs don’t make a right. So, you’re not leaving this room unpunished. Instead, maybe it would be better if the two of you served your punishments together. Then we can all learn to get along.”
“What?” Britney and I gasp at the same time.
We both look at each other. I want to spit on her—I’m that angry at her. But learn to get along? What is this, kindergarten?
“Yes, tomorrow morning at seven, the two of you will be at school and you will have office duty. That includes cleaning and running errands all day.”
I hold up my cast in case she forgot I have a broken arm. Hell, I might as well play the I-have-a-broken-arm card while I have the cast.
“You can still carry notes to classes, Mila. All the heavy lifting will be done by Britney,” she adds, who groans in protest. “There will be no complaining. You’re both lucky I don’t suspend you. Now, get back to class. I have important things to do.”
How is it that my first day back at school I’m almost suspended? But what’s worse is spending a whole day with Britney. I would rather be suspended, but I know Dad would be upset. I don’t want him to have to come down to school to take me home. I will take the punishment for what it is…torture.
The bell rings for lunch and I see purple hair running at me through the crowd.
"Sadie,” I call out as this huge, beaming grin approaches. She doesn't stop as wraps her arms around me gently in a hug. I hug her back.
“Oh my god, you didn't tell me you were coming today. I thought you weren't coming back till next week.”
I chuckle. If my dad had his way, I wouldn't be here. “I wasn’t supposed to, but I’m also not good at staying home. Or following rules, for that matter.”
She pulls back and laughs. Her laugh is contagious, and I follow suit.
“Cadence is gonna flip when she sees you're here. You should have messaged me. I would've come pick you up.”
I grin. “Got my own set of wheels now.”
My bike is probably all mangled. I never asked, but I don’t think I want to see what it looks like now. I’ve come to grips with that day, but I think seeing my bike would set me back ten steps. I have no intentions of riding a bike ever again.
“Are you gonna sit with us at lunch?”
I purse my lips and pretend I'm thinking. “Maybe? Can you sit with me at the football table?”
