Page 7 of Call the Shots
“What?It’s always been cumulative!”
“We’re just as surprised as you are,” Ineye blurted out. “It was an emergency measure, we don’t know what’s going on. But…that means you’ll be relinquishing your badge, your office, and?—”
“Myhouse?” I choked out.
More flinches. More nods.
“You—you don’t understand.” I fought to keep the tremor out of my voice. “I’ve had that house since freshman year, that’s where my friends hang out, it’s our favorite place—you three have been to my parties! You can’t take my house!”
Apologies were whispered, but none of them looked at me anymore.
I shoved myself out of my chair, heart racing. “Residential directors decided this.Xavierdid this.”
Ineye bit her lip. “Erm…he was the one to suggest it to the board…”
I stormed out to the main room, busy with the end of spring semester. Corkboards lined the walls with Marrs flags, huge white tables were structured in the middle of the room, covered in craft projects. Every student worker stalled over their laptops and glittery posters. Eyes watched me as I stalked towards Xavier’s office.
“You conniving little fuck weasel!”I snapped, slamming the door behind me.
He didn’t even bother to stop typing. “Hey, June.”
“You’re taking away myhouse?!”
“Think of it as payback for my car.”
“I had nothing to do with that!”
Really, I didn’t, two of my best friends smashed Xavier’s cherry red Clemenza after they caught him cheating on me. It was a whole thing, and I didn’t know until after. If they would’ve told me before, I would’ve stopped them. My friends could’ve gotten into so much trouble, I’d never ask them to take risks like that for me.
“You know who did,” Xavier pushed. “I want a name.”
I glared.
“You want your house? Give me aname.”
“You slippery fuck, I dideverythingfor you. I put you in that chair!” I ripped open the door, raising my voice loud enough for everyone to hear. “I paid for everything in this office, this stuff ismine!You don’t win those fundraising weeks, your grandpa writes you acheck!All those recommendation letters,Igot those for you! Nobody wanted to sign off on them!”
Xavier paled, gaping like a fish.
“The only reason it’s not me in that chair is because I was stupid enough to listen to you!”
“June—”
“Maybe I was naive but at least I kept my receipts! You don’t know what’s coming to you, Xavier!”
I whirled around to see Bear Moreau, smoothie in hand. The only one who didn’t shy away from looking at me, the rest were red with embarrassment.
“You really are a stalker,” he scoffed.
‘Xavier’ was written on the smoothie. After everything, he’d get a smoothie. A fuckingsmoothie. Without a word, I moved to pass Bear slamming my fist to the top of the cup, knocking it to the floor in a brilliant orange explosion.
Fuck him too.
I didn’t stop walking until I hit the golden lion statues outside. Then, and only then, did I allow myself to cry.
None of this made a difference.
They were empty threats. I couldn’t do anything that’d land my family in the news, and getting even wouldn’t solve anything. I wouldn’t get my house back.
