Page 32 of The Wrong Side of Kai
He’s at his usual desk, his eyes already glued to me, following my every move as I weave my way around the room. The desk next to him where I usually sit is still empty, so mustering up every ounce of courage that I can, I walk over and sit down a mere two feet away from him.
“Hi, Harrison,” I say sweetly, my smile angelic. I angle my body toward him and reach into my jacket pocket, presenting him with his phone that went missing from the locker rooms yesterday. I find it so much easier to feign confidence rather than letting my anger push me to tears. “Were you looking for this?”
Harrison nearly bursts out of his chair and snatches the device from my hand. He gives his phone a quick once over, making sure I haven’t smashed the screen, even though I now wish that I had. His eyes flash back up to look at me, completely enraged. “What the fuck are you playing at?”
“Oh, don’t worry. I couldn’t guess your passcode,” I tell him, flicking my hair over my shoulder. I turn back toward the front of the class and remain silent for a few moments just to antagonize him, then shoot him a sideways glance. “But I didn’t need to.”
Harrison looks around the class as people continue to file in, then edges in closer to me and hisses, “What are you talking about?”
“I wonder what Coach Maverick would say if I sent him that video of you getting stoned in the bleachers,” I taunt, my tone perfectly innocent.
Harrison’s face pales. He looks down at his phone in his hand, perplexed as to how I’ve gotten access to it, then clenches his jaw. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“You like to send out videos.” I turn to face him again, my expression entirely blank, acting disinterested in this exchange. “Why can’t I do the same?”
Harrison groans and rubs his hands over his face, fighting to keep his anger in check. We’re quiet so as not to cause a scene, though a few of our classmates are already tuned in. “Just don’t, Vanessa. I swear to God. You slashed my tires – which are costing a fortune to replace, by the way – and next you took my phone hostage. Stop messing with me.” His nostrils flare as he grows more exasperated. Desperately, he reaches out for my wrist, forcing me to keep my attention on him. “I’m sorry, alright? I shouldn’t have shared that video. I was pissed at you.”
“Harrison,” I say, gently pulling my wrist free from his grasp, “I’m just getting started.” I give him a tight, challenging smile, then turn away.
“Vanessa,” he hisses, but I don’t so much as glance at him for the rest of class.
He whispers my name every chance he gets. Even tries to pass me a note, which I promptly push off the edge of my desk. It’s fun watching him beg, especially because I know he isn’t actually sorry about releasing that video of us. He only wants me to stop playing tricks on him.
When class ends, I calmly gather up my books and strut out of the room.
All the while Harrison stares helplessly after me.
*
The hallways are silent. Kai stands ten feet away from me, pretending to text, keeping his head down. I sit on a chair outside the school’s main office, one leg crossed over the other, staring at him. I should really be in detention right now, but I’m willing to accept double-time for skipping it. I haven’t turned up once this week and I’m surprised it hasn’t been brought to Principal Stone’s attention yet.
“You do know that you’re more than welcome to eat lunch at our table, right?” I ask Kai. Earlier today when I gave him a subtle wave in the school cafeteria, he totally blanked me and sat on his own instead.
“But then people will assume that we’refriends,” Kai replies quietly, refusing to lift his head as he speaks. He’s doing that thing again where he takes our undercover mission way too seriously. Even though there’s no one else around and classes ended twenty minutes ago, he’s still worried someone will creep up and spot the two of us together.
“And you don’t want to be friends?”
“Yes, I do,” he says, trying to fight the smile that’s growing, “but not until this mission is over.”
I wonder for a minute when thiswillbe over. How far do we plan to go with our mission to screw with Harrison? When will we decide that we’ve done enough? I’m about to ask Kai this when my thoughts are interrupted by the sound of heels clicking against the floor.
“Hi, hooligans,” Maddie says with an air of superiority as she approaches.
“Aren’t you technically a hooligan yourself now?” Kai challenges.
She sets her eyes on Kai, glowering at him. “Shut it, new kid.”
God, this is an odd trio. I never thought I’d be spending my Wednesday staying late after classes to riffle through the school’s filing system with Kai Washington, the new kid, and Madison Romy, the teacher’s pet. I stand up from my chair and join the two of them as Maddie breezes straight into the main office. Honestly, it doesn’t even surprise me that she helps out the office staff. She’s a total brown-noser.
“Hi, Miss Hillman,” Maddie says, greeting the woman behind the main desk. Miss Hillman has worked at this school for decades and is sweet, but sweet can also mean naive. “These two have lost their class schedules, so I’ll print them some new ones.”
Miss Hillman nods and gives us all a smile. I hope she doesn’t end up in trouble for this.
Maddie guides the way across the main office, past Principal Stone’s office and toward the counselor offices at the back. There’s not much staff still here, most of them gone for the day.
“Our files are kept back here,” Maddie explains, placing her hand on the door handle of Mrs. Delaney’s office. “And aren’t we lucky none of the counselors ever work late? God forbid you ever have a mental breakdown after school.” She double checks around us for any other administration staff that may be lurking, but the coast is clear. The three of us slip into Mrs. Delaney’s office unnoticed.
Kai immediately throws himself down into the huge, plush chair. He swivels back and forth, touching all the items on Mrs. Delaney’s desk. I eye him in disapproval – I’m pretty sure leaving fingerprints at the scene of the crime is a no-no in undercover missions.
