Page 70 of One Lovely Lie

“Okay, let’s talk about how wrong you really were,” he says. “Avery, please tell me how you were wrong.”

“Ishtjospen…”

“I’m sorry, say that louder.”

“I shot Josephine, okay!” I admit, running my hands through my hair and pulling it at the roots. “In my defense, she looked like Bambi.”

The headmaster cocks his head to the side as he shakes it. “How, Avery? How did our groundskeeper look like a deer to you?”

“I—”

“No, that’s enough,” he says, cutting me off with a curt hand. “We have to do something about this. You shot a member of our staff—”

“—deterred—”

“And we can’t keep up with your antics any longer,” he concludes, looking at me with nothing but pity.

I don’t like pity. It makes my stomach hurt.

“Do I have detention again?” I ask nervously. I hate detention. I’m so bored and there’s never anything fun to do. You can’t even eat. I love to eat.

“Expulsion.”

“What?” I shout, jumping out of my seat as my heart races. “You can’t expel me!”

“Calm down, we’re not expelling you,” he explains. “But you have to stop doing this stuff, Avery. Your parents even agreed—”

“You talked to my parents?” I ask happily. I love my parents. They’re the best.

“Yes, yes. They say hi.”

“Hi, parents!”

“Focus!” he yells, slamming his hand down on the table. He looks apologetic when I wince and shakes his head. “One more reckless plan like this and you’re gone.”

I nod because this all of a sudden got very real and I don’t appreciate it. I’m harmless. I wasn’t trying to hurt anybody, I just wanted the traitor, Bambi, to fuck off.

I leave his office in a slump. I can’t get expelled. My parents are paying so much money to send me here and they’re so proud of how well I’ve been doing.

I remember growing up with nothing. My mom was working three jobs to support us while my dad was trying to start up his business. We went from lower-class citizens to the top one-percenters in a matter of years. I’d hate to think that I’m not living up to these new standards they’ve set for me.

But it’s just so fucking hard. I’m not like these kids. I didn’t grow up with privilege so I don’t know how to act and I don’t know what to say. I still gape whenever we get our fancy meals from the fancy lunchroom. I still don’t get why we play polo…polo.

I’m trying my hardest to fit in. Thankfully, my friends are the best and have helped me through it all. Daniel who, poor thing, is in love with his best friend. Magnus who, stupid thing, is oblivious. Ozymandias and Carter who, strange things, absolutely hate each other.

And then there’s me.

Sure, I have my friend group, but I still feel like anotheraround them. I have the money now, I have the education now, I have the prestige now, but I’m still just so different.

Sometimes I wish I could be someone other than myself.

“Hey, Avery.”

“Good morning, Mrs. Stewart,” I say to the headmaster’s receptionist, Hildie. She’s an older lady, really sweet, with gray hair and these happy little wrinkles around her eyes. Based on how often I’m here, she and I have gotten pretty close over the years.

“Oh, honey. What’s wrong?” she asks, frowning as she reaches for my hand.

“They’re going to expel me,” I pout, squeezing her hand tightly.

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