Page 43 of Didn't See That Coming

Is it just me or does Liam sound a tad too excited about being set up with other people?

Sourdawg:Yeah. I’ll be really impressed if I’m matched with someone who’s a good fit

Okay, so heisexcited about being set up with other girls. Of course it would’ve been too good to be true if he were intome.

CHAPTER 11

Four days. That’s how long it takes for Jonas to report me to the principal for “being disruptive and making it impossible to work in a group environment.” Does the principal bother talking to me to find out how I’m supposedly being disruptive? No, of course not. Not when the complaint is coming from Jonas, the school’s golden boy. When I’m asked to report to Principal Lin’s office during recess, Liam goes with me for moral support.

I sit outside Principal Lin’s office and stare at my hands, my throat sticking each time I try to swallow. I’m nervous, but it’s not because I’m about to be reprimanded. No, I’m nervous because the chairs outside the office are placed right up against each other, so Liam and I are sitting really, really close to each other. There’s only one lonely inch between our forearms, and my body is so aware of his that the hairs on my arms are standing straight up, as though they’re straining to touch him. I swear, if my arm hair grazes his arm, I am goingto die. But I don’t want to move my arms away, because I don’t want him to think I’m not into him.

When my name is called, I stand on shaky legs.

“Hey,” Liam whispers.

I turn to look at him, and he winks at me, which is so adorable I could just die. “You’ll be fine,” he says. “Good luck.”

And as it turns out, I needed it. Mr.Lin crooks his index finger, summoning me inside, and with a knotted stomach, I follow. The door isn’t even closed when Mr.Lin slumps into his chair with a huge, dramatic sigh and rests his chin on his steepled fingers.

“Well, Kristabella, here we are again.”

“Uh. Hi, sir.”

“What are we going to do with you?”

My gaze skitters around the room. What am I supposed to say to that? “Um.”

“I’m very disappointed to receive this report from your classmate about you disrupting classes, especially the group project you’re supposed to be working on as a team. I’d hoped you’d settle into our school’s culture and community by now.”

I think Principal Lin fully believes that he’s conveying concern for my well-being when he says this. Problem is, he’s also getting his information from Jonas, dirtbag of the year. I take a breath before replying, reminding myself not to get shrill or indignant. “I feel that you’ve been misinformed about what’s been going on. I’ve been bullied since I got here—remember I told you how I was called Crazy Kiki? I reported that to you,and—”

Principal Lin sighs. “That’s not a big deal, is it?”

I want to scream at him. “Honestly, sir, it kind of is—”

He snorts, giving a single shake of his head like a tired horse. “Look, you need to be less sensitive, ya? You’re so…you kids nowadays, you need to toughen up. Get thicker skin. Who cares if you’re called crazy? It’s not even a bad word. Now, if you said someone called you an actual slur, that would be a problem. The student would be reprimanded. But ‘crazy’? We use that all the time, and sometimes in positive ways. ‘Wow, this ice-cream is crazy good!’ or ‘That new Batman movie was crazy!’ ” He leans back with a satisfied smile, obviously happy with his own reasoning.

“Well—” My insides are climbing up my rib cage, spitting with anger. “Sure, it’s not necessarily a slur, but I can assure you they’re not using it with me in a positive way. They’re using it as a—”

Mr.Lin waves his hand at me again, and this time his magnanimous smile is gone. He looks impatient. “Enough of this. You are so sensitive, it’s ridiculous. Or, some might even say, crazy.” He chuckles at his own joke, and I wish fleetingly that he playedWarfront Heroesso I could kill him over and over again like I did Jonas. “Now, we’re here to discuss your inappropriate behavior in class.”

“My inappropriate behavior? This is ridiculous, you’re only taking Jonas’s word as evidence? Jonas is full of shit, he—”

His hand slams down on the desk. Within the small office, it’s as loud as a thunderclap, and I immediately shut up. I’m so shocked by the sudden turn that a lump forms in my throat. Principal Lin looks furious. He points a finger at me.

“Stop. Interrupting. Me,” he hisses. “My god, I’ve nevercome across such a rude girl. I’ve been trying to be patient with you. I’ve reminded you time and again to respect your elders, but no. You push and you push. Haven’t your parents taught youRESPECT?” The last word is barked out with such ferocity that tears immediately flood my eyes.

I can’t believe this is happening. My head buzzes.Stop it,I scold myself mentally.Do not cry. Don’t give him the satisfaction of making you cry.

Principal Lin isn’t done with me. “You’ll no longer be disruptive in your group discussions, do you understand? None of this”—he gestures at me—“this disagreeable attitude you have. Is that clear?”

No! What in the hell? It’s the furthest thing from clear.

“Is. That. Clear?” He repeats in a dangerous tone. “Expulsion won’t look good on your college applications.”

Expulsion? I want to jump up and shout at him, but my voice is gone. This can’t be real. What I’ve done—disagreeing with Jonas and coming up with a new idea with my group—that’s nowhere near bad enough to warrant expulsion, surely? And let’s not forget that I’m not the only one asking the hard questions! What about Liam? What about Peishan? They disagreed with Jonas too!

As though reading my mind, Principal Lin says, “It’s your word against his, a model student who’s done nothing but excel over the many years he’s been enrolled here. And I’ve been told that you were the first one who started disrupting the discussions. And you’re influencing other students—students who have had no previous record of misbehavior—to do thesame. I’m being generous by giving you a second chance, but no more trouble out of you, mengerti?”

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