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“While I passed in front of the building, I remembered I had to come see you. I was just wondering if you could help me with my schedule. I know you said I had to make my mind up last week about adding an elective, but the week flew by and I…” had other concerns, like getting bullied by the entire school, “forgot to pop by.”
She smiles kindly. “I’ll see what I can do.”
That sounds encouraging. “There’s no class I want to take during my free period at two,” I say. “But I think I saw a history class at eleven? I could take that one, and move to two for English.”
My master plan lets me avoid my one and only class with Jason.
Fingers flying on her keyboard, she frowns. “That’s a regular English class, Nadia, not an advanced placement.”
I shrug. “It shouldn’t matter that much so long as I ace it, right?”
“If you intend to attend an art college, you may want to reconsider,” Ms. Casey tells me. “How about architecture at two?”
Architecture happens to be the one discipline I did consider last week, before forgetting about signing up. But that doesn’t fix my Jason problem.
Then again, he doesn’t do much to me in class. I nod. “Yeah, that sounds good. Can you squeeze me in?”
“I’ll email Mr. Michaels, but it shouldn’t be a problem, as the class is not full. I’ll have an answer in your inbox by the end of the day, along with a list of the required materials. You might be able to get the book in the library.”
“Thanks, Ms. Casey.”
That’s a loss, as far as my plan to get out from under Jason goes, but it’s a win for my transcript. I shake her hand and get out.
On my way out, I see Brooke in the entry hall, waiting in front of the receptionist’s desk in front of a small group of students.
Her mouth curls into a smirk when she sees me, and she smooths her dyed hair. She squints. “Who are you again? Oh, Nadia. I almost didn’t recognize you without smoothie down your shirt.”
Apparently, she didn’t get the memo about my being out of the naughty corner today, by order of the king.
That or she doesn’t care.
Ignoring her, I make my way out of the building, but as I pass her, she tries to swipe my feet from under me with a kick.
I flip out.
Maybe because of the last week, maybe because of last night, or simple because it’s Brooke, I lose it and my fist fly. I punch the bitch right in the face, like I’ve wanted for years, every time she insults her own sister, mocking her weight or demeaning her for her academic proficiency.
Brooke gasps, her hands covering her face, half sputtering, half crying. I see blood trickle in between her fingers. Alessandro might have been a dick of a teacher, but thanks to him, I have a mean right hook.
I should probably feel bad, but I don’t. The only rain on my parade is the fact that this shit is going to get me in serious trouble now.
The receptionist rushes out of the restroom after hearing the commotion. She gasps when she takes in Brooke. “What happened!” Her eyes are wide.
Brooke immediately points at me. “Nadia punched me!”
Guilty as charged.
I won’t get expelled for this, will I? Part of me wants to laugh. Here I am, setting out to stay in this school and fight against my bullies, and I might have bought myself a way out instead.
At least if they kick me out, it won’t be me giving up.
“Brooke, you must be mistaken.” I freeze as I hear a smooth, deep, calm voice.
I don’t recognize it as well as Jason’s, but I know it’s one of the three others before I lift my eyes to see Maverick detach from the congregation behind Brooke, and smile pleasantly at the receptionist.
His green gaze is piercing, and everyone in the reception area turns to him. “I saw you fall, and Nadia here only tried to help you up. I get the confusion, it happened so fast, but Nadia’s entirely innocent.”
I’m baffled.
