Page 31 of Feel Free to Scream

“Oh, Claire. Please, don’t cry. We’ll…” She hesitates, because what can we do?

It’s done. I’m expelled.

I cry harder.

“I’m going to make Cross help, okay?” She sounds desperate, the words coming out in a rush. “His family’s part of the board. And you can appeal to Keller too. His uncle’s the most powerful man in town. It’ll be okay. In this town, it’s all about who you know, and you already know people. I promise, we’ll make it okay.”

I nod over the tears, trying to speak.

A few minutes ago, my entire plan was not to speak to Keller. Break up with Noah, because what happened last night shows we shouldn’t be together in the first place—I feel nothing likethatfor him—but avoid Keller, because he’s playing in a whole different field than me. We’re not even playing the same ball game, and he’s pro, I’m kiddie league. I can’t handle him. But this is another story. I will pray and beg and prostrate myself in front of anyone I can to keep this from happening. This is my entire future.

“That’s it, Claire, just breathe. We’ll manage. I can vouch for you—I was there the whole time. We’ll make sure this doesn’t stick.” She talks slowly, softly, like she would to a wounded animal.

I don’t know why, but it works. Slowly, I manage to breathe normally, and even stop the tears.

“Okay. Okay, yes, we can—I can.”

God, I don’t have Keller’s number. Yesterday, he wanted a kiss for mine. Today, I’d do just about anything for his.

“Do you know Keller’s number?”

“No, but Cross probably does. I’m going to call him, okay?” she asks gently.

I feel myself nod.

“It’s all going to work out,” Lily assures me before standing and stepping out, phone in hand.

I watch her walk away, still a little numb.

All of a sudden, there’s a large pink and white sundae in front of me. A pretty blonde smiles at me awkwardly. “On the house. You look like you need it.”

I glance at her name tag. “Thank you, Penelope.”

“Don’t sweat it. I’ve had more than my fair share of days crying into my pancakes. It’s a rough town.”

Except it isn’t. I’ve been in Thorn Falls for less than a week, and everything seems to be quiet, peaceful, beautiful, well maintained…but I see what she means now.

It’s a rough town for people like me; like us. Working class who can’t just snap their fingers and get what they want. There are rules here, and flouting them reaps a swift punishment.

I didn’t really believe Lily was serious when she warned me yesterday or this morning. I know better this afternoon. Let’s just hope it’s not too late to fix it. I can’t afford to ruin my future over my pride, or my notions of right and wrong. They don’t matter here.

I make myself eat my sundae, mostly for something to do, and halfway through, I finally notice it’s delicious.

Lily comes back, her lips tight, and entire body tense, and my heart drops.

It didn’t go well.

“I take it there’s nothing Cross could do.”

“What?” She looks up at me, frowning. “No, no. You have a meeting with the board at six.”

My eyes widen. “I do?”

I thought it would take days, hours, tons of unanswered letters full of apologies and some begging to get a meeting.

“Yeah. We don’t have much time to get you ready for it.”

From the way she looks at me, she seems to think that a few hours is not nearly enough time, but she doesn’t understand the change I’ve undergone in mere instants.

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