Page 14 of I Despise You
“The janitor found a few things missing from the storage room, which is supposed to stay locked, and students aren’t allowed to go in there. Your badge was found on the floor.” She’s studying my every move, as if she’s trying to figure out if I’m going to show any signs of guilt.
“You think I broke into the storage room and stole some things?” I arch my eyebrows. “I don’t know how my badge got there, but I didn’t steal anything or break into any place. How would I even do that if the door’s locked? Maybe my badge stuck to someone’s pants or shoe, and that’s how it got there. I don’t know. But I have no clue where the storage room is, and I have no reason to steal anything.”
I will her to believe me, but dread has already taken over my insides, twisting and twirling like a worm. Someone has set me up.
“Security will search your room,” the principal says, and I can’t read her face.
Maybe she believes me, or maybe not. I don’t even know what they think I stole. What if someone broke into my room too? If security finds something in my room, I’ll be kicked out.
My mom’s boss won’t want to deal with such an embarrassment, and there’s no one who will defend me or say anything in my favor. No one can even say that they know me. Vanessa may like me, but we’ve only known each for a couple of days.
The ticking of the clock on the wall is the only sound in the room, and I feel like I’m going to throw up or go crazy with anticipation of what’s coming next.
A knock on the door nearly makes me jolt to my feet.
“Come in,” the principal says.
“Nothing, ma’am,” a guard says, and I breathe out a sigh of relief.
I’m annoyed that they went through my stuff.
“Thank you.” The principal inclines her head and the guard leaves. “Ms. Sears.” She narrows her eyes at me. “We don’t tolerate behavior like this at our school. Since this is your first offense and it’s just some bleach bottles that were stolen, you’re only getting detention for a week.”
“But I didn’t—”
“Your mother has already been notified. You may go now.” She opens her laptop that’s on the desk and trains her eyes on the screen.
And just like that, I’m dismissed, without even a chance to properly defend myself.
Incredible. I can’t help but think this isn’t how she deals with the rich kids, but there’s nothing I can do except be happy that I’m not getting expelled.
I snatch my badge, grab my bag, and storm out of the office. My hands are shaking, but it’s not because I’m scared. I’m furious.
Someone did this to me, and they’re going to get away with it.
My mind replays the scene from this morning.
Chase running into me.
He could’ve snatched the badge from my bag.
It’s him.
It has to be.
No wonder he was calm and smiling when he already knew he was going to get me in trouble. That son of a bitch. I have to do something about him.
My phone rings, and I dig through my bag to get it. My mom’s number flashes on the screen, and I grit my teeth. The principal said she called my mom.
Ugh, I hated Chase even more for worrying my mom like this.
“Honey,” my mom says the moment I answer. “I got a call from your school.”
“Mom, I didn’t do anything. You have to believe me. Someone stole my badge and left it in some storage room to blame it all on me.” If I was stealing something, I wouldn’t be so stupid as to leave my badge in there. Doesn’t anyone think about that?
“Are the kids there treating you well?” Worry laces her voice. “I know you want to fit in and make friends. Everyone does. But putting your future at risk for—”
“Mom!”
