Page 76 of The Rebel of Raleigh High
“You really shouldn’t have said that, Alessandro. You’re a lowly piece of trash we decided to pick up off the side of the road out of the goodness of our hearts. Most guys at Raleigh would have ripped their own right arm out of the socket to be given a front row seat at that show we put on for you.Youdo not rejectus.”
“Funny. I seem to recall rejecting you over…and over…and over…”
Kacey grabs Zen by the arm, digging her fingernails into her skin. She looks like she’s about to go nuclear. “You have no right to insult my friend.”
Alex’s expression is blank, untroubled, as he steps forward and leans down, shoving his face into Kacey’s. His voice is frighteningly calm as he says, “The insult was for the both of you. That’s a nice act though, playing the good little friend. I’ve heard all about how you really stand up for the people around you. I thought you were more of aleave-’em-broken-and-bleeding-in-the-gutter-after-the-boy-you-like-raped-’emkinda girl.”
Oh no.Oh no, no, no. I don’t want this. I won’t be able to handle this if he says one more thing about…
“I mean, what kind of lowlife doesthat?” he snarls. “Who’s jealous of a girl for being assaulted, for fuck’s sake? There must be something seriously wrong in that coked-out brain of yours, Winters. I almost feel sorry for you. I can only imagine the therapy bill…”
“You’redead,” Kacey snaps. “Fucking dead. Jacob’s going to fucking murder you when he finds out what you just said to me.”
Alex tuts under his breath. “You think I haven’t dealt with worse than you and Jacob Weaving, little girl? You people may have money. Your parents might be stuck up assholes who think they’re too good for the rest of this town, but do you honestly think you can beat me down with an empty threat? Jake isn’t gonna do shit to me. He’s going to end his campaign against Silver. He’s going to give her a wide berth if he knows what’s good for him. And while Silver’s deciding if she wants to change her mind and have me permanently disfigure him for what he did to her, you psychos are going to avert your eyes any time either one of us walks by you in the hallway.Do…you…hear…me?”
Kacey blinks rapidly, shrinking back on herself. To be fair, she doesn't look away, but the set jaw and her defiant sneer aren't fooling anyone, least of all me. He's obviously scared her. It's a miracle that I'm even capable of such emotion, but…I feel sorry for her. Students have gathered around in fives and sixes, all watching the exchange, and no one has come to her aid. Some of my classmates are even laughing behind their hands, whispering to one another with smiles in their eyes.
This is what it’s like, Kacey. This is what humiliation feels like. Stings, doesn’t it?
Zen’s the one who pulls Kacey away. She spits and curses, shoving me out of the way, dragging Kace behind her. Kacey yells back at us, though, ever the one to get the last word in.
“You wouldn’t have dared to speak to me like in front of Jake. He’ll hear about this! You’re through! You’re gonna be locked up before nightfall, motherfucker!”
* * *
Jake hearsabout it all right. Sheriff Hainsworth shows up at Raleigh just before lunch, along with a tall guy in a tailored suit, who climbs out of a flashy Maserati and storms toward Principle Darhower’s office wearing a face like thunder. Not long after that, I’m called to Darhower’s office myself. In a sour mood, Karen barks at me, ordering me to sit down and wait outside to be called.
When the door to Darhower’s office opens, Jake emerges first, looking like the smug piece of shit that he is, followed by Kacey. Her face is splotchy and red, her mascara smudged, and I know for a fact it was smeared with her fingertip in the girls’ bathrooms before she went in to put on her performance. She flips me off as she sails past, pretending to sniffle into Jake’s shoulder.
“Ms. Parisi. Inside, please,” Darhower calls. Jake’s father’s still in with him, leaning against a bookcase filled with encyclopedias, looking like he owns the damn place. Sheriff Hainsworth’s standing at the window with his back to the room. Alex is nowhere to be seen. “Sit,” Principle Darhower orders. I do so, dread spiking in my veins. “Some very grave accusations have been made against yourself and another student, Silver. It’s my duty to investigate the legitimacy of these accusations and act accordingly, based on their veracity. Is there anything you’d like to tell me about what happened this morning?”
“Really? This is actually,reallyhappening?” I laugh, unable to stop myself in time.
“Young lady, you will take this seriously or lose the right to give your version of events at all,” Mr. Weaving snaps.
“Actually…no. That’s not…we can’t do that, Caleb,” Principle Darhower says wearily. “There are protocols in place for this type of thing. They have to be observed. Silver, just get on with it and tell us what happened. We all have things to be getting on with here.”
“Okay. I arrived at school with Alex—”
“That’s Alessandro Moretti, correct?” Sheriff Hainsworth asks stiffly. He doesn’t turn around.
“Yes.”
He grunts, and I feel like, in confirming Alex’s name I’ve basically just signed some sort of confession of guilt. “Continue,” Principle Darhower urges.
I give him a run-down of everything that happened, bar any mention that was made about my assault. With Jake’s father in the room, seems like a prudent plan. It takes all of five seconds to recount the petty spat that took place in the parking lot. When I’m done, Principle Darhower bridges his hands in front of him, frowning deeply. “So, there were no threats of physical violence made by Alex? Toward Kacey?”
“I’m sorry?What?”
“Ms. Winters is claiming that Alex Moretti pulled a knife from his bag and brandished it in her face. She said he told her he was going to slit her throat from ear to ear if she didn’t leaveyoualone.”
What the hell did he just say? I heard the words, but he couldnothave just said that. “That is a flat-outlie, Principal Darhower. Alex did tell Kacey to leave me alone, but he didn’t have a knife. He sure as hell didn’t stick it in her face.”
“Jim, Kacey's been dating Jake all summer. She was at my house, with my family every single day for weeks. I know that girl, and she's sweet, kind, and thoughtful. I'm telling you. She wouldn't lie about something like this.”
I burst out laughing, even as Principle Darhower rolls his eyes at Caleb Weaving’s preposterous statement. “Caleb, come on now. We all know that’s not true. Kacey’s been known to spin a yarn in the past if it’s helped get out of hot water. She’s no saint.”
“What about everything else she said?” Caleb hisses. “That Alex Moretti punk threatened my son, too.”
