Chapter 62
CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO
SAKURA
I lingered outside of Mr. Avery’s classroom, even after he told me to leave. Part of me hoped that he’d have a change of heart and ask me to come back into the room to talk. But he was utterly pissed at me today.
Was it because I hadn’t believed him? Because of how I had reacted last night with him? Stormed off even after he asked me to let him speak, explain himself? Guilt washed through me, and I wrapped my arms around myself and walked down the hall.
These damn hormones …
He had every right to be pissed at me. I had been nothing but rude to him these past couple of days, but I’d …
thought that I had every reason to be angry.
How would he have reacted if I had shot someone he told me not to, then proceeded to watch me tell Ichika that I needed another older man to fuck because he was boring me.
Nobody wanted to feel like absolute garbage. He wouldn’t have enjoyed that.
After glancing over my shoulder one last time, I frowned and turned the corner. I walked down another hallway to the staircase. My next class was in the science wing, and I couldn’t seem to care to get there on time anymore.
What did grades even matter if a Redwood Academy student was in the hospital and apparently a sex trafficking ring had been going on right in these halls? Grades almost seemed insignificant. I wanted to help out, too, but Callan was the only person with the information.
When the bell rang through the empty halls, I found myself dragging my feet. I didn’t want to go to class. Even though AP chemistry was sorta, kinda hard, I had already reviewed all this material during my free time in the summer. I didn’t need anyone forcing it down my throat for a second time.
Hopefully, I would be able to talk to Callan tomor—
“Miss Sato,” Principal Vaughn hummed from behind me. “Late for class?”
I snapped my books to my chest and froze, throat drying. After sucking in a shaky breath, I turned around to face him and smiled softly. “Y-yes, sorry about that. I’m heading there now. I was just … taking care of female problems.”
“No need, Miss Sato. I’ll write you a pass,” Principal Vaughn said. “I’d like to talk to you.”
“I really need to learn this new material,” I whispered, stepping back.
“I’ll make sure your next teacher gets all the information to you by the end of the day. And besides, you pick up material very quickly. A very studious learner. One of the best in Redwood,” he said, turning around to head back down the hall. “Follow me.”
Fuck.
Deciding that I didn’t want detention—especially with him—I followed Principal Vaughn to his office and hesitantly walked into the room. He followed me in, shutting and locking the door behind us.
Double fuck.
“Take a seat,” he said from behind, pulling out a chair.
Nervously, I sat and clutched my books to my chest.
“How’s Mr. Avery’s class?” he asked, placing a hand on my shoulder.
I stiffened, feeling his fingers curl around me. “I-it’s okay.”
“Mr. Avery has been giving you special attention, hasn’t he?”
“N-no,” I whispered. “He hasn’t.”
“No time after school?” he asked. “No extra work?”
“Only if I ask for it. I-I really like Literature,” I said, not wanting to get Callan in trouble.
We might not have been talking to each other, but I still cared about him.
When I had told him I hated him, that was all a lie.
A big, fat lie. If I’d hated that man, I wouldn’t have cared what he did with other women, wouldn’t have gotten jealous and stormed over, wouldn’t have climbed into his lap and felt … safe.
“I’m sure you do,” he hummed. “Mr. Avery makes Literature exciting.”
“It’s not about Mr. Avery,” I said, heart pounding.
Principal Vaughn placed his second hand on my other shoulder and squeezed, digging his thumbs into my back. I stiffened even harder and pressed my eyes closed.
Why is he touching me like this?
“Are you sure about that?” he asked.
“Yes, I’m sure. I-I’ve always l-loved Literature.”
“Miss Sato, you’re stuttering,” he hummed. “There’s no reason to be nervous.”
But he had his damn hands on me, he stood between me and the locked door, and his office was the last door in this entire hallway, far away from anyone else. There were plenty of reasons to be nervous.
“You won’t get in trouble for telling the truth,” he murmured, mouth suddenly near my ear. He inched his fingers down my arms and dangerously close to my breasts. “I won’t tell anyone your secrets.”
I gulped and bit back a whimper.
Please don’t move any lower.
Please don’t move any lower.
Please don’t move any lower.
“Your silence makes you seem guilty,” he said.
“I-I am telling the t-truth,” I whispered, tears pricking the corners of my eyes.
I should’ve listened to Callan and headed directly to my next class after Literature. I shouldn’t have been lingering around, hoping that he’d talk to me. Why was I so stupid? I literally fucked everything up.
When he brushed his fingers across my breasts, I snapped my books to my chest tighter and leaped up from my seat. “I need to g—”
He shoved me back down so hard that I landed on the seat. “We’re not done.”
“P-please,” I stuttered. “I need to go to class. I am missing—”
Instead of groping me like I’d thought he would, he released me and walked around his desk to his large chair. He sat down and straightened himself out, not even bothering to hide the boner he now had.
“Has Callan Avery ever touched you?” he asked.
“No.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure.”
“He’s never been inside you?”
My cheeks flushed. “No, of course not.”
“Never stared at you for longer than you were comfortable with?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Wh-what?” I whispered.
“Why hasn’t he tried to come on to you?” Principal Vaughn asked. “You’re beautiful.”
My throat dried. “I—”
Suddenly, the door flew open, and Jo?o strutted into the room. “The fuck do you want, Vaughn?” he asked, taking a hit of his cigarette. “Lisa at the front desk said that your annoying ass has been looking for me.” He paused when he spotted me in his chair. “The hell is she doing here?”
“Just leaving,” Vaughn said.
I scrambled to my feet and rushed to the door. I needed to get out of here. Now. “Y-yes, just leaving.”