Chapter 31
CHAPTER
THIRTY-ONE
EMERSON
“Miss Adams, please come in.” Dean Adroit smiled at me, but there was no warmth in it. I glanced at her two guests—Rose and Hope, in a wheelchair. I frowned, confused why they were there. Rose offered me a reassuring nod, so I closed the door and took the empty seat.
My eyes immediately fell to the pad of paper still lying open on her desk. Gulping, I placed my hands under my legs to stop myself from reaching out for it. I wouldn’t be intimidated by Hope.
“Miss Adler was telling me an interesting story. I wonder what your thoughts about it are?”
“Oh?” I looked at my stepmom and step-sister. Hope refused to look at me, but Rose’s eyes were full of compassion. I swallowed, my heart picking up pace as I tried to decipher the unspoken words. When Dean Adroit didn’t elaborate, I forced out a question. “What did she say?”
“Hmm. Interesting.” Instead of answering, she leaned back in her chair and studied me.
“You don’t have to cover for me, Emerson. I told Dean Adroit the truth; that I was the one who sent the video. ”
“You did?” I blinked in shock. “Wow.” My mind blanked, and I worried I was having a stroke or something. Did I smell toast?
“Do you concur with this, Emerson?”
“If Hope is admitting to it, shouldn’t her word be enough?”
“When my daughter told me about the dilemma you placed on Emmy—I mean Emerson—I was quite shocked, Dean Adroit,” Rose interrupted. “I knew she had to be mistaken. A person of high authority as yourself would never blackmail a victim of bullying by bullying them to make their job easier, especially after a student was injured so gravely on campus.” Rose pursed her lips, staring right at the Dean. “So, was it a mistake, Miranda?”
Dean Adroit stared at Rose, her jaw clenched tight as she drilled holes into my stepmom’s head. It was silent for an extended period, and I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. Eventually, she returned her stare to me, and I lifted my head despite wanting to run and hide.
“Miss Adams, I believe you misunderstood. Now that Miss Adler has admitted to her indiscretion, perhaps we can have a different outcome.”
“No. I will take the expulsion,” Hope interrupted.
“Hope! Let’s think about this,” Rose whispered, but Hope shook her head, her eyes staying forward. Something akin to admiration hit me for Hope. I wanted to believe her act was to take responsibility for herself and not because she didn’t want to face her peers. An idea popped into my head, and I interrupted the mother-daughter stare-off.
“What if Hope withdraws from Hayward instead? It’s only a week into the semester, so she could drop her classes without any penalties. While she’s recovering, she could do research on anti-bullying programs and develop something for Hayward. If it’s a program that would add value to the school, then her enrollment would be reinstated. If she didn’t want to do the program, she would be free to attend elsewhere next semester.” Without an expulsion on her record.
Dean Adroit studied me, and I worried she’d say no. “What do you think, Miss Adler? Is that agreeable?”
Hope hesitated, and my gut sank. She did want to run. She didn’t really care about being a better person. “I actually really like that idea,” she said. “The zero-tolerance policy is a great start, but it implies that the bullying has already occurred. If… if there’s a way to prevent trauma, I think that would be worth spending my semester doing.” She cleared her throat and blinked. I had to be mistaken because there was no way Hope Adler was fighting tears.
“The optics would be great for the school,” Dean Adroit muttered. “All right. I’ll allow it on one condition.” The room stilled, and the three of us waited with bated breath. “Miss Adams, you will take Hope’s spot on the Wolfettes and start a weekly column for the Chronicle, showcasing how you’re thriving at Hayward. As a special admission, I want you to be more involved and give back to a school that is giving you a voice. It would help me forget about that conversation with the editor.”
I gaped. Was this woman serious? I’d decided to step back from the Wolfettes this weekend. I didn’t want to be any part of it. And now she wanted me to stay on it and join another club?
“Blackmail again, Melinda?”
“It’s a negotiation, not blackmail, Rose. Your daughter admitted to violating a school policy, and the other one somehow bypassed the school firewalls and published an unauthorized paper that named our campus and implied we had mean girls. Do you know how many phone calls I’ve received from concerned parents this weekend, threatening to pull their kids? Or how this will affect enrollment next year? If I’m not going to publicly make an example, I need something in return. ”
Rose clamped her mouth shut, and I wilted in my seat, properly chastised. Okay, so Dean Adroit had a point.
“I’ll do it.”
Dean Adroit smiled wide, and I suddenly felt we’d been in checkmate well before we stepped into this office today.
“Very well. I look forward to seeing your first official piece once approved.” The woman sure knew how to dig her claws in.
I grimaced and stood with Rose, who stepped behind Hope’s wheelchair. I opened the door and waited for them to pass through before closing it. The three of us were quiet as we exited the building. When we got to the edge of the parking lot, Rose stopped and turned to me.
“Thank you for offering kindness when you could’ve chosen revenge. I wouldn’t have blamed you if you had, but I appreciate the chance you’re giving Hope.” She pulled me into a hug and squeezed me. Each time she hugged me, I sank into her embrace a little more and soaked up her motherly goodness. Her eyes were wet when she withdrew, and she glanced between Hope and me, giving her daughter a pointed look. “I’ll give you two a few seconds while I pull around the car.”
Hope continued to stare off into the parking lot. I had nothing new to say to her, so I waited her out.
“Was it him?” she asked.
“I don’t know. Colter called the police, and we submitted an official report. They took the mascot head and notes, but the detective wasn’t confident they’d find anything.”
“If it is him, you’re not safe. You know that, right?” She finally turned and stared at me. The hate I’d long associated with Hope wasn’t present. Instead, there was only fear. Her eyes watered, and she brushed them away with her uninjured hand.
“What’s going on, Hope?”
“It’s nothing you need to worry about. ”
I furrowed my brow. My feelings for Hope weren’t friendly on the best day, so I shouldn’t care that she was hiding something. But my gut told me there was more to her reaction. “If you say so.”
“Watch out for Kimmy and Brittney. I tried to control them as much as possible, but Kimmy has a mean streak and Brittney will follow anything she tells her to do.”
I nodded, confused as to what this was… Was Hope giving me advice?
“Avoid anyone from Zeta. They’re cutthroat and believe they own the campus. Every guy on campus is listed on a ranking system. It includes current financial status, potential gain, sexual prowess, and looks. They’re superficial and only care about status. They will see you as a threat, especially if the heart eyes I see on my brother are any indication; they won’t be happy.”
“We’re not together.” While it was the truth, it felt like a lie.
“Don’t play dumb, Emerson.” Hope rolled her eyes, and I wanted to laugh at the absurdity of this conversation. “Regardless of your relationship status, it’s clear to anyone within five feet of you two that he’s smitten. Holden has never had a relationship. He’s never given a girl more than a cursory glance. Especially during football season. The female population on campus will notice, and some will not be happy about his choice.”
“What about you?”
She breathed, and I watched as she gripped the wheelchair. “I want my brother to be happy. He’s spent so much of his time and energy on football. If you can get him to see there’s more to life, I’ll be the first one in line to support you.”
“Wow. I didn’t expect that.”
“I know. But I’m not as much of a bitch as I portrayed. It became easier to pretend to be someone else than to face the truth. ”
“What about Colter?”
Her nostrils flared, and she paused before answering. “I can’t force him to like me.”
“How hard did you hit your head?”
Hope snorted. “Wow, way to joke about a traumatic brain injury.”
I shrugged, smiling. “I mean, can you blame me? This is not the Hope I’ve known for years.”
She sighed. “No. I can’t.” Her eyes moved to the side, and I saw her mom’s car approaching. It must have given her the courage to say the last bit. “I don’t have a right to ask this, but if you could not parade Colter around me, it would help me get over him. I know it’s hypocritical, because I would be doing it if it was reversed. But you always were better than me, Emerson.”
“Not really. We were friends once, and I remember you being a pretty good one until you weren’t. But I can be respectful.”
Hope nodded, and I realized I didn’t feel worse about myself for once. Rose exited her car, and I helped her with the wheelchair. Hope grabbed my arm once her mom went to put it in the trunk. “I doubt I’ll ever earn your full forgiveness, but I want to try. Thank you for giving me a chance to make a difference. I won’t let you down.”
She pulled the door closed as her mom shut the trunk, and Rose waved bye to me. I stood there, staring at the space they’d occupied long after their car was gone. Hope didn’t want to let me down? Maybe I was the one who’d hit my head.
A group of students laughed as they walked toward the parking lot, and I broke out of my paralysis. I glanced at my watch and cursed. If I didn’t hustle, I’d be late for practice. I hadn’t cared earlier but didn’t want to earn a demerit since I couldn’t quit now.
By the time I made it to the dressing room, I had five minutes to change and warm up. Throwing my bag into the empty locker, I cursed when I remembered I hadn’t brought anything. Biting my lip, I glanced at the one with my name on it. I might have something in there, but the thought of sticking my hand into it filled me with unease.
“Everything okay, Mer?”
I startled at Jenny’s voice and clutched my chest. “Holy cow! You scared me.”
“Sorry.” She cringed. “You just looked a bit lost.”
“Uh, yeah. I didn’t bring anything, and the thought of checking my locker wasn’t high on my list.”
“Want me to look?”
“Would you mind? I believe I have a tank and shorts shoved in the back.”
“No problem.” She skipped to the locker, and I turned and pulled my hair up. I didn’t want to watch her. I surveyed my outfit. It wasn’t ideal to dance in, but I’d danced in worse.
“I found shorts, but no shirt.”
“Ah, well, that’s better than jeans.”
I took the shorts and changed, leaving on the cute top I’d worn to school. I looked a bit ridiculous, but I was out of time. Hustling out of the locker room, I slid into the back row as Kimmy and Leigh called the girls to attention.
“Look who decided to show up,” Kimmy said, crossing her arms. Leigh rolled her eyes and ignored her co-caption.
“Great. Now, I can make the official announcement. Wolfettes, let’s give a wolfy welcome to our newest sister, Emerson!”
“Awoo!” the girls howled. Or at least most of them did. There were about three that glared at me. Kimmy’s face turned bright red, and I worried for a split second she had a heat stroke.
“Your shirt is out of regulation,” she spat.
“Sorry. I forgot my stuff at home and only had shorts in my locker. ”
“You’ll have to take it off then,” she demanded. Leigh stared at her, her mouth open slightly. But I didn’t want her to fight my battles.
“No.” I crossed my own arms and returned her glare.
“It’s in the rule book. If you don’t, you’ll receive a demerit and won’t be eligible to dance this weekend,” Leigh said, resigned.
Kimmy’s eyes glittered with triumph, and I knew she wouldn’t back down from this. She didn’t want me to dance, and while I hadn’t wanted to an hour ago, the idea of her winning twisted my insides.
I’d fought hard to gain the tiny bit of power I had. Like hell would I let her take it.
Lifting my head, I pulled my shirt over my head. Unfortunately, it was right as the football team exited the locker room, and wolf whistles sounded. My face reddened, but I held Kimmy’s stare, daring her to tell me to put the shirt back on. The bra I’d worn today was more decorative than it was functional, and my nipples were entirely on display. If I danced in it, my boobs would be slapping me in the face.
Regardless, I wouldn’t be the one to surrender—boobs be damned.
“Wildcat!” Holden yelled, jolting me out of my stare-down. He stood at the end of my row with his hand held out, his jersey clutched in it. His jaw ticked, and I noticed how stiff his muscles were. This time, my cheeks heated for an entirely different reason.
The whistles had stopped, and I glanced over at them. Cody and Colter stood with their backs to us, blocking the team from our side of the field. What they didn’t block was how every single Wolfette watched me as I walked to Holden.
“I’m making a point,” I whispered.
“If it’s whether or not you can distract me, your point’s made. ”
“Not everything is about you, Jockstrap.”
His lips twitched a millimeter, but he kept his stare fixed to me. “Sure, baby.”
I wish I could claim his words had no effect on me, but I’d be a liar.
“It’s not regulation,” I said, crossing my arms and covering my breasts.
“Actually,” Leigh piped in, “since it’s school attire, it would suffice for an emergency. As co-captain, I give you special permission.”
Kimmy started to protest, but Holden leveled her with a gaze, and she shut right up. I snorted and quickly covered it with my hand. Holden stepped forward and dropped the practice jersey over my head. He lifted my hair from the collar, and his knuckles brushed against my skin, sending shivers through me.
“Careful, Wildcat, or I might steal all your shirts, so you always have to wear this.” He leaned forward, and his lips brushed against my ear. “Seeing my name on your back just might be the death of me.” He stepped back and returned to the team, leaving me a panting mess.
We’re friends. Friends. Friends.
Yeah, I didn’t know how to be friends with Holden Adler.
“Okay, girls, time to focus, or we’ll be doing the stairs at the end of practice.” Everyone groaned, and I returned to my spot in the lineup. The girls who’d been less than thrilled with my spot on the team eyed me with more suspicion, while the other girls looked at me in awe. It was a weird combo and something I wasn’t familiar with.
Thankfully, Leigh ran a tight ship, and I lost myself in the steps, tuning out all the extra stares. By the time practice ended, sweat made the jersey cling to me, and I itched to take a shower. Exhaustion filled my body, and the thought of going to bed early had never seemed so appealing. Especially when Colter was next to me .
Gathering my gear, I met the sexy hazel-eyed man out front, and we walked to my car together. When we neared the parking lot, I tensed. Would there be something there today? Colter noticed my reaction, stepped before me, and approached my car first. The simple gesture melted my heart.
“It’s clear.”
Letting out my breath, I nodded in relief. “Good. Maybe he’s bored and leaving me alone.” Colter didn’t argue with me, and I appreciated it. I wanted to live in denial for as long as I could.