9. Chapter 9
Chapter nine
Bexley
M onday morning rolls around, just like the random clouds that have appeared overhead today.
Maybe it's a sign or an omen.
A new week, a fresh start.
"Ms. Spencer," a voice calls out to me as Arch and I step through the main entrance.
I glance over at the tall, stern looking woman in her dark brown dress suit. Her arms are folded, looking like she's never smiled a day in her life. Being here, I can't blame her.
Arch shoots me a confused look and follows me over.
"Yes, that's me."
"Dean Lannister needs to see you in his office," she informs me, completely ignoring Archie's presence.
My brows furrow. "No worries. Lead the way."
As Arch steps to follow, she finally acknowledges him with a sharp glance.
"Head to class. Your attendance isn't required for this."
He looks like he wants to protest, but I put my hand on his shoulder.
"It's okay," I tell him with a soft smile. "I will catch up with you afterwards."
"Alright," Arch says suspiciously, heading to join the crowd of students flocking to their classes.
I follow Miss. Power Suit up a staircase to an open office setup. Besides the initial landing, there seems to be only one other room up here, with two large polished wooden doors blocking my entrance. There's a desk outside the room on the landing, and my personal escort sits down, gesturing her hand toward the door. "Straight in."
"Okay," I nod, as she turns to her computer without so much as a backward glance at me.
Pushing open the large doors, I'm immediately whacked in the face with sunlight, resisting the urge to hiss like a vampire. Apparently, the sun has chosen to break out from behind the clouds at this very moment. When I finally manage to claw back my irises from fiery destruction, I see why I was temporarily blinded.
The spacious room only has three walls. Across from the door, the entire back panel is made entirely of glass, overlooking the sports field. Dean Lannister looks up from his paperwork, face expressionless.
"Sit down, Ms. Spencer," he motions to a chair in front of him.
I take a seat, dropping my bag next to me as I try to figure out what all this is about.
For such a large room, there's not much in here. Besides his desk, there's a bookshelf lining the wall on one side, and a cabinet on the other, filled with trophies and medallions.
"Do you know why I've summoned you, Ms. Spencer?" the dean asks, grabbing my attention.
I shake my head. "No, sir."
His lips purse, apparently either suspecting that I'm lying or that I'm stupid for not immediately knowing. Unfortunately, I'm yet to master the art of mind reading. He lays his hands atop the desk, holding my gaze.
"You were involved in an altercation last week."
Altercation? Wait—Does he mean Tuesday?
"I'm sorry," I say. "Could you please elaborate?"
An eyebrow twitches back at me. "I'm told you assaulted one of our students. I'll have you know that despite what happens at Cedar Heights Academy ," his vibrato increases with the words. "Here at Willowbrook, that kind of behavior will not be tolerated."
"Once again, sorry—but I'm still not following," I play coy. "Are you referring to Liv the cheerleader?"
Head cheerleader . Her voice is a shrill memory in my mind.
"Precisely," he confirms, annoyance clear on his face. "Now, we're doing our best to accommodate your cohort, however, I will not have our students placed in danger."
I hold back a laugh because I know it will just make the situation worse. But we're not a goddamn danger and he knows it. This is just a power struggle, but still, it doesn't add up. While I have no doubt she would love to see my downfall, it's been nearly a week. I'm missing a piece of the puzzle. Why is this only being brought up now?
"Sir, are you aware that her and her friends stole my belongings?" I ask, testing the waters.
"I don't see how that is relevant," he tuts back. "According to multiple sources, the physical altercation was one-sided."
You bet your ass it was.
My eyes deliberately drift down to the long red scratch on my arm that's nearly healed, the only time she managed to maim me. "That was nearly a week ago," I point out. "And even though it appears my side of the story won't be taken into account, I have to ask: why is this only being brought up now?"
The dean glowers at me from across the table. "Ms. Winston only came forward over the weekend. Apparently, she was so frightened by the attack that she needed encouragement from some of our academy leaders to speak up about the incident."
I bite the inside of my bottom lip. That makes sense. So much for a fresh, new week.
"I can only assume that these academy leaders are the ones who not only instigated the theft of my belongings but the irreparable damage to them."
He pauses for a moment and there's not a doubt in my mind that he knows about these details. He's just choosing to overlook them.
After all, one of these so-called leaders is his precious son.
"Unfortunately, the witness reports do not corroborate your story, Ms. Spencer. Now, as this is your first violation, I'm willing to apply a lighter disciplinary action. However, next time, there will be more severe consequences."
My eyes narrow suspiciously. "And this disciplinary action includes?"
"You'll have detention after hours each day this week. Thankfully for you, Ms. Winston isn't seeking restitution."
"Restitution for what, exactly?" I snap back, unable to hold it in any longer.
This whole situation is ridiculous. She snapped two nails and they think I should pay, while I'm the one who ends up with no textbooks?
"Tone, Ms. Spencer," he growls. "Now, as I have said, this is your final and only warning. You will behave while at Willowbrook or else we will have no choice but to pull your temporary enrollment. At this point in the year, that would likely mean not graduating."
I stand up, dropping my arms to my sides. "I'm not afraid of a shakedown, Dean Lannister. We came into Willowbrook agreeing to peace, but if your students try to force our hand, we will retaliate."
His sharp green eyes remind me so much of Hunter's. It's easy to tell they are related. Especially with the glare he's giving me right now—like father, like son.
"One more word, Ms. Spencer and the disciplinary action will increase to two weeks. You're excused."
There's a threat in his tone, one that as our current educational supervision he can't voice. But I can read between the lines well enough.
Scooping up my bag, I don't bother to close the door behind me. Ms. Stuck Up Power Suit can do it.
She grunts in annoyance as I skip down the stairs to the now empty hallway, and I do everything to control the rage threatening to break loose.
I was going to play nice. This didn't have to be difficult. But the time for pleasantries is over.
“The arson report came back,” Arch announces, dropping a piece of paper on the desk in front of me.
Intrigued, I pick it up, quickly scanning the words.
Fire is estimated to have affected at least forty percent of Cedar Height Academy's structure. Extensive damage was found in the administration office, with traces of accelerant. There appears to have been multiple sources of initial ignition spots. One in the administration building, one in the library, and one in the main Ridge wing where majority of classrooms are situated.
Investigators obtained a copy of footage from the night of the attack. However, footage appears to have encountered technical difficulties. Recording ceased approximately thirty minutes before the fire initiated.
"Well, that just confirms what we already suspected," I sigh.
Archie slumps into the seat across from me. The library is oddly quiet for the middle of the day. Besides us, there's a few other Cedar students lurking around, but not a single Willowbrook face.
"Yep," he answers. "Cops have put out a statement requesting people come forward with information—"
"But they won't," I finish. "Willowbrook twits protect each other."
He nods. "What did they have to gain from it though? That's what baffles me. They didn't want us here."
"Maybe they didn't expect we'd be shoved here. Probably just trying to stop us all from graduating."
Arch leans back in his chair. "So, what was this morning about?"
I give him a look somewhere between a smile and a sneer. "Detention for a week for snapping acrylic nails."
"What?" he asks, perplexed. "From last week?"
"Yep," I grumble. "I suspect it's to do with ignoring Beckett's request and the fight at the warehouse. They are punishing me."
"Did you tell them about your bag?"
Laughing, I raise an eyebrow at him.
He sighs in defeat. "Good point. Wait," he pauses. "Circle back. What message from Beckett?"
"It doesn't matter," I finish. "It just means we're going to start hitting back. I'll put a post in the Facebook group later."
"Bex," Arch warns.
I lean forward, lowering my voice. "Arch," I mimic his tone. "If we don't do something now, then they are going to think they got away with it. They won't just be coming for me. Everyone will be a target."
"We need to play it safe though. If you're on the dean's radar, it's just going to make things worse for you."
His worried expression is wholesome. It's nice to know he's worried about me—I'm not though.
"Don't worry about me," I tell him, packing up my stuff. "I can handle it. Come walk with me to next period."
The two of us exit the library, a body nearly slamming into me at full speed.
"Whoa," I breathe out, spotting familiar blonde and pink hair. "You don't need another tampon that badly, do you?"
Sophia blinks, before breaking out in a huge smile. "Bex! I was wondering when I'd see you again."
"Is that why you stalked me to the library? Did you know I had a thing for academic literature?"
"I was hoping," she says playfully, lifting a book. "Just have to quickly make a return before next period. I'm one more late slip away from Mr. Hardwood blowing his toupee off."
I laugh, glancing down at the textbook in her hands before frowning. "Is that… a biology book?"
Sophia holds it up. "Yeah. I don't need it anymore. Or the others in my bag. Just don't want to get slapped with a late return fine."
Biting my tongue, I nod. "Well, I'll let you head inside. I'll see you tomorrow for gym?"
"It's a date." She rushes past, squeaking as the warning bell rings throughout the speakers.
Arch watches her through the doors, finally glancing over at me. "New friend?"
"I don't know," I answer honestly. "Maybe. But also… that's the textbook I needed the other day. The one that was mysteriously checked out before I could get to the library."
"How can you be sure?"
"The librarian said they only had one copy."
Once again, I'm faced with the reality that I need to be on-guard. It could be one hell of a coincidence, but I've also learned that sometimes, it's not . Especially when it comes to situations like this.
It's also strange that being this far into the school year, someone would need to borrow a mandatory textbook when they would have already had it. But still, I'm not making assumptions yet. That little tidbit of information is being filed away for later use. Maybe I'll bring it up tomorrow, see what she says.
I just have to get through detention first.