AITA for telling my friend she’s being cheated on? #3
We went back to the classroom long enough to grab backpacks. I shot my dad a quick text while walking there, and then paused to finish before joining Mr. Hall again.
Skylar leaned in to whisper, “Texted Donovan, he said they’re on his way.”
“Oh thank fuck. I suddenly feel like I need backup.”
“Yeah. Me too.”
My dad texted back: what do you mean you outed a cheater and now you’re meeting with the principal?
I texted back as I walked alongside Skylar: Just that. Cheater took exception and tried to attack me. So he’s in trouble but I might be..? I dunno
Dad: All right, do I need to come?
No clue honestly. Maybe? Jon and Donovan are on their way.
Dad: I’ll let them handle this unless you need me.
Me: Ok
I didn’t mind either way. I knew he was at work and it’d take him over an hour to get here. Jon would be able to shut the argument down if it became a psychic debate.
When we got to the principal’s office, I realized someone had gotten Becca too, as she was right behind us. I felt so bad for her, she was clearly very torn up, grieving the loss of her relationship.
What brought about vicious satisfaction, though, was Emily. Her bubbly persona—it wasn’t her actual personality—suffered right now and she looked scared. Nervous. Her lines were jumping, so she likely knew why she’d been called in here, but she’d learn more than she realized.
They had us wait in the little lobby area outside the principal’s office, which was really nothing more than a dozen chairs and a fake plant in the corner.
Kenneth was dragged into the office immediately.
Probably for trying to hurt me, the school did not take that lightly.
I ended up texting Dad more information, as he was curious, and it’s not like I had anything better to do while waiting on the adults to arrive.
Which, in Nashville traffic, was going to take a second.
About thirty minutes into waiting, Mr. Hall leaned out of the principal’s office and told us, “Parents are arriving, so come in.”
We all piled in. The office wasn’t big enough for all of us, really, there was just enough seats for us, and maybe three parents. Mr. Hall didn’t even try to sit, just stood in the doorway, no doubt so he could pull in parents as they arrived.
Skylar was on my left side and she leaned in to mutter, “This is hella awkward.”
Yeah, sitting here, waiting on adults to arrive wasn’t exactly comfortable.
Especially with Emily tugging on Kenneth’s arm, demanding an explanation, and him just shrugging her off with annoyance.
He was too busy trying to figure out how to save his own skin.
He didn’t care anything about her, or the baby they had together.
Wow, girl, you really should not have gotten into bed with that guy.
Emily’s mother was the first to enter, who swear to god, could have been a mold for her daughter. Same blond hair, pixie face, petite build. She was dressed like an office lady, which tracked—according to her lines she was a secretary.
Then Kenneth’s mom—who didn’t look anything like her son—a statuesque redhead with heavy freckles. Oh, huh, she was involved with animals somehow? Vet maybe? She was wearing scrubs.
She came in hot, glaring at her son. “What is this about, exactly?”
“Wait just a minute more,” Principal Evans requested. “We’re waiting on two more—oh, seems they’re here.”
Becca’s mom next, who went right to her daughter and drew her into a tight hug.
Becca about broke down sobbing. I felt so bad for her all over again.
Becca’s mom was cool, too, much like her daughter.
Looked a lot like her as well and she was in dressy clothes?
Something to do with finance, a banker, maybe.
I heard Donovan before I saw him, and turned with a smile. Finally, my backup had arrived.
Jon was careful coming into the room, as he always was, and I motioned for him to come sit next to me. He was between me and a wall that way, the safest place for him, as he’s well away from everyone’s phones. He shot me a grateful smile as he took the seat.
Principal Evans blew out a breath, sat on the edge of his desk and crossed his ankles. “All right. Let’s get this story straight from the beginning. What happened—”
Kenneth threw an accusatory finger at me and burst out, “She’s making shit up and Becca now thinks I’m cheating on her!”
Jon turned his head, regarded Kenneth for a long second, and then snorted. “Well, you are cheating on her, and got this other young lady pregnant to boot. So I’d say that’s accurate.”
Temperature dropped about ten degrees. People were shocked, horrified, and then the yelling really started.
Kenneth’s mom managed to out yell everyone else. “Excuse me?! Who the hell are you to just make that accusation?”
Principal Evans groaned, already over this whole thing. “Ma’am, he’d know. This man is Jonathan Bane, one of the most famous Readers in the world. He can see everything about you, trust me. Abby is his apprentice. Her eyes and psychic ability are just as good, so she can tell. They both can.”
Emily burst out into tears, scared now. “Am I really pregnant?”
Her mother stared at her. “Emily? What have you done?”
“A lot,” I answered dryly. “Without protection, either, which is a whole other level of stupid. She’s about four weeks along? Jon, am I right?”
“Thereabouts,” he said with an easy nod.
The way Emily crumpled was quite telling. She really hadn’t known. Her mother was aghast, but also getting really mad at her daughter. Emily wasn’t going to have a good time for the rest of her high school career, on that I’m certain. She’d be locked away like a runaway nun.
Becca’s mom, on the other hand, was quite willing to pick up a shovel. “So, Kenneth, in the end you did prove to be an absolute scumbag. I had a feeling you’d be the cheating type. You’re never getting near my daughter again.”
Kenneth stared at the floor like his world was ending. Dramatic little asshole, wasn’t he? His mom glared at him like she was ready to drop him off at a military school and wash her hands of him, so maybe it was to his mind.
Still, for some reason, she was mad at me? Her eyes landed on me and she snapped, “You need to learn how to mind your business, missy.”