Sierra
Chapter forty
The day’s been going okay. Not as bad as it could’ve been if I didn’t have the guys with me running interference.
But it doesn’t mean the pricks at this school haven’t used any opportunity they could to make snide comments, or slip notes onto my desk or my bag, when I’m not looking.
The only bright side of the day so far was lunch with the guys.
We enjoyed a peaceful meal at our spot under the tree.
It was an amazing forty minutes of no one calling me names.
The only downfall was when I was pulling one of my books from my bag, the notes almost fell out.
I barely stuck the lone escapee back inside the bag before they saw.
I’ll need to make sure to toss them in the trash after lunch.
Now I’m sitting in the office, waiting on Mr. Stevenson, thankful I don’t have to go to gym. The thought of having to change in the locker room with Savannah and her pack of bitches had my stomach in knots.
“Sierra, sweetheart, you can go on back.” Mrs. Bullock gives me a warm smile from behind her desk. As I walk past her, she reaches out, placing her hand on my arm. “I’m so sorry about everything that happened with your sister, but I’m glad you’re back.”
My body stiffens. Is it public knowledge about Sam being in foster care now? That I was beaten? Did word of the video make it back to the staff?
I just nod, as she drops her hand, and I head down the hallway. Nervous anxiety prickles my skin, wondering if everyone is watching me on my walk of unknown doom.
Mr. Stevenson’s door is closed when I get there, and I knock gently. “Come in,” comes loudly from the other side.
Taking hold of the handle, I take in a deep breath before pushing the door open and stepping inside.
“You wanted to see me, Mr. Stevenson?”
“Yes, come in and sit down, Sierra.” He gestures to the chair in front of his desk.
I walk slowly to the chair and sit down on the edge, setting my book bag on the floor by my feet as I pick nervously at the hem of my shirt.
“How are you today?” He closes the folder on his desk, placing his arms on it as he leans forward.
“Good.” This is weird and I’m oddly uncomfortable, unsure what he wants to see me about.
“I just wanted to check in and see how everything is going since you came back to school and with everything that’s happened. I know Sam is adjusting well, but she misses her big sister.”
“I miss her too.” God I do. All I want is to go straight to his house, pack up her stuff and bring her home with me. Or run. We could start over in another state with new names, forge a whole new life, and put this one in the past. All except for Mom. The memories of her I want to keep.
“Now, I have to ask. I know you went home yesterday, rather my sons took you home due to some bullying that was taking place. I need to know who it was, and what happened, so that I can take appropriate disciplinary action.”
I love that he wants to punish them, but I know it will never happen. And I don’t want him to do anything. All his interference will do is bring more retaliation my way. No, thank you.
“It wasn’t really bullying. I was just upset, and I wasn’t feeling well. Umm, I was cramping really bad, and they insisted on taking me home.” That should do it. No man wants to talk with a teenage girl about her period.
“Sierra, I can’t help you if you won’t tell me who it is. The boys were very tight-lipped last night and wouldn’t go into specifics. I’m here for you, Sierra. Your wellbeing is of the utmost importance to me.” He stares poignantly at me, and I cast my eyes down. I can’t look at him in the face.
“I’m fine, Mr. Stevenson. Like I said, it was cramps. And kids tease each other. That's all it was. I’m sorry if the guys misinterpreted it and skipped school to help me yesterday. Please don’t punish them for trying to help me, even though I didn’t need it.”
We just sit there, daring the other to be the first to cave. It won’t be me, though. There’s no way in hell I’m ratting on anyone here for what they’ve done to me. I rub my sweaty palms together as my knee bounces nervously.
All I want is to get out of here. At this point, gym class would be a blessing.
“Sierra, if you don’t tell me, I can’t help you.” Seriously, does he not realize he just said this?
“Mr. Stevenson, there’s nothing to help with. I’m fine. The only thing I need is to be back with my sister. To be able to see her. Can you do that? Can you make that happen? If not, can I please be excused to go back to class?”
We sit in silence for a moment, almost like he thinks the longer he stares at me, I’ll break and confide in him. I’m not. Right now I only trust Rico, Cyrus, and the guys, which oddly includes Colton. He’s worming his way into my heart.
“See Mrs. Bullock for a note to class. But Sierra, please think about talking to me. I’m here for you.”
“Thank you.” I pick my bag up and stand, quickly walking to the door.
Before I open it, I look back over my shoulder. “Mr. Stevenson?”
“Yes, Sierra?”
“There’s one thing you can do for me. Tell Sam I love and miss her. Let her know I’m doing everything I can so we can be together again.” “I will,” he says solemnly.
I step into the hallway and make my way to Mrs. Bullock's desk to get the note from her. Except I don’t want to go to gym, and there’s not much left of class, so I head to the bathroom and find an empty stall.
Sitting down on the toilet, I hold my bag in my lap as I wait patiently for the bell to ring.
It feels like an eternity as I tap my foot on the floor before the shrill ring vibrates through the small room.
Laughter fills the hallway and I know students are pouring out of the classrooms, stopping to socialize with their friends, retrieve books from their lockers and even make out. I just want to stay hidden.
My solitude doesn’t last long before I hear the bathroom door open and female voices fill the room.
“Why wasn’t she in gym?” one of the girls asks. I sit up straight and try to peek through the crack in the stall of the door.
“I heard she got called to the guidance counselor’s office. Bet the whore is trying to suck his dick, too.” Savannah laughs like what she said was funny.
“Gross. Like how could she be with those old ass men? I mean, whoever that was in the video had a dick that would have me orgasming for days but, eww.” That’s Jasmine. I'd know her voice anywhere.
“How did you get that video, Savannah?” another girl questions.
Savannah’s back is to me, so all I can see is a fragment of her reflection in the mirror as she puts on her lipstick. I hold my breath and stay frozen in place, praying they don’t see me.
She smiles into the mirror as she rubs her lips together before turning around and leaning against the sink.
“Wes gave it to me. He wanted to stick it to the skank but didn’t want it to fall back on him, so I did it,” she says smugly. “He found it posted on the internet when he was looking for porn one night.”
“Why does he need porn when he has you?” Jasmine steps up to the mirror, taking the lipstick from Savannah’s hands.
“We were going to take one of the videos and Photoshop the little cunt’s face on one of the girls, but he lucked out and had an actual one of hers drop in his lap.”
The longer they hang out in the bathroom, my fear of them catching me grows. Why didn’t I just go to the library?
“So why is he acting like her knight in shining armor, then?” a low voice asks.
Savannah lets out a wickedly evil laugh. “He’s fucking with her. Making her think he’s so upset about what happened and then he’s going to laugh in her face when she falls for it and embarrass her in front of everyone at school. It’s going to be epic.”
They all laugh and move out of view. A couple moments later, I hear the door open and suddenly I’m basked in silence again.
I sigh a breath of relief, but my heart drops at her words. I knew believing anything out of his mouth was a mistake.
Now I know his endgame in all of this. He’s nothing but a lying snake.
All his words of being sorry that the video escaped when he was responsible for it. But why would he give the original flash drive that incriminates his father to Rico?
This makes no sense.
Standing up, I open the stall door and step out into the bathroom. One more class and this day is over.
At least I have the date with Zander to look forward to. I know we’re working on our project, but at least I know everything he says is truthful.
I take a look at myself in the mirror before I walk to the door and step out into the noisy hallway.