Chapter 5
CHAPTER
FIVE
NOLA
It’s impossible to keep the smile off my face as I walk into school the next day. As I walk down the hallway, people stop what they’re doing to do a double take, and I’m quick to realize my extremely good mood just might be an issue.
I guess seeing me with anything but a resting bitch face is something to gawk at.
Normally, I’d scowl if I saw someone openly staring at me because I hate attention, but I’m in too good of a mood to care.
I mean, hello? I just found out the three men I’m madly in love with love me too.
Okay, so love might be pushing it, but they do want me.
And sure, I found out while their dicks were inside another woman, but I’ll deal with that little issue later. It's not like I can change what’s already happened.
Right now, I need to focus on the things I can change and come up with a plan.
I have until the end of summer to figure that out.
Right now, I need to put all my energy into school. It’s exam week, and I need to get through this before I can move my focus elsewhere. There’s no way in hell I’m risking failing and repeating a grade in this cesspool of a school.
Alright, so the school itself isn’t horrible, for the most part, the teachers here were tolerable. Mr. Robinson was just the rotten apple of the bunch. With him gone, maybe things will improve.
With the exception of the odd stare and whisper, the day goes by as normal. As I finish every exam scheduled for today, I get more and more confident that I’m understanding the material, easing the worry I’ve been having of possibly failing, despite being at the top of my class.
Not expecting to ace every one of them, but as long as they’re passing grades, I’ll take it.
My English exam isn’t until tomorrow, so I don’t really have to go to class if I don’t want to. I could choose to skip. It’s not like I’d be missing anything. But color me curious because I want to see everyone's reaction when they find out Mr. Robinson isn’t going to be there.
Even with his suspicious absences, I know the school won't report him missing. And there’s no one in Mr. Robinson’s life who would care enough to do the same.
If someone did try, I know the guys would intervene. Mr. Robinson was a part of the Brotherhood, and they were the ones who dealt with him.
Still, I’m sure people will ask questions, and the entire school will whisper and wonder where he is.
None of that is my problem. But maybe I should try to calm my excitement. I sure as fuck don’t want to bring too much attention to myself.
Unfortunately, the moment I step into the classroom, all eyes are on me.
Including Scarlett’s. She’s one of the girls who has loved to shower me with her nasty venom since day one. She’s hated me as long as I can remember.
She’s one of the reasons why I got the nickname Lola. Back in elementary school, she and a bunch of other kids started making fun of my name because it’s an acronym for New Orleans.
I started to hate my name, even though I should have been proud of it. So to make me feel better about it, the guys started calling me Lola. Since then, the nickname stuck, and only the guys and the people I’m close to call me that.
It wasn’t until high school that I found out why Scarlett hated me so much.
My friendship with the guys wasn't a secret; the people who attended those parties would have seen it with their own eyes. But I guess there were some people who didn’t like the fact that the ‘help’, as Scarlett likes to call me, was getting so close with the top families in the Brotherhood.
And as soon as people in school noticed the way the guys would stick up for me from the shadows, that's when I started getting even more negative attention from my female classmates.
Scarlett being the worst of them all.
She despises me with everything she’s got, fueling her own personal vendetta.
“What the fuck has you so happy?” Scarlett cocks a red manicured brow.
“Knowing that after tomorrow, I’ll never have to see you again.” I give her a sweet smile as I take my seat in front of her.
“Trust me, that's something we’re both thrilled about,” she mutters behind me.
Rolling my eyes, I turn them towards the door as more and more students file in. Once the last person has arrived, it doesn’t take long before people start asking where Mr. Robinson is.
“Hello, class.” Mrs. Codwell, the vice principal, steps into the classroom and all the whispers die a sudden death. “I’m sure you noticed that your teacher, Mr. Robinson, isn't here today. It’s unfortunate, but Mr. Robinson has been let go.”
The class breaks out into a new round of curious whispers.
“Settle down, settle down. Now, with this being the last week before graduation, let’s not let this set us back.
Your English exam will still be here tomorrow at noon.
Make sure to study. As for today, you are dismissed to do exactly that.
Use this time wisely. I will see you all tomorrow. ”
With that, she leaves the class, and everyone starts speaking louder, people breaking off into groups as they talk about what just happened.
“I don’t know how, but I know you have something to do with this,” Scarlett scoffs from behind me.
“Excuse me?” I turn around to face her with a what-the-fuck-are-you-going-on-about look.
“You got him fired. Who did you cry to, your dad? Did he come and talk to the school? Of course, you told him. You couldn’t just let it go, could you?”
“What the hell are you talking about?” This time, I really am fucking confused about the bullshit spewing from her mouth.
“You told someone about what happened between you and Mr. Robinson, and he got fired.”
My body tenses, pulse kicking up. How the fuck did she know about anything between Mr. Robinson and me?
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I narrow my eyes.
“You should have been grateful that he was showing you any kind of attention. Mr. Robinson was attractive, well off. He could have any woman in this school, and for some fucked up reason, he chose you. I’d say his tastes were awful, but I know for a fact he’s made good choices in the past.” She grins wickedly, and I have to suppress a shudder at the idea of her and Mr. Robinson sleeping together.
Still, that doesn’t answer my question on how she knows anything about what Mr. Robinson tried to do to me.
“How do you know anything when it comes to me and Mr. Robinson?”
“I saw it.” She rolls her eyes. “The door was wide open. Not smart on his part, but still. You rejected him and lost your shit on him like some freak. You had a hot older man wanting you, and you attacked him? Made him out to be a bad guy so people would feel sorry for you?”
“Wait… you saw? And you just, what? Walked away?” I stare at her in disbelief.
“Whatever the two of you were up to was none of my business. Although I was tempted to come to his defense when you stabbed him like some crazed bitch. Like who even does that?”
“So, you saw a teacher try to assault me, and you just did nothing? So what? If I were unable to defend myself, you would have just walked away as he raped me?” I knew the people in this school were twisted, but this is just fucking evil.
“Assault?” she scoffs. “Please. As if he’d have to force himself on you.
Like I said, he could have any girl in this school.
He didn’t need to stoop so low as to take what he wanted.
You’re the one who freaked out at the attention and attacked him.
And because of who your dad is, he couldn’t do anything about it.
Now he’s magically fired? All this could have been avoided if you just did what others wish they could do and fuck him. ”
“I cannot believe the words coming out of your mouth.” I shake my head, stunned but unable to stay here any longer to listen to her.
“No matter how much you want to play pretend, this isn’t your world. Know your place, Nola, before someone is forced to remind you of it.”
“Is that a threat?” I ask, resisting the urge to grab her by her stupid hair and smash her dumbass face into the desk over and over again until it was nothing but a mangled, bloody mess of skin and bones.
“It’s a promise.” She winks. “Now run along, little doggie.” She shoos me away, her gaggle of bitches snickering.
My hand inches toward my pocket. The need to grab my knife and stab her in her neck is nearly overwhelming. I want to watch as the panic and terror fill her face and red pours from her neck. The sound of her choking on her blood would be so damn satisfying.
I take a few deep breaths, grounding myself. I can’t be impulsive. That will lead to bad things.
I’ll get my chance at this bitch one day, just not today.
I force a smile on my face, loving how hers drops. “With pleasure. Any moment I don’t have to spend in your presence while you suck the life force out of me like you’ve sucked the cum out of half the male student body is one I’ll jump at. Have the day you deserve, Scarlett.”
Spinning on my heel, my smile grows as I walk out of the classroom to the sounds of her shouting profanities at me. It’s worth all the attention I get as I walk down the hallway.
I might not have been able to handle that how I would’ve liked, but I had the last word, and I know she hates it.
That’s good enough for me.
A week later, the football field at Crest Wood Academy is filled with tons of students dressed exactly like me in black graduation gowns and caps.
With all my exams completed and passing each of them with good, if not great, scores, it’s time for me to officially be done with this school.
To say I’m glad is an understatement.
“Oooh, just one more photo!” Mom exclaims, snapping another photo on her phone.
“Mom.” I laugh. “I think you have about three hundred at this point.”
“I know. But it’s not every day that my only child graduates. I’m so proud of you, Nola,” Mom sniffs.