Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 119650 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 598(@200wpm)___ 479(@250wpm)___ 399(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119650 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 598(@200wpm)___ 479(@250wpm)___ 399(@300wpm)
Principal Dormer stands at his desk, shuffling through a bunch of files, and his head snaps up at my knock. “Ahh, Miss Ashford. I’ve been expecting you,” he says, waving his hand toward the chair opposite his desk. “Please come in.”
I hastily move across the room and drop into the empty chair, my hands fidgeting with the hem of my uniform. “I won’t keep you long,” he says, stepping back to the low-riding cabinetry behind his desk and leaning against the edge. “I wanted to check in with you after the events of last week. I understand it would be quite a lot to take in.”
“Understatement of the year,” I mutter.
“How are you handling everything?”
I shrug my shoulders. “It’s been a huge clusterfuck if I can be so bold. The whole arrest was a joke, and the evidence they have against me is all fabricated.”
“How so?”
“Well, they have images of me at the party where Addison was attacked. However, the photograph they have has been manipulated to appear as though I’m handling the drugs that Addison was given.”
His brows furrow, looking thoughtful. “And you have proof of this?”
“I do,” I tell him. “My … stepfather, Orlando Channing, has set me up with a lawyer who I’ll be meeting with after school. So, I’m hoping that once I’ve supplied all my evidence, it’ll be enough for the police to see the statement they were working with was false.”
“I’m glad,” he tells me. “I’ve been working with teens like yourself for twenty-odd years and it’s shocking how often good students are led down a bad path. I have only the highest of hopes for you, Brielle.”
“Thank you,” I murmur, feeling a little odd about the whole meeting.
“Now, I’m sure you’re aware that when things happen on school property, such as students getting arrested, there tends to be some … backlash from that.” My brow arches and I wait impatiently for him to continue. “Your arrest has been the topic of conversation all week, and as you can understand, I have had many calls from misinformed parents. Please don’t be alarmed, I do not intend to take any action against you. I’m simply informing you of what’s going on.”
“What is going on?” I question.
“There has been a call for your suspension. Some of the parents feel, considering the reasons for your arrest, that their children would be safer attending school if you were not here. Now, I have put my foot down and explained that you are innocent until proven guilty, and no disciplinary action will be taken against you. However,” he says, a nervousness flickering in his eyes as his tone shifts, adding a higher level of authority. “I am sure you would understand that if you do happen to be charged with these horrendous accusations against you, I will be left with no choice but to expel you from Bradford Private. Is that understood?”
“Yes, sir,” I say with a slight nod of my head. “I understand. Though you should know that I am completely innocent in all of this, I didn’t even have a little bit to do with it. I know exactly who hurt Addison and his motivation behind it, and the police have ensured me that he will be going down for it. You don’t have anything to worry about.”
“Let’s hope so,” he says. “As for your arrest, how are you handling that? It was … unexpected, and had I known a gun would be drawn on one of my students, I would have never allowed them onto school property. I know you are still new here, but please remember that we have student counselors if you feel that you need someone to talk with.”
“Thank you,” I say, giving him a tight smile. “I’m okay.”
“Wonderful,” he murmurs, pushing off the edge of his cabinetry. “In that case, I think you should hurry back to class, and remember that my door is always open. I look forward to hearing when your name has been cleared.”
And with that, I get the fuck out of there, realizing how much damage has already been done. While the police may give me the all clear, my reputation has already been destroyed.
Chapter 13
TANNER
My helmet rocks back and forth, balancing on the handlebar of my bike, and I don’t waste another second getting off and sprinting toward Channing’s front door. Brielle should have been home from her meeting with the lawyer twenty minutes ago, and I need to know how it went. I can’t wait another second.
My patience is nonexistent, and that was made clear during practice. I got my ass handed to me. Usually, I take pride in my ability to keep my head in the game, but after the text that was sent to my girl today, I’ve struggled.
The thought of something happening to her … fuck. It’s bad enough that every night before bed, the image of Bri’s Honda wrapped around that fucking tree haunts me. I’ll never forget that moment. It’s ingrained in my brain for all of eternity. In those few seconds between throwing myself off my bike and racing around the smoking car, I think I died a million times.