Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 24418 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 122(@200wpm)___ 98(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24418 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 122(@200wpm)___ 98(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
“Miss me?” I ask the principal as I take the lid off the candy jar on his desk and grab a chocolate kiss. Principal Vale picks up the jar and moves it out of my reach.
“It’s the first day of classes,” he says as he takes his seat behind his desk. Meghan sits off to the side, merely here for protocol. “Do I really need to call your uncle already?”
“Please don’t.” I sit up straighter. “He’s busy anyway. Probably won’t answer.”
“I’m sure he’d be happy to call back.”
Damn it, he would. “Can’t we just do the normal in-school suspension routine?” I suggest, not wanting to bother my Uncle Callum.
He’s been raising me for the past five years since I lost both my parents. Uncle Callum doesn’t need to be burdened with my problems. I actually really like him, and he tries with me. That’s more than I can say about my own parents.
“The normal routine doesn’t work with you,” he says, and I clench my teeth. “You could apologize to Parker.”
“Over my dead body.”
“As I assumed." He lets out a long sigh. “Honestly, Charlotte, I’m thinking that maybe Legend Prep isn’t the place for you any longer.”
Oh shit.
“You’re kicking me out?” Can he do that? It costs out the ass to go here.
“I don’t want to.”
“Then don’t,” I suggest. One more year and I can be done. “I’ll be good.” Principal Vale lifts an eyebrow, and Meghan stifles a laugh. “Okay, I’ll try to be good.”
He shakes his head, not buying it. It’s hard to be good when there are so many assholes around here.
“If you could show me you wanted to stay here and be good, then maybe we don’t have to call your uncle.”
"Okay, but how do I do that?"
Principal Vale stands up, and I watch him walk over to a closet door. After he opens it, he turns around and I see the giant beaver head of our school mascot. He places the massive beaver head down on his desk and straightens.
“I’m not sure if you’re aware, but Bennett broke his arm.”
“No, I wasn’t.” I don’t keep up with these people. I spent my summer reading, killing noobs on Apex Legends, and in the garden. Bennett is nice enough, and it sucks he broke his arm, but what does that have to do with me and my predicament?
“He can’t be the beaver this year, and you know how loved the mascot is, especially at the football games.”
I don’t go to football games, but I know how much football is loved in this school. It’s insane. With it being a private prep school, I’m pretty sure they recruit some of the players. I have no idea if it’s legal, but I didn’t care enough to pay attention. Although I don’t go to games, I’m forced to go to assemblies where I’ve seen the beaver mascot.
“Please don’t say what I think you’re about to.” I swallow hard.
“It’s not so bad. It might even be fun.” Meghan speaks up for the first time, and I shoot her a death glare. She presses her lips together and sits back.
“I could call your uncle,” Principal Vale offers.
“No!” He’s not even in the state right now. He’s on a work trip, but Uncle Callum would come back if he got a call about me.
“Then what’s it going to be?” Principal Vale taps the beaver head.
“Did you at least have it dry cleaned?” There was a teen boy in that thing. God herself doesn't know how bad it might smell.
“Yes.”
“Fuck me,” I mutter.
“Charlotte,” Principal Vale snaps.
“Sorry,” I lie. “Fine.”
I pop up from my chair, ready to get this over with. What choice do I really have? As much as I don’t care about anyone in this school, I do care about my uncle. I hate it, but I can’t stop it. He’s the one person I don’t want to disappoint.
“Excellent choice.” Principal Vale hands me the giant head.
“Were you chatting with Tinsley Moore?” Meghan asks me.
“We exchanged some words.” I shift the beaver head around in my arms. This thing is heavy.
“Then you wouldn’t mind showing her around?”
“I’m already doing the beaver thing.” Now they want me to do their job too?
“That might not be the best idea,” Principal Vale says and takes my side.
“What does that mean?” He shrugs at my question as if I should know the answer. Maybe I kind of do, but it’s rude for him to point it out. ”I’ll do it.”
I shove the head back at Principal Vale.
“All right,” he says and takes the head. “But I’ll see you after school. Come get the costume and meet Bennett in the gym. He’s going to help you practice.”
“Great.” I roll my eyes before walking out of the office. Tinsley is still sitting in the same chair. “Come on, Tins.” I nod my head toward the door. “You’re with me.”