What next? Is he going to get my teaching license taken away? It’s never going to end!
My fingers wrap into a tight fist, and I plot what to do with his trophies. I could smash them all up. It will feel amazing, but make a mess that I will have to clean. I really don’t want to give him any more of my time. Dropping it in the trash would be the easiest way to get rid of it. It’s dark out. Nobody would even see the box inside, and the garbage truck will take it away.
But what if Gia wants to see them someday?
What will I tell her?
I can’t lie to her.
I also know I can’t sit at my desk and look at this dumb box. The mere thought of him being in my life makes my frustration soar through my entire body, and I rip open the flaps, ready to deal with what’s inside. I can stash this stuff in the corner of the locker room and just never go there. I’ll keep my promise to Gia and get rid of it all at the same time.
“Alright.” I sigh again, summoning the strength to deal with this. “What do I have here?”
I yank out the first trophy. A 12-inch plastic pedestal with a football on top. The plaque reads: Rookie of the year.
Cute, I mock and grab the next one.
Most valuable player.
Gag me.
Maybe I don’t need to read them? Just grab them and go. I close one eye, as I go in for another, but my fingers brush up against a manila envelope.
Oh, what is this? Fancy certificates? Shaking my head, pushing them off, I vow to pretend I never saw them. I’m sure not framing anything.
A panic niggling in the back of my head screams at me,You better check this.
Really? I sigh again and impatiently grab the envelope, rip it open, and my eyes immediately swell round.
This isn’t an award.
Mr. Bella clearly hadeverything.
Including these original loan papers for Rocco’s car lot.
I would think Rocco would want these in his office, because it has all his personal information, and because he’s shady as an oak tree, my interest is full throttle. I flip through the papers, and the hair on my arms rises again.
Something is immediately off.
Principal Lane’s signature is next to Rocco’s as a co-owner, alongside Tom Schank, president of the school board, and one of the shadiest businessmen in the town. He used to work in education but now he sits on several of the most influencial boards in town and owns a string of hotels.
Hotels.
Might he own Gia’s hotel?
Ice frosts my back, spiraling chills to creep up my spine as I scan loan papers. Underneath the bank papers is another letter, a printed email from Rocco to Principal Lane. I speed read itwith my heart nearly pumping out of my heart. I can't believe what I'm reading buteverythingbecomes unveiled. Tom bought Rocco and Principal's vote for all these boards he's on. Tom basically owns them both as Tom is the one who gave Rocco money for his car lot, and in exchange for that, Rocco had to agree to sponsor the football team, which apparently was a condition Principal Lane made.
They are in on this together.
I smash my lips together and keep reading, as it all makes so much sense. That’s how Rocco got to Principal Lane so fast. He’s blackmailable. Swallowing hard, I stuff the papers back in the envelope and scan my room.
Still eerily quiet, but I have what I need to out Rocco now. That these papers landed in my hands at the exact time I need them is a miracle, but I’m not going to bury them. I protected Rocco when I found out about his cheating, but it got me nowhere. I’m done with him. Rocco’s going to jail, and I’ll be able to see Gia. Adrenaline surges, as I slide the envelope in a book bag, wanting to conceal it. To think, I almost threw it in the trash.
I stride out of my classroom, shut off the lights, and lock my door. I must get to Gia and tell Mr. Bella before it’s too late, and Rocco does something else.
Oddly, Mr. Bella had the smoking gun to take down Rocco this whole time. It’s weird it would end up in this box, without him knowing it.
Or did he know?
