“Outside the school?” When Principal Solesi leans forward, obviously about to ignore the request again, Em sits forward, too. Even her posture going into battle. “Was it someone outside the school? You can tell me that without betraying anyone’s confidence.”
“But I’m not going to.”
Em sits back, folding her arms over her chest. “Then you can send the nurse home. She’s not touching me.”
Ms Solesi clears her throat, jutting her chin out in a move of stubbornness to match Em’s. “While you’re at school, you fall under our—”
“Fine. Give me the leaving forms and I’ll sign myself out.”
My chest turns from warm to uncomfortably hot. It’s hard enough to get time with her inside school. Release her to the wild and I’ll never see her. “If Em was the victim of an assault, do you think it’s appropriate to threaten her with unwanted physical contact? Just because it’s the nurse doesn’t mean it won’t cause further trauma.”
“Nobody is causing any trauma.”
“I tripped,” Em says, eyebrow raising as she stares at the principal like they’re locked in a duel. “I snagged my foot on one of the loose tiles in the corridor and slammed into the corner of the lockers near the common room.” She raises her hair, and I can see the dark edges of the bruise, the puffiness around it. “Someone should really take a look at the flooring around here. It’s a health hazard.”
“Keith Madden was seen pushing you into the lockers.”
Em shrugs. Unperturbed. “No, that’s just what your unknown witness thinks they saw. I don’t even know if Keith was in the corridor. After I fell, I was too embarrassed to look around and see who was there.” She shrugs. “Whoever thought they saw something was mistaken. That’s all this is.”
“A student reported that Caylon Mercer asked them to taunt you during class.”
“Tauntme. Right.” Em openly smirks at the woman. “You understand we’re friends, don’t you? There’s no reason Caylon would ever hire someone to push me into—”
“That’s not what we’re claiming.”
“Then what are you claiming?” Em flicks a hand at Keith. “I don’t know this boy, but I know he didn’t hurt me. Caylon didn’t hurt me, I used to date his best friend for goodness’ sake. The only one threatening me with physical violence here is you when you insist on making me see the school nurse.”
She stands, smoothing down the front of her dress, not that there’s a lot of fabric to brush back into place. “Is there anything else?”
“I haven’t said you can leave, Ms Corrigan.”
“No. But unless you’re planning on physically restraining me, then I’m done here.” She nods to Keith. “Nice to meet you. I’m sorry you ended up in the wrong corridor at the wrong time.”
“No worries.” He gives her an enormous grin. “Sorry I didn’t help on the day, but you ducked into the bathroom so fast…” He trails off into a shrug.
She exits the room, leaving the door wide open so Principal Solesi can’t even continue to question me and Keith without coming out from behind her desk and closing it.
Her face says she wants to, then she gives a sigh and flicks her pen down onto the desk. “Fine. You can both go. But if I hear so much as a whisper about Em being bullied again, I will take this matter further. And both your parents will be told there was an incident.”
I can imagine my mother’s delight at receiving that summary. “Just as long as you record that Em denied there was any truth to the rumour you were fed.” I stand and lean across the desk to shake her hand, pushing her further off guard. “And Em’s right. We’re mates. I would never do anything to hurt her.”
When I exit the wing, Em’s waiting on the concrete steps, hugging herself against the cold. I take off my jacket, but she shakes her head. “You owe me.” She twirls her finger. “All this bullshit needs to stop.”
“Because we’re friends?” I ask as Keith pushes past, claps Em on the shoulder like they’re best buds, then disappears into the maths block, whistling.
“That’s right,” she says, meeting my gaze.
I want to lift her hair and examine the injury more closely. My heart pounds with fury, my hands curling and uncurling. I can’t believe anyone misunderstood my explicit instructions. Do not draw attention. Do not get caught.
And the number one rule even if I haven’t spelled it out.
Do not remodel her gorgeous fucking face.
I can’t believe the cocksucker walked off whistling like he got away with something. How thick can Keith really be?
But he’s a problem for later. Now, I lean closer and her body arches towards mine. I hold my eyes steady on hers, reading a thousand messages hidden in those depths. Her lips part, relaxing enough I can see the glint of white from her teeth.
And maybe my method is working because the signals her body broadcasts are a dozen times stronger than they’ve been since the night of the party.
