As we leave, Sydney is justifiably furious. The second we leave the cafeteria, I turn to her and see that she’s shaking.
“He blamed us,” she says, half under her breath. “That guard blamed us when we were the only ones stepping up to protect Adrian. It’s like no one cares what’s happening right in front of them!”
“This won’t stand,” I say, putting my hand on her arm. She relaxes slightly. “We’ll tell the vice principal what happened. Garrett was hurting Adrian. He was sexually bullying her. Now is our chance to turn those whispers into actions,” I say. “We saw it. We witnessed it, as did an entire cafeteria. They can’t willfully ignore it anymore.”
“That’s a good point,” Sydney says, reluctantly accepting the idea. We walk a little farther before she snorts a laugh. I turn to her, already smiling.
“What?” I ask.
“Nothing,” she says, trying to hide her grin. “It’s just … Youbusted a lunch tray over that boy’s head. It was unintentionally hilarious and cathartic.”
I’m not proud of attacking someone. But, at the same time, I find myself giggling at the outrageousness of my weapon.
“It wassomuch louder than I thought it would be.”
“You humiliated him,” Sydney says. “And even if the tray didn’t leave a mark, the sting of embarrassment won’t fade any time soon. Personally, I hope he has ‘Ridgeview Prep Cafeteria’ imprinted into his head for the rest of the day.”
As we approach the office, my smile fades. I think about her comment about his humiliation, and I wonder: Is there anything as dangerous as an embarrassed man?
Disciplinary Referral
Ridgeview Prep
Student:Philomena Calla
Referring Staff:Officer Mitch
Reason(s) for disciplinary action:
Bullying/Harassment
Destruction of School Property
Fighting
Action:
Detained
Referred to Office
Notes:
Philomena attacked another student without provocation. Philomena displayed violent behavior during the incident and she was insubordinate when I tried to detain her. Attack was premeditated, resulting in injuries, harassment, and destruction of property. Further action required.
21
Sydney and I sit in the uncomfortable chairs by the windows in the front office. The vice principal has been made aware of our presence, we’re told, and now we wait for her punishment. When the secretary goes to the back of the office, Sydney turns to me.
“How are girls supposed to stay safe here?” she asks.
“I don’t know,” I reply honestly. “At least at Innovations, it was kind of us against them, you know? All of us were on the same side. Here … the other girls are either too scared to say anything, or they’re part of the problem.”
“These girls are being terrorized, but no one speaks up. Or, if they do, it’s a whisper to another girl. Never an outright accusation. It’s so … secretive,” she says. “And if that’s how they have to protect themselves—whispers—then the adults in the room are handling things very poorly.”
I agree, and Sydney shakes her head, looking toward the vice principal’s office.
“But I guess I’m not that surprised,” she says. “That information, knowing who to avoid, it could really helpus,but it wouldn’t help the boys. And it’s their futures everyone seems concerned about.” Sydney taps her lower lip with her finger, a sign that she’s thinking deeply about something.
