Kristen cocks her head. “You really think he’d stay with you when he could have me? I’m a Reynolds. Do you have any idea what that means?”
“That you’re rich? Big deal.”
She smiles. “Money comes with power. The power to have whatever I want.” She gets in my face. “And I want Jackson.”
“You’re not getting him,” I say, not backing away. “And you’re not telling me what to do.”
“Go home to New York, you trashy little orphan.”
I don’t know if it’s because I’m tired from a long week, or still upset about Axl, or angry at my mom for dying and leaving me,but at this moment, I can’t hold back. I don’t have it in me right now. I’ve played the good little girl all week. The real me is dying to come out.
Dropping my backpack, I yank my arm back, make a fist, and punch Kristen, right in the middle of her pretty little face.
She screams and starts flailing her skinny arms.
“You don’t fucking tell me what to do,” I say, shoving her back.
“Youbitch!” She tries to swing at me but misses.
“Stop it!” a man yells. “Stop it right now!”
He grabs my arms and yanks them behind me. I turn and see it’s Mr. Piedmont. Right behind him is Principal Edwards.
Shit.
“What’s going on here?” Principal Edwards asks, going over to Kristen.
“She hit me!” Kristen cries. “I was just standing here talking to her and she hit me!”
“That’s not what happened,” I say, glaring at her.
“She hit me!” Kristen cups her nose, which isn’t even bleeding. I didn’t hit her that hard. I shoved her chest harder than I hit her nose.
Principal Edwards pulls Kristen into a hug, patting her back. “It’s okay, honey. We’ll take you to the doctor. Make sure everything’s okay.”
Honey?Why is he babying her so much? He wouldn’t be that way with anyone else at school. She really does have everyone fooled. They all think she’s a perfect little princess. Even Jackson is fooled.
“Punish her!” Kristen yells, pointing at me. “Call the police! I’m charging with her with assault!”
“Honey, you know your mother doesn’t want any more bad press,” Principal Edwards says.
“I don’t give a shit about my mother! Call the police or I will!”
People have gathered around us, and I notice Trystan coming up beside me.
“What the hell happened?”
“Don’t ask,” I say.
“She punched Kristen,” a guy behind me says.
“No shit?” Trystan says, looking at me like he’s secretly impressed.
“Let’s go, sweetie,” Principal Edwards says, taking Kristen away. He stops right beside me. “I’ll be calling your uncle in for a special meeting.”
I just nod and wait for him to leave.
“You can let me go now,” I say to Mr. Piedmont.
