What's the deal with Peyton? This morning she acted like we're best friends, then she turned on me at lunch and now she's doing it again.
At three, everyone files into the auditorium for the assembly. I go to the very back and sit by the door so I can exit right away when it's over.
"Attention," Principal Edwards says, tapping on the microphone. "Everyone quiet down. We're going to begin."
He's standing at the podium with Ms. Adams next to him in a chair. It's just like Jackson described. First the principal speaks, then the counselor.
"I am very saddened to have to gather you all today for the tragedy that happened last weekend," Principal Edwards says. "This is the third, and hopefully last, time that we've had to say goodbye to one of our own. This time is particularly difficult for me because Kristen was my daughter. I never called her my stepdaughter because I treated her as though she were my own." He wipes his eyes. "Her mother and I are devastated by her passing and struggling to get through every moment without her. She was our light. A sweet, innocent girl who wanted the best for both herself and those around her. She was a source of encouragement to many of you, which is why she will be so greatly missed by everyone who knew her."
I know you're only supposed to say good things about people after they die but this is a bit much. Sweet and innocent? That's a stretch. And the part about him seeing her as his own? It makes what I saw in the classroom that day even creepier.
He continues. "Daphne and I are determined to seek justice for our sweet baby girl. Her killer will not go free. He took her life, and now we will take his, as he serves the rest of his days in prison."
Ms. Adams rises up and says something in his ear.
He nods. "I may have gone a bit off topic there. This isn't about the man who did this. It's about Kristen. A celebration of her life. On that note, I'd like to offer the podium to anyone who would like to share a memory of Kristen or say a few words about her."
He looks out at the crowd. Nobody gets up or raises their hand.
"No need to be shy." He smiles but his tone is laced with anger that nobody is raising their hand. "Anyone?"
The auditorium remains quiet.
"I'll do it," someone calls out. I see Peyton rise from her seat in the middle row.
"Excellent. Thank you, Ms. Sanders."
He steps aside as she makes her way to the podium.
She clears her throat. "Kristen was one of my closest friends." She pauses and looks down, sniffling. "Sorry."
"It's okay," Principal Edwards says, putting his arm around her. "Take your time."
She nods as he steps away.
"I've know Kristen forever. We have so many memories it's hard to know which one to tell." She sniffles and Ms. Adams hands her a box of tissues. She takes one and dabs her eyes. "One time Kristen and I dressed up as mermaids for Halloween." She laughs a little. "We didn't put the costumes on right. We thought the fin part was supposed to cover our shoes not just our ankles. We tried to walk and we both fell, right in front of a boy we liked." She smiles. "We always seemed to like the same boys. But neither one of us got Henry, the boy who saw us fall." She looks down, then back up at the crowd. "I just want to say that I'm really going to miss her. I already do. I keep expecting to see her in the halls but then she's not there." She turns away, crying.
Ms. Adams stands up and comforts her, then takes the podium as Principal Edwards helps Peyton off the stage.
"What Peyton is describing is common," Ms. Adams says. "When someone we love passes it's difficult to accept. You may still expect to see them, even though you know they've passed. You may doubt that they're actually gone, thinking it was just a bad dream. Grief is complicated and different for everyone."
She goes into a long speech about grief, finally ending just before four.
Principal Edwards returns to the podium. "Does anyone have questions for Ms. Adams?"
Nobody responds.
"If you do, or if you need someone to talk to about this, Ms. Adams will be available after school every day this week. You can also talk to her during class. Just tell your instructor before class begins." He checks his watch. "I see it's now four. You're excused for the day. Ms. Adams will be in her office if you'd like to speak with her."
I race out of the auditorium and wait outside for Trystan. As usual, he's one of the last people to leave.
"I'm not taking you," he says, walking past me.
"Like hell you're not," I say, catching up to him. "I'm not putting up with this silent treatment bullshit from you too. It's bad enough the whole school isn't talking to me."
"I'm talking to you." He stops at his car. "I'm just not taking you home."
I try my door. It's locked.
