The vice principal’s precisely colored lips formed a thin pink line, and she raised one eyebrow. “Yes, well. We do have a problem, don’t we?” She tossed a cool glance at Samantha as she opened the door to her office. A tilt of her head and a glance down her nose the only indication that they should follow.
Mother and daughter were greeted by the warm scent of cherrywood and leather, although the warmth extended only as far as that scent, despite the two large windows behind Mrs. Pappenberger’s desk that let in the autumn sun. To Maya’s left was a wall lined with plaques, all bearing the vice principal’s name. The opposite wall was lined with bookshelves holding old yearbooks and what appeared to be classic literature. Surely the bookbindings were a facade, filling the shelf space with impressive covers but blank pages.
They sat down in the two leather-bound chairs facing Mrs. Pappenberger’s desk and waited, grim with expectation. Samantha positioned herself poker straight on her chair, while Mrs. Pappenberger took a seat on her side of the desk and got right to it. “It seems we haveonce againfound controlled substances in young Ms. Rao’s possession.”
Maya whipped her head to Samantha. “What?”
“It’s not mine.” Samantha’s voice was surprisingly firm considering the amount of trouble she was facing.
Mrs. Pappenberger pursed her lips, her voice matter-of-fact. “So you say. However, the fact is that it was found in your locker.”
“But I didn’t put it there.”
“Then how, Ms. Rao, did it get there?”
“The same as last time—Brittany, or one of her gang—put it there.” Samantha moved closer to the desk, to the very edge of the chair, almost as if she were afraid of what would happen if she got too comfortable. “I was minding my own business. Brittany and her gang were giving me sh—bugging me—while I opened my locker.” She clenched her fists. “They do it all the time.” There was blood on her knuckles.
“So, you open your locker and they justhappento be there and out pops this bag of marijuana? And so you decided to punch Ms. Stevenson?”
Samantha maintained eye contact. “Well, it’s not the first time she did this—she’s been trying to get me expelled ever since...ever since...last time.” Her eyes flicked to Maya, then back to the vice principal.
“Could you please tell me what’s going on here?” Enough with the twenty questions. Maya didn’t care if she appeared unfriendly as she turned to the vice principal, she’d had enough of her daughter being harassed. “Why is there a security officer here?”
“Standard school procedure when there’s a fight.” Mrs. Pappenberger gave Maya a tight smile, then addressed Samantha. “You understand who you are accusing?”
“What difference does that make?” Maya leaned forward in her chair. “If Brittany planted it in—”
“Ms. Rao.” Mrs. Pappenberger leaned in toward Maya, her perfectly manicured hands folded in front of her, and spoke to her as if she were one of her students. “That girl is Byron Stevenson’s daughter. As in the Parker-StevensonLibrary.”
Maya felt the blood drain from her face. That library used to be called the Parker Library. She wiped cold sweat from her upper lip with clammy hands. Byron Stevenson was a Columbia Law School grad who had made his fortune by marrying into one of the wealthier families in the city. If Maya weren’t so panicked, she’d take a moment to relish how it must grate on Mrs. Stevenson that they had to share the library name with Parker.
“The Stevensons will be pressing assault charges,” Mrs. Pappenberger continued. “There will be a possession charge, from the authorities. And we will be discussing the possibility of expulsion, per school regulations.” Maya could have sworn the woman was smirking.
A wave of nausea caused Maya to hesitate a moment before finally speaking. “What does that mean?” She jerked her head toward the officer in the outer office. “She’s not being arrested!” She squeezed her daughter’s arm, as if that were all it would take to protect her child.
Mrs. Pappenberger stared at Maya, her ice-blue eyes cool and impassive. “No,” she said, sounding almost disappointed. “Not today. Today, you will take young Ms. Rao home, as she is suspended from school for five days per school policy in these cases. We will be in touch with you regarding the legalities.” She shuffled and stacked some papers to indicate that the meeting was over, releasing Maya and Samantha from the now-stifling air of the office.
Mother and daughter were in shocked silence as Samantha gathered her things from her locker. The tension in the air followed them outside, where even the bright sun seemed to mock them.
“Talk to me.” Maya was calm but firm. They should walk a bit before returning to the roastery. Her mother could handle things there for a while.
“Brittany put that pot in my locker, I know it!” Samantha’s brown eyes filled with fire, and instantly reminded Maya of Samantha’s father.
It wasn’t the first time Maya had seen Sam Hutcherson in her daughter. She ignored the hiccup in her heartbeat. Flour and eggs. She dismissed the thought almost as quickly as it came. Almost.
“I’m sure they have cameras that can show—”
“Mom!” Samantha screeched. “Didn’t you hear Mrs. P? Brittany is aStevenson. The only reason she even got into trouble for shoplifting last time was because that shop owner had no idea who her mom was.” She wiped her eyes and softened. “It doesn’t matter what the cameras show.”
“So you hit her? What does that solve?”
“Nothing—I know! But she can’t keep getting away with that! Brittany has been trying to get me expelled since the whole shoplifting thing.” Samantha’s righteous fury petered out, and her voice became very small. “Why did I ever think I needed to be friends with her, anyway?”
Maya inhaled as deeply as she could, the crisp, cool air clearing her head. “Do you understand that her parents are going to press assault charges? And the school might expel you? These people have influence that I don’t.”
Fear filled Samantha’s eyes and shook her voice. “You’re not going to let them put me in jail, are you?”
“Oh, honey, of course not!” Maya stopped and pulled her daughter into a tight hug. “I believe you. And I’ll do whatever I have to.” Her heart fell even further into her belly as she realized exactly what she needed to do.
