"You done?" I ask, looking at him then to Kade, who is grinning, but Grayson doesn't smile. His hand moves suddenly and his chair jerks just enoughto make me jump and throw me off balance, but a hand, steady and firm, pushes me back ensuring I don't fall out of my seat and, for a second, I think he saved me from embarrassment but his grip tightens, making me wince.
"Careful," he whispers. "You break too soon… where's the fun in that?" Then he lets go and I slowly turn to face forward, my fingers curling against the desk. I see Grayson sit back in his seat out of my peripheral. It's sad that Kade is nothing but a lap dog doing his master’s dirty work.
“Ms. Hale. The dean would like a word,” the professor calls out, interrupting my thoughts. My heart drops in my chest.Fuck!Laughter ensues around me, and I roll my eyes.
“Oooo the dean wants to see you,” Grayson taunts, making everyone laugh.
“I wonder if he wants a taste too of the Hungry Hungry Hippo,” one of the guys adds, and the professor does nothing. She doesn’t quiet down the room or scold them for the taunts. She just sets her things down and watches as I leave. Holding my books to my chest, I exit the classroom and walk towards the dean's office, trying not to cry. I need to keep it together. I have no idea why the dean would want to see me. My hands shake, and my chest tightens the closer I get.
Opening the door, I step inside, and the secretary smiles at me.
“Go ahead dear. He’s waiting for you,” she states, gesturing towards his office. I walk around her desk and into his office, where he is sitting, looking through what I assume is my file. I lightly knock on his door, and he looks up, taking off his glasses and gesturing to the seat across from him.
“Have a seat, Ms. Hale. Do you know why I called you in today?” he asks as I take a seat. I shake my head, and he nods.
“There’s a very questionable video of you with another student going around and we don’t tolerate that here at Lockridge University,” he says, eyeing me.
“I understand, sir,” I say, looking away from him.
“That’s strike one, Ms. Hale. You get three then your scholarship will be revoked,” he states, and I nod again.
“I understand. It will never happen again,” I answer.
“Very well. Other than that, how are you liking school so far?” he asks, and I shrug.
“It’s okay,” I answer, and he raises a brow.
“Just okay? Here at Lockridge we pride ourselves with sports over academics as you can see. Are yougoing to try out for Field Hockey? I see in your file you were on the varsity team in high school.”
“I might. My advisor said I should when try outs start,” I answer, and he smiles.
“Very well. If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to come see me about it.” He winks, and I immediately want to crawl into myself. He’s watched the tape, and now I just want to throw up.
“Okay. I will,” I answer.
“Oh, one more thing. I heard you are tutoring Kade Langley. How is that going?” he asks.
“It’s going fine. We work together pretty well,” I say, and he nods.
“He’s a good kid. I go way back with his father. Are his friends treating you well?”
“Yes, sir,” I answer.
“Okay, this came for you,” he states and slides a letter across his desk. I furrow my brows as I pick up the envelope with my name scribbled on it.
“Thank you.”
“You are dismissed, Ms. Hale,” he tells me, and I stand from the chair and exit the office. I could kill Kade. I don’t care that someone else leaked the tape. He should’ve never fucking recorded it, especially without my consent.Fucking asshole.
The rest of the day is the same as this morning. I’m fucking emotionally drained from all the name-calling. So, instead of going to tutoring, I decide to go to my room and take a nap.Fuck this school and fuck Kade.I’m at the point now that I'd rather go back to my dingy apartment and be alone, away from here. I still haven’t read the letter the Dean gave me. I don’t know what it could be, and I’m too afraid to open it. Although I can feel it staring at me, taunting me to open it. So, I let my impulses take over and throw the blanket off of me. Ugh. I get out of bed and walk over to my desk, lifting the black envelope. I flip it over, really feeling the weight of it in my hands. I gasp as I look at my name in my father's handwriting.What the fuck?
Knocking on my door makes me jump out of my skin, but I’m too focused on what’s in my hands to care or be bothered to answer.Why does this have my name on it in my father’s handwriting?My hands shake, and my heart beats out of my chest as the knocking gets louder and louder. I'm frozen in this spot. I can’t even open it, just seeing his handwriting after all this time brings tears to my eyes. I miss him so much. I just wish it were me instead of him in that car wreck. He didn't deserve to die and leave this world, he was too good a man and a father. He truly was the best dad.
“Are you sure you want to attend Lockridge next year?” my father asks as I sit at my desk, filling out the application.
“Yes, Dad. Can we afford it?” I ask, and he rolls his eyes.
“You don’t need to worry yourself about that. Wherever my princess wants to go, she will go,” he states, kissing my forehead.
