"So that's a yes?"
"No. But that was an admirable attempt. Leave my classroom now unless you want detention too. Come back after all classes are over, and maybe I'll consider returning the phone with another kind of motivation."
I didn't even want to ask what kind of motivation she was referring to. Maybe to do her a favor, like washing her car or getting her some medicine from the hospital. I hoped it wasn't anything illegal. "There's nothing I can do right now?"
"Right now, no. Later, possibly. So don't waste your opportunity trying to convince me now."
Realizing I had no other choice at the moment, I stood up and headed for the door. But before leaving, I turned back to look at Florence one more time.
"Just do me one favor, Florence," I called her by her first name as she told me to do at the hospital if we weren't in a school setting, so she knew I was serious.
She looked up and nodded.
"Guard that phone like your life depends on it. And don't let anyone else touch it until I come back for it."
She studied me for a long moment, as if trying to understand why I seemed so terrified, then finally answered, "I promise."
CHAPTER 38
Lily
Lily: Where are you? I want to have lunch with you.
Kyle: Sorry, something came up with the boys.
Lily: Is everything all right?
Kyle: Yes, don't worry.
The whole dayhad passed peacefully, or at least that's what I kept telling myself. I won't deny that I was a little anxious in the early morning hours. But as the hours passed, everything seemed normal, and after a long time without any event, I started to believe that we really had prevented the disaster this time.
Kyle and I were supposed to have lunch together, but something had happened with his friends, and he'd had to leave abruptly. He'd seemed stressed when he texted me, but he'd assured me it was nothing serious.
So there I was, sitting by myself at our usual table.
It's not that I don't like to be alone. It's one of the things I love most about my independence in real life right now. I genuinely enjoy being alone with my thoughts, having that quiet space to process and reflect. However, these last few weeks, surrounded by my family and friends all day, have made me accustomed to always having someone around.
This silence felt strange, almost uncomfortable.
After finishing my sandwich, I decided to check the main cafeteria to see if I could at least sit with my brother or Brandy. But they weren't there either. Not even Jeremy. It was like everyone had collectively decided to skip lunch today.
Had something happened?
I pushed the thought away immediately. I'd spent the entire day deliberately avoiding negative thoughts, focusing on the positive, reminding myself that we had successfully prevented anything catastrophic. There was nothing to worry about anymore.
So why didn't I feel that way? Why did I have this persistent sense of unease, like I was missing something important?
Suddenly, I heard raised voices echoing from the hallway. My blood ran cold as I recognized one of them. I dropped everything I was holding and ran toward the commotion, my heart already racing with dread.
Brandy was in the main hallway, hitting my brother with her purse and fists while he stood cornered against the lockers, doing absolutely nothing to defend himself. He just took the punches, his expression blank and resigned.
There were students gathering around them with their phones out, eager to capture the drama for social media.
The sight of my brother being publicly humiliated while doing nothing to stop it sent me into protective overdrive. I ran over and immediately tried to separate them.
"What's going on here?" I demanded, then turned toaddress the growing crowd. "There's nothing to see here; everyone moves along."
No one paid attention to me. If anything, more people seemed to be gathering.
