The last bell rings, and I let out a long breath. I pack my things and leave the class, heading toward the front doors when Audrey calls my name. She’s by her locker, which has bee and meme stickers all over its door.
“So because a fight happened, Mason, Adrian, and Jamie got suspended,” she says without saying hello.
I grip the straps of my bag tightly. I’m not surprised, but it feels horrible to hear Jamie was affected by this.
“Mason’s dad came to school,” she continues, looking over her shoulder. “A friend of mine volunteers at the office from time to time, and she saw him. He went to the hospital.”
“Is his stomach really ruptured?” I ask, mouth dry. God, Jamie could get arrested.
Audrey shakes her head. “Just bruised.” Her lips go into a thin line. “Even if it was ruptured, he deserves it.”
I chew on my tongue. “It’s still not good. Jamie was defending me. So the reason for their suspension was a fight? Not because of what they did? They just get away with it?”
She gives me a sad smile. “You told me they would.”
But it’s not fair, I think like a child. This whole thing isn’t fair. Were they supposed to find me? Was Jamie supposed to sit back and watch me get brutalized? Why is it when we fight back we’re the ones in the wrong? Why can’t we be angry? Why can’t I hate? Why must I swallow hit after hit and never protest? Why must I pretend that what they did wasn’t a big deal? Why are we the oppressors when we say “enough”? When Jamie says “enough”?
She closes her locker. “What are you going to do?”
I think about this. If Jamie got suspended, then my turn is next. There’s nothing to lose except all the money Baba spent. I frown, an idea blooming in my head. I have all the notes, and I’m ready for the AP exams. If I get suspended or even expelled, therecouldbe a way for me to sit for the exams, and worst-case scenario, I go to public school with the notes I have. It’s the long way around, but it’s a solution.
“You know what?” I say slowly. “I do know what I want to do.” She brightens up. “I just need to clear my head, and I’ll let you know. Can I have your number?”
Audrey grins, taking out her phone, and one second later, my phone is ringing.
“My friend who works in the office gave it to me,” she says, sticking out her tongue.
Back home, I consider calling Jamie, but I’m not sure if I should. Not sure what’s happening to him. So I settle on another message.
Me:hey. I hope you’re okay. For what it’s worth, I’m sorry I got you involved.
I sit on my bed, then tip over, hugging my knees to my chest. It was my fault. Ihavethe right to be angry, and even though Mason and Adrian got what they deserved, I dragged Jamie into this whole mess. And I don’t know how to make it right for him. Maybe I should walk into the principal’s office on Monday and take all the blame. If I get expelled, everything will go back to normal. Jamie would go back to school.
I frown, wondering why I didn’t get called into the principal’s office with him today. The whole thing happenedbecauseof me.
My phone rings, and I sit up when I see Jamie’s name flashing on the screen.
“Hello?” I say breathlessly.
“Hey. Do you think you could send me notes just this once?”
I let out a sudden laugh, and the tension eases a fraction. “I wasn’t able to concentrate on anything. But we just reviewed important chapters for the exams.”
“That’s good.”
Silence spreads between us.
“How bad is it?” I ask, dreading the answer.
“Well,” he says in a voice that feels like he’s forcing himself to be cheerful, “my parents got called in. They werenothappy. I told them the truth. Mason and Adrian were there. So were their parents. And they, of course, did not agree with the truth. They said they never laid a hand on you. Nicole backed them up, but the other girls stayed quiet.”
I make a disbelieving sound.
“Oh yeah,” he says with a hint of laughter in his voice. “I think it’s theIf she can’t have me, she’ll destroy metrope.”
“I don’t think that’s a thing.”
“It is with her. Anyway, the school has a strict no-violence policy, and I think to appease everyone, Mason, Adrian, and I got suspended.Though their suspension is just three days. Mine is indefinite because they looked messed up and I was okay.”
