“They’re…” I look at Bullshit, who stares back at me like he couldn’t care less about my existence. He meows again. “… okay, I guess.”
Bullshit hops off Terrell suddenly, and I jump again.
“I think you could grow to like him,” he tells me as the cat saunters off. I swear I see a smirk on its furry face.
Bullshit.
Tuesday
The stares aren’t as annoying as they usually are when I enter school. But that could also be because all the lights are off.
In fact, the majority of students hardly seem to notice me as I walk through the hallway. Most are distracted by the lack of light, and others are focused on Chiamaka, standing next to my locker. She’s holding this ugly green bag and a Starbucks cup, with her straight brown hair pushed back by a matching green headband.
When I get to her, the focus shifts to me. My heartbeat increases but I pull my shoulders back, trying to show them they can’t get to me.
“Can I help you?” I ask Chiamaka, who still hasn’t moved. The overhead lights suddenly blink back on. Chiamaka winces when shesees my face properly in the light. I can imagine how my face looks, what with all the bruising.
“I just wanted to tell you that I told Headmaster Ward about Aces and their lies and practical jokes… so this should all be over soon,” she says quietly.
She looks up at me, her deep-brown eyes filled with certainty.
I can’t help but laugh. I haven’t heard this much crap in such a long time.
“You think Headmaster Ward is really gonna help us?” I ask, because I’m genuinely perplexed. She looks at me strangely, and I think it’s because I can’t stop smiling.
“Yes, of course he will.”
“Wow. Okay.”
She shakes her head. “He only wants what’s best for the student body; you’ll see that in the prefect meeting today.”
I’ve been trying not to think about that meeting. It means more time trapped in Caucasian-ville.
“Okay, Chiamaka,” I say, purposely looking between her body and my locker, hoping she’ll get the hint and move.
She stays, staring at me for a while—I swear there’s a flash of something I’d describe as almost human behind her eyes. Then she finally moves to go.
“Wait,” I say.
She turns back. “What?”
“I think you need to be careful,” I say, and I’m not sure why. I just don’t like how trusting she is of Headmaster Ward. This is the same guy who looks like he dismembers cats for fun.
“I don’t need protection. You think lies can affect me, Richards?”
I think we both know they aren’t lies.
Her eyes plead with me.
I shake my head instead. She looks relieved, probably because I didn’t challenge that.
She gives me a tight smile. “Good. I think I’ve wasted enough time talking to you now. Goodbye.”
And then she’s gone.
I finally open my locker, rummaging through all my crap to find my notepad for AP English and my music sheets. I notice the glimmer of something at the back, purple and silver.
A USB stick?
