Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 36551 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 146(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36551 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 146(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
“…fucked her teacher…”
I freeze when I overhear words nearby and snap my head over to a group of girls watching me with sneers. The tall one with sleek brown hair smirks at me.
“I’m Nick’s cousin, Elody.” She wriggles her fingers. “Hi, new girl.”
I reach my first hour class and shove through the door, eager to escape Elody. I knew once the secret got out, it’d be bad, but I didn’t think it would spread so fast. My breaths come out sharp and quick as I scramble to the first desk I see. It’s right in front of the teacher’s desk. The back of the classroom has already filled up and there’s only one spot open beside me.
If Elody sits there, I’m quitting school and running away.
Needing to distract myself, I text my younger brother back.
Me: Thanks. Just ran into his cousin. It’s exploding here too.
Cason: Let me know if I need to come destroy someone’s life.
I smile despite the tears threatening to fall. Cason is a Monahan, ruthless and cruel at times, but he’s also always on the hunt for a story. The FBI should hire him with his investigative skills. He’s the only one who believed me that Lucy sent the messages to Mr. Thompson, though we have no hard proof of it. When he wants to find dirt on someone, he will and won’t stop until they’re exposed. His YouTube channel is known for uncovering crazy local secrets.
Me: Is this going to mess up your YouTube stuff?
Cason: Already getting demands to reveal “the truth” about you.
Me: I’m sorry.
Cason: I can handle the trolls. Just get through your day. We can go visit Buck later. That’ll cheer you up.
He’s right. Visiting my baby nephew will make a bad day better.
I’m about to reply when a man clears his voice, making me jump.
“Put your phone away, miss. This will be your only warning. I have a strict ‘no-phones out ever’ policy for my classroom.”
A few kids snigger at me, sending a ripple of irritation down my spine. I snap my eyes up to meet the teacher’s. I don’t know why I expected to meet a similar, almost-mean looking face like Coach Long, but that’s not at all what I see. Despite the firm, no-nonsense words, the man’s face doesn’t match them. His eyes are big, bright, and green like the color of the lily pads in Dad’s backyard pond. When he notices my wet eyelashes, his lips thin out and his eyebrows furl together.
I tear my gaze from his to put my phone away and pull out my Chromebook. Brown High’s budget must be a lot lower than my old school’s because these decrepit laptops are a far cry from the MacBook Pros we had before.
Everything is so different in my life.
Even where I live now.
“I’m Mr. Langford,” the teacher says once the bell rings and everyone is seated. “As previously stated, I have a ‘no-phones out ever’ policy. It means exactly what it says it means. If I see them, you can take a walk to Principal Renner’s office for him to hold onto them until the end of the day. Three times of this and you’re spending detention with Coach Long. Four times and I call your parents. Understood?”
He seems strict but when I snare his gaze again, there’s a kindness twinkling in his eyes. I give him a small smile hoping he can tell I’m not a troublemaker.
It’s only a matter of time before he knows what happened, too…
I cringe as I think about the staff discussing me in the teachers’ lounge. It reminds me of that story we read last year in English. The Scarlett Letter. I’m wearing one and the whole world is publicly shaming me for it.
“Mr. Langford?” a guy calls out from behind me. “What if my mom needs me?”
“She’ll survive for fifty minutes,” Mr. Langford says in a dry tone. “And you are…”
“A momma’s boy!” someone calls out for him.
“Shut up, Liam,” he grumbles over his shoulder and then to Mr. Langford, he says, “I’m Zayne.”
“Okay, Zayne,” Mr. Langford continues, a smile tugging at his lips, “if you need to talk to your mom during class, you have permission to go visit Principal Renner as long as all of your work is complete.”
The class cracks up and I even manage a small chuckle.
Mr. Langford’s gaze lands on me and he studies my expression before moving on to someone else. His shoulders relax slightly and I can’t help but wonder if it’s because I no longer look on the verge of tears.
“This is Agricultural Education, an elective I’m sure you all are so pleased to be taking,” Mr. Langford teases, the corners of his eyes crinkling. “Can anyone read the classroom objectives from the syllabus?”
I glance down at my Chromebook and skim through the objectives quickly. Of course, I don’t raise my hand. The last thing I want is the entire class’s eyes on me.