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)
I sigh as I imagine myself naked in his bed with him. Someone laughs when I enter the building, but I ignore them. My watch buzzes and I slow down to look at the notification.
Lucy: How many teachers have you fucked at your new school? I have eyes everywhere. Don’t lie to me.
I yank my phone out of my purse to reply back to her.
Me: Why are you so obsessed with me? Your lies are boring. Your threats are lame. Lose my number.
I’m smirking when I toss my phone back in my purse. My watch buzzes again.
Lucy: Enjoy your fifteen minutes of fame at your new school in 3, 2, 1…
Elody pushes past me, her arms full of something, and she hisses out something rude under her breath. I grit my teeth, intent on getting to the greenhouse as quickly as I can.
And then something strange happens.
Someone tosses a handful of papers into the air. They flutter around and then more are thrown into the air. The hallway is crowded, so I can’t see who’s throwing them. I realize they’re photocopied black and white photos of what looks like the same picture.
My heart seizes in my chest.
No.
I snatch one off the person’s backpack in front of me. When I bring the photo to my face, I recognize it immediately. It’s me. It’s the picture I sent Lucy. All this time later, it continues to haunt me.
Hundreds of copies of this picture have littered the linoleum for as far as I can see. People are laughing and pointing at me. One guy asks if I want to suck his dick. A girl shoves me out of her way. Coach Long starts yelling.
I fall to my knees and scramble to snatch them up as fast as possible. Hot tears fill my eyes, and my heart is caught in my throat. My entire body shudders as I desperately try to collect them all. Sobs wrack through me.
Lucy did this. Not literally, but she was behind this.
Someone touches my shoulders and I scream, shaking them off.
“Hey, Addison, it’s me.”
As soon as I hear Theo’s voice, I turn toward him, crushing the handful of photos between us. He hugs me tight, murmuring that everything’s going to be okay. I’m not sure if that’s true. I feel so horribly violated right now.
“Get her to the office,” Coach Long orders. “We’re going to get the pictures, and I’ll find out who’s behind this.”
I want to scream that it was likely Elody, but I’m too overcome with humiliation. Theo easily hauls me to my feet but keeps me in his protective hold.
I don’t want to be here.
“Who do you want me to call?” he asks, voice low as we walk past people who are laughing.
I’m reminded of being in the office with everyone at my old school and no one believed me. My parents were embarrassed. I was ashamed.
“Addison,” Theo says again, voice firmer. “Mom or Dad?”
“Dad,” I blurt out because Mom will just make it worse.
He guides me into the office. I can feel eyes on me, but I don’t look at anyone.
“What happened?” a deep voice booms.
“Go talk to Everett. She needs a safe place right now. Close the door behind you.”
Principal Renner limps past us and then we go into his office. The door shuts behind us. Once we’re alone, Theo pulls me to his chest, hugging me so tight I can’t breathe. He kisses my head over and over again.
“I’m so fucking sorry, baby. So sorry.”
This makes me sob even more. I want to burn the photos in my grip. Everyone saw me and I hate it.
“Sit down,” he instructs. “Over here.”
Theo pulls off my purse and backpack. Once I sit down, he takes the seat beside me, scooting closer so he can keep his arms around me. I’m still clutching the photos, afraid to let them go.
“We’re going to find out who did this,” he assures me, “and they’re going to fucking pay.”
The severity in his tone makes me feel a little better. Theo knows the whole story and believes that I didn’t send nudes to Mr. Thompson. It’s relieving to have a battle partner.
Eventually, the door reopens and Principal Renner makes his way back inside. He sets down a huge stack of papers on the desk. His eyes skim over the way Theo holds me and his lips thin out.
“Mr. Langford,” he says, a warning in his voice.
Theo, reluctantly, releases me. “They’re terrorizing her. It’s unacceptable, Adam.”
“I know,” Principal Renner rushes out. “We’re going to find out who did this.”
I scramble to find my phone. Then, I show the messages from Lucy, Nick, and everyone else. Theo vibrates with anger from beside me.
“Elody is Nick’s cousin. I’m pretty sure she’s responsible for this,” I say, voice still trembling from crying. “I just want it to all go away.”