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But to what end?
“He was concerned, Kennedy. We both are. Look, there’s still a few weeks until your birth
day, if you need to—"
“I’m fine,” I say firmly, not liking where this conversation is headed.
Henderson won’t call the authorities, not if it means Child Services swoops in on the school. So the fact that he’s even suggesting it puts me on edge.
“You’ll be staying with the Kravens?”
I nod, squirming in my seat.
“Very well. But I want you to know my door is always open. Or you can speak to Mrs. Farn, the guidance counselor.”
“Thanks,” I force out, because there’s no way I’m heading to the guidance counselor’s office anytime soon. “Can I go now?”
He steeples his fingers, regarding me for a second. I think he’s going to say something else, but at the last second he lets out a long breath.
“Get out of here. Just promise me you’ll remember what I said.”
I grab my bag and stand. “I will.”
My gaze lingers for a second on the man who means well but doesn’t have any idea what it’s like to be a teenager growing up in the Heights.
He watches me walk out of his office for what we both know will be the last time.
“Kennedy, over here,” Levi calls across the cafeteria. The place is a goddamn zoo. Someone has hooked their cell phone to a mini speaker, blasting music into the room. There’s a thin haze of smoke coming from the far corner over by the huge sash windows, and the smell of days old meatloaf permeates the air.
Before attending Sterling Prep, this place was all I knew. I mean, we were all aware of the rich, prissy school in the Bay, but we didn’t know.
Now that I’ve experienced it, I realize that the education system is failing here, letting kids run supreme with little respect for the rules and regulations. Teachers would rather turn a blind eye than try to actually do their job. It’s a joke. One that’s going to bind most of the kids here to this life... this place.
I ignore Levi, following Shelbie to the lunch line.
“I heard she came crawling back.” The girls behind me don’t even bother trying to be discreet. “Warren told Kevin she cheated on him.”
“Is that why she left?”
“I don’t know. But I can’t believe he’s taken her back. She’s not even that pretty.”
My head whips around, staring down the ringleader. Tamsin Becker, junior and wannabe Queen Bee smirks at me. “Oh hey, Kennedy, didn’t see you there.”
Like fuck she didn’t.
Her friends all stifle their giggles.
I dig my nails into my palm, forcing myself to calm down. Heights High and Sterling Prep might be worlds apart, but their brand of bitch is still the same.
“Relax, Kenny, she’s not worth it,” Shelbie whispers in my ear as I continue to glare at Tamsin.
“Something you want to say to me?” I grit out.
She thinks she knows me. She thinks I’m just some girl who dared hurt a guy like Warren. She doesn’t know. Even though she’s seen me around school countless times sporting a bruise or two, wearing a ball cap pulled down low over my face, it’s easier to label me the bad guy than accept what’s staring her in the face.
The way women put other women down sometimes is sickening.
My body trembles as Tamsin and her friends continue gawking at me.
