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The week turnedinto one of the longest of my life. Each class felt like it lasted a day, and I was quickly losing my ability to fake paying attention. I should have been relieved when I got a call slip to the office during biology, but when I noticed Mr. Peter’s signature, my heart sank. Luca watched me gather my things and stand with worried eyes. I offered a smile and walked out. There was nothing else we could do. I couldn’t ignore the summons. My teacher would make me go, and if I hid in the bathroom instead, Mr. Peters would keep trying until I showed up.
I counted my inhales and exhales, fighting to stay calm as I entered the front office and went to his office. I knocked and stepped inside when he called for me to enter.
“Ms. Bradley.” He looked up at me with his charming smile. The one I now wanted to wipe off his face with a good right hook. He was a cheater. A liar. He was hurting my father, and I wanted to make him suffer.
Unfortunately, assaulting my guidance counselor wouldn’t help anything. I’d have to wait until we had a plan in place to make him pay.
His phone was sitting on the corner of the desk and my mouth went dry. Shit. Did he know? Did he suspect me? Maybe he saw me and Noah watching him and knew we’d done something.
“How are you?” he asked with so much concern I almost believed he cared.
I shrugged. “I’m fine.”
He nodded, and I waited for him to accuse me or hold up his phone and say he knew what we’d done. Instead, he rested his elbows on his desk and leaned in slightly. “Everything okay at home?”
I hadn’t expected that. I hated that, up until this weekend, I’d trusted him. I came to him last semester when things with Carter got bad. He’d helped me then. He made sure I was safe and comfortable at school. He took care of my schoolwork when I was in the hospital after my cousin, Davie, tried to drown me. I was able to relax and rest, knowing he would make sure I wasn’t falling behind.
How could this be the same man?
“Things are fine,” I lied. Except for the fact that he was basically a homewrecker. Or was my dad? Who was Juliet cheating on who with? He had to know about my dad, so how did he justify staying with her?
He knew. His eyes narrowed just a fraction, and I knew in my bones he knew I was lying.
“You can talk to me, Avalon. If anything’s going on that’s distracting you from your schoolwork, I can help.”
I shifted in my seat. I wasn’t about to scream at him that he was the problem dominating my attention.
“I know.” I lied again, but he didn’t seem to catch that one. Why was I here? He checked in on me last week because of the internship. I didn’t think I was in trouble. If he was just asking about my home life, I’d tell someone. That wasn’t appropriate.
“You failed your last world lit exam.” His bluntness caught me off guard. I’d been expecting those results but not for him to know or care.
“I didn’t finish the reading,” I admitted.
“That’s unlike you.” His eyes softened. “One of the reasons I approved the time off for the work experience was because of how well you stay on top of your grades and schoolwork despite challenges in the past.”
He was making me feel guilty, as if he had the right.
“It was just a bad weekend. It won’t happen again.”
“I hope not. Your grades are strong, and you’ll likely still finish with an A in the class, but I don’t want to see you continuing to slip. You’ll be a junior next year, and that’s when we get serious about your future prospects.” He paused, letting his words sink in. “Do you plan on attending college?”
I had no idea. Until this year, it was an easy yes, but now, I wasn’t sure. The Society changed things. If I wanted to work with them, I didn’t really have to. It wasn’t like I had a specific dream job in mind. I didn't want to be a lawyer or teacher or nurse or anything that needed a degree. Too much uncertainty hung in the air for me to know.
“Maybe.” It was the most honest I could be.
“Then you have to work hard and not let anything steal your focus. I know you have a good group of friends, but don’t let them distract you from reaching your full potential.”
I didn’t want him talking, let alone thinking, about my friends. If he was who we thought, then he was a threat to them.
“I will,” I promised. “I was disappointed with myself for forgetting to finish the reading, so it won’t happen again.”
“Good.” He grinned. “You’re free to go.”
I forced a smile and stood. A few minutes were left in class, but I didn’t feel like going back. I left the office and took a few turns in the halls to put distance between me and Mr. Liar.
I pulled out my phone and saw several texts from each of the guys. Luca told them, so they were all probably freaking out.
