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I feel like I’m going to pass out again.
“Did you do this on purpose?” Mom asks. Her voice is cutting.
“Why would I—?”
“Because you were never happy about being nominated in the first place,” she says. “You sabotaged your own chances in hopes that you’d lose your nomination.” Mom grabs her hair into tight fists. She doesn’t even ask me, she just assumes.
My mouth opens but my tongue is all twisted.
“Do you know what I think? I think you resent the fact that your father and I pulled some strings to get you nominated. And now you’re just trying to embarrass us as payback.”
I look up into Mom’s face. Her perfect pink lips are resting in a stern line.
“So, itwasyou?” I ask quietly.
Mrs. Reyes grabs Mom’s arm, but she pushes her off.
“Of course, it was us,” she sighs. “You certainly weren’t going to campaign for yourself. It was our last-ditch effort to get you into the spotlight. We had this whole plan laid out, and now everything is ruined.” Mom begins crying. But she still manages to force her disappointment on me, between sobs.
“The principal wants to see your dad and I. Our jobs might be on the line. Are you happy?”
My eyes burn as the tears flood down my face. But I can barely feel it over the pain of my stinging heart. Mom’s words cut me to my very core. I suspected the nomination came from them. But hearing it straight from Mom’s own mouth solidifies the truth. I am such a huge disappointment to my parents that they put their jobs on the line to make me more like them.
Mom crashes down on the couch beside me. “What am I going to do about this, Mary? How am I going to do damage control?”
Mrs. Reyes opens her mouth to speak when suddenly the door to the office bursts open. The principal is standing there. His face is easy to read. I can see the murder burning in his eyes.
“My office. All of you. Now.”
Now mom’s face looks scared. I glance at Mrs. Reyes, who seems to have shrunken in confidence. I roll over and get to my feet. I follow Mom down the hall, pausing just outside the door.
I look up at Mr. Dickson again. He’s waiting for me with his hand held out toward his office. I force my feet forward and step inside. Despite the windows, his office seems dark and depressing, like a prison cell. Another woman, whom I don’t recognize, is seated in front of the principal’s desk. She has very short, spiked blonde hair and is wearing a bright purple top. She looks like she might have stepped out of a time machine from the nineties and gotten lost. I take the seat beside her. “I’m sorry, Emma,” she says, patting my arm.
“Umm thanks,” I say.
Mom and Mrs. Reyes take the other two seats.
Mr. Dickson is still standing, holding the door open. I’m not sure what he’s waiting for. He’s not sending the police in too, is he? I promise I’ll leave the school without putting up a fight. He doesn’t need to get the authorities involved.
Just when I think things can’t get any worse, my dad walks in. My heart jumps into my throat. I can feel the sweat beading on my brow. I changed my mind. I’d rather deal with the police.
Dad stands behind Mom, resting his hands on the top of her chair.
“Would you like a seat, Coach?”
Dad shakes his head. “No thanks, I’m good.”
Mr. Dickson nods and closes the office door. The loud click makes me jump. The principal walks across the room and takes the big chair behind his desk.
I glance around. Just little old me and five adults. Five very upset looking adults. I try and swallow, but my throat is so dry, I just end up coughing.
“Emma, this is Mrs. Pope. She is the advisor over stage crew.” Mr. Dickson points at the strange woman who apologized to me. She offers me a sweet smile, but I notice her avoiding eye contact with either of my parents. “She was in charge of overseeing the assembly today. The lights, the sound, and the uh,” he clears his throat. “The…unfortunate video.”
My parents both shift, but keep their steely eyes on the principal straight ahead.
“Mrs. Pope and I just had a long talk about the videos that were submitted for today’s assembly. She said your video was turned in late last night by one of her stage crew students, Aiden Cole. Do you know him?” he asked. “Is he a friend of yours?” Mr. Dickson stared down at me. Was he actually getting bigger? Or am I shrinking now? Maybe shrinking wouldn’t be too bad. Then I could sneak out of this room without anyone seeing me. I realize Mr. Dickson is still waiting for a response.
I shake my head. I honestly have no idea who Aiden is. Who was this kid? Why would he do this to me? Then something clicks in my brain. Cole? Could he possibly be related to Taylor Cole? The same Taylor Cole who has had it in for me since I got nominated? The same Taylor Cole who is friends with most of the people from the ice cream shop last night? The ice cream shop where my phone disappeared?
