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Shit… Oh my God, no. “Who else knows?” I ask, eyes wide. “Look, Chas doesn’t deserve to be punished for this. You don’t understand what her life is like…”
I don’t want to make things worse, and my eyes well with tears as I realize how messed up things are now.
“Chas, huh?” Ash looks disgusted, and I wonder if he has a problem with this because it’s Chastity. She told me that Ash was a snake in the grass and was blackmailing her, but wouldn’t tell me how or why. I thought I had more time to get her to open up to me, but now I’m realizing that our happiness always had an expiration date.
Ignoring Ash, I look at Bast for information. Bastian is oddly quiet about all this.
“How bad is it?” I ask. “I don’t want Chastity taking the blame for this. Her grandmother is already so awful to her. I just need to know what I need to do.” Bastian leans forwards, frowning.
“Tempest, there’s nothing you can do. Mother Superior knows, and she’s on the warpath. I heard Bridget bragging about how she found you, and is happy you’re getting kicked out. I don't know what is going to happen to Chastity. To be honest, I’m worried too. We wanted to warn you, so you could maybe help Chastity, however you can. Tell Mother Superior you seduced her granddaughter, maybe? I don’t know if what’s happening between you is real, or if you were experimenting with the new girl, but…”
I blink back tears as they escape, cascading down my face. “Is that really what you think? IhatedChastity, but then I realized she’s just had a really bad streak of luck. She’s amazing, and she deserves everything good.”
Dashing the tears from my cheeks, I take a step back to leave, determined to talk to Chas’ grandmother. I’ll say whatever I need to, so she’s not thrown into the fire. I’m pretty sure I’m going to be expelled either way…
“I’m going to go talk to Mother Superior. Before I go… Can I ask you for something?”
Ash snorts. “You don’t have any leverage to be asking for things right now.”
Taking a deep breath, I struggle not to drive my knee between Ash’s legs. I can’t believe Chastity may have feelings for him.
“Can you watch out for Chastity, please? I’m pretty sure there’s no hope in me staying, but you don’t understand how hard everything is for her. If I’m gone, there’s no one left to be her safe place.”
I know Chastity has made some progress with Jonas and Bastian, so I hope they’ll say yes.
“Of course,” Bastian says with a nod. “Don’t make Mother Superior have to look for you. If she’s angrier than she already is, she won’t listen to anything you have to say.”
Nodding, I whirl away, walking through the door, and swear I hear Ash mutter, “I’m so sorry.” Unable to worry about what that means, I weave through the crowds until I stand in front of Mother Superior's office. Gulping, I knock on the door.
“Come in,” Mother Superior calls out, and she really sounds like she’s in a foul mood.
Walking in, I wring my hands as I stand in front of me. “Mother Superior, I heard you wanted to speak to me, and I think I know what about. May I speak freely, please?”
She stares at me, frowning. Standing from her desk, she towers over me as she nods. “Keep it quick. I am not in the mood to listen to a monologue.”
Nodding, I say, “Of course, Mother. I understand you’re a busy woman, and I don’t want to take up too much of your time. I wanted to tell you, whatever you heard about Chastity and I, it’s my fault.” I bow my head, as if in shame. “I have a sickness, and I tempted your granddaughter. I am open to any punishment you deem necessary. But please, please, I beg leniency for your granddaughter.”
I purposefully call Chastity her granddaughter, so she’ll remember she’s supposed to love her. While I don’t feel my attraction and feelings for Chastity are wrong, I know they’ll never be accepted. Maybe it would be better if I’m banished from Holy Cross. I just have to hope that the guys step up, and Father Levi doesn’t bow to the pressure of his position.
God, please don’t let Chastity be all alone now.I quickly pray as I wait for Mother Cross to respond.
“Tempest, you’re no longer welcome here at Holy Cross Academy. Your mother has been informed, and will be here shortly to escort you off the premises.”
I wipe the tears from my eyes and glance up at Chastity's grandmother. “Please, Mother Cross. Please, let me say goodbye. She has been through so much as it is.” Her grandmother scoffs and gives me a look of disgust.
“My granddaughter is a wayward, but she was on the right path of redemption, until you came into her life and sullied her more with your wicked ways and sins. You will not have any contact with Chastity, and you most definitely will not be saying goodbye. I have sent her to repent. She will soon forget you.”
A nun I don't recognize steps into the office, and escorts me from the room. “Your things will be sent home later. We are currently packing them up,” she says.
Students turn and stare, whispering. I catch the slurs and shudder. I will take every mark the words leave, as long as they don’t touch Chastity.
“I don’t think I need to remind you, but I will anyway,” she says sternly as we walk down the stairs to the Academy, and into the entryway where someone will be picking me up. “You are not to have any communication with anyone who attends here, and your mother has been asked to take your phone and monitor your calls. Mother Superior is not someone you want to anger,” she says with a sigh. Making the sign of the cross, she whispers a prayer and goes back inside.
A familiar black car pulls up beside us on the curb, and I don’t even bother looking at my mother. It’s not like she’s ever truly been there for me. Always dropping me off into the hands of someone else.
My mother refuses to talk to me the rest of the drive home. She drops me off and tells me that she is enrolling me in online classes until she can decide what she’ll do with me.
CHASTITY
