“Class starts in two minutes,” he calls after me, but I ignore him and go to the principal’s office. There’s only one way to settle this, and I’m not about to take “no” for an answer.
I make my way down the hall. Jared and Timothy seem to realize that I’m going to do something stupid and they start chasing after me. Mr. Wilson doesn’t bother following me, which is just as well. What’s he going to do, anyway?
“What are you thinking?” Timothy says, catching up with me.
“Dude, what are you going to do?” Jared asks.
“Something I should have done a long time ago,” I say. I stop and turn to them. “I’m turning myself in.”
Timothy pales.
“You can’t.”
“They won’t let you play.”
“The team will lose.”
“It’s suicide.”
“I don’t care,” I tell them honestly. “She’s more important. What I did to her was completely unfair and wrong. I ruined her chances of doing well on the test.”
“Nobody knows it was you, man,” Timothy says.
“You’ve already gotten away with it,” Jared agrees. “You’re home free.”
“No,” I shake my head. “I’m not home free. I’m not even sort of free. No matter what happens, I know what I did, and that’s terrible enough. I know that I ruined her chances. I know I horrified her. I know I bullied her. That’s enough to get me expelled, yeah, but I’ll figure something out. I’m not going to let her take the punishment for my actions.”
Without another word, I turn and push open the door to the principal’s office. His secretary looks up at me and frowns, but she seems to realize something is wrong because she peeks behind me to see both Timothy and Jared completely freaking out.
“Mr. Reynolds, I don’t belie
ve you have an appointment.”
“I don’t,” I tell her. “May I please speak with the principal? I can wait.”
She looks at me in surprise, but pushes a button and picks up her phone. She calls into his office, says a few words, and then hangs up.
“Go on in,” she says. “He’ll see you now.”
“Thank you very much,” I tell her, and I head into his office. When I place my hands on the door to push it open, I’m very aware of what I’m doing. I know exactly what move I’m making and I know how this is going to play out: badly.
I’m about to confess to a expulsion-worthy offense.
And I’m going to do it because the woman I love doesn’t deserve to suffer.
I’m going to do it because I do love her.
Now’s my first chance to show her exactly that, and I’m not going to fuck it up. I’ve made more than enough mistakes in my life. This won’t be another one.
“Mr. Reynolds,” Principal Davis looks up as I enter his office. “What a surprise. Please, have a seat.”
I sit down across from him and fold my hands in my lap.
“To what do I owe the pleasure?” He asks politely, but we both know this isn’t pleasurable. Not by any stretch of the imagination.
“I need to talk to you about something.”
“I’m listening,” he folds his hands and sets them on his desk. Principal Davis gives me his full attention, which is what I need right now.