That wasn’t true, but I was trying to get into their good graces, after all, so I felt the need to add that in.
“Faculty?”
Mercedes’ father asked, drawing all of our attention to him. “Can you back up what Isaiah is saying? Mercedes has told me a little about their new student. It is on par with what the headmaster has said. She also said that Gemma was very quiet and, overall, a nice girl. I would like to hear your comments, though.”
I glanced down to the benefactor, to see what his opinion on the matter was, but he was out cold. Mouth open and everything. I suppressed a laugh.
Each of the teachers shared looks again and nodded amongst one another. Mrs. Fitz was the first to speak.
“Gemma is a wonderful addition to our school. She is sweet and smart, from what I gather, and an amazing artist. I don’t see her becoming swayed by Mr. Underwood at all. She is too focused on her studies—on art, to be exact.”
Mrs. Dunes spoke next. “She is very mature. Well beyond her years. Attentive in class.”
Mercedes’ father garnered our attention again, his brows lowered. “Okay, so she has agreed to tutor you. But why?”
I sighed. “It’s simple, really. She’s just…nice.” I was totally fucking lying out of my ass. I mean, I was certain Gemma was nice. She seemed to have a caring, nurturing side about her, but that wasn’t at all how the conversation went down when I’d asked her to tutor me in the first place. Granted, I had asked her to lie for me and to cover my ass too, but that was beside the point.
“You mean to tell me…you asked her to take time away from her own studies and free time, and she just…agreed. Just like that?”
“Yes,” I deadpanned. “They’ll tell you.” I nodded my head to the teachers. “Gemma is nice. There’s no other way to say it. I told her I needed help getting my grades up and asked for her help, and she said okay. As simple as that.”
Mr. Cunningham nodded. “She is a sweet girl. She helped me pick up the books I’d dropped the other day when every other student laughed—your children included. And then, she called me sir afterwards, as if I had done her the favor.”
The other teachers were all commenting on how nice and sweet Gemma was when the benefactor let out a loud snore. I laughed under my breath, and then it seemed the conversation began to shift.
“Okay, fine. That’s settled, then. We will give you a month to get your grades up.”
Thank fuck.
“Hold on now,” Mercedes’ father interrupted Abby’s mother who was very much ready to get out of the meeting. “What about your behavior? That is more of a concern of mine than your grades. Mercedes tells me all that goes on in the school, and you are always the star of the story.”
I highly doubted Mercedes told him much of anything. Or maybe she told him about the things that didn’t involve her. Mercedes wasn’t necessarily a rule-breaker, but she wasn’t a saint either.
Sighing internally, I put on a fake face and acted apologetic for the first time in my entire life. “Listen, I know I’ve been nothing but a nuisance to you and the rest of the SMC since attending St. Mary’s, and I understand I have burned most of my bridges with you all.” I glanced down to the table and then back up to the faces staring at me. “But—”
“But he understands that this is his last chance at redemption. Most of his time will be accounted for. School during the day, lacrosse afterwards, tutoring in the evenings. Isaiah and I had a long talk, and he is aware that this is the last straw, and he didn’t like the alternative.”
My uncle was right. I didn’t like the alternative, but neither one of us could come out and say what that alternative was to the SMC. None of them knew what the Covens was or who my father truly was—at least I hoped not.
There was a long pause on the computer as the SMC took in what my uncle was saying. Most of their eyes swung toward me, and for once, I didn’t wear a mask. I didn’t try to hide my desperation or cover it up with a smug grin. I showed them that I was serious, because truthfully, I was.
Ms. Glenburg said I didn’t have a choice in anything except my behavior, but she was wrong. I didn’t even have that choice. My father’s threat was as clear as the water in the Maldives. I either did my job or Jack would suffer the repercussions. That wasn’t much of a choice, was it?
“One month for an improvement in grades,” my uncle stated, pulling the computer to face him. “And no more excuses for behavior. No more fighting. No more sneaking out of the school or into the girls’ hallway. No more ditching class.”
Someone from the computer said, “And no more seducing teachers.”
The benefactor had woken up at some point, and the old, gray-haired man snorted in amusement, which truly didn’t help matters.
“Yes, and no more seducing teachers.” My uncle caught my eye over the computer and gave me a look.
I threw my hands up with mock innocence. “No more seducing teachers. Got it.” My eyes briefly caught Mrs. Dunes, and her round cheeks were a bit redder than before. I bit the inside of my cheek to hold in a laugh so I didn’t blow my last chance with the SMC.
“We will have another meeting in one month, Isaiah. Prove to us that we didn’t just make a mistake by not expelling you due to your uncle’s convincing—again.”
“Yes, sir,” I replied coolly, standing up and pushing my chair out from the table. “If we are done here”—I began adjusting my tie—“I need to get to breakfast if I want to be on time for class—something Mrs. Dunes will probably appreciate.”
“Yes, yes.” My uncle waved his hand out. “Go.”