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The Lady Panthers finished their regular season 16 and 2 and in third place—not too shabby for any other school in the state. The girls were devastated. The boys’ team went undefeated and took every chance to rub the girls’ faces in it. When this happened, the girls blamed MacKenzie.
MacKenzie didn’t seem to care. She had replaced basketball with karate—and Noah. At first, it seemed they were just friends, just Jesus pals, but it soon became evident that there was more to it than that. Noah walked around school with a new glow, and MacKenzie was positively swooning.
On the morning of February 15, three days before February vacation and basketball playoffs, MacKenzie and Noah met Emily at the door to her classroom.
“Good morning!” Emily said brightly, sincerely delighted to see two of her favorite young faces.
The enthusiasm wasn’t reciprocated.
“What’s wrong, guys?”
MacKenzie swallowed, then looked at Noah, who nodded solemnly. MacKenzie looked at Emily again. “I need to talk to you.”
“Of course, come on in.”
MacKenzie looked into the classroom, where Thomas and Chloe sat staring out at them.
“Alone?” MacKenzie added.
“OK.” Emily looked at Thomas and Chloe. “Sorry, guys. Can you give us a minute?”
Chloe got up silently, but then looked at MacKenzie suspiciously as she walked past. Thomas made a big show of groaning about his displacement but went willingly enough. Emily, MacKenzie, and Noah entered the classroom, and Noah shut the door behind them. Emily glanced back at him in surprise. He looked both terrified and determined.
“What is it, guys? You’re freaking me out.”
MacKenzie looked at Noah again. He nodded again. MacKenzie took a deep breath. “So, I think I know something. Actually, I know that I know it. And I told Noah, and he”—she looked at him again for reassurance, which he provided—“insisted we tell someone. And well, we couldn’t think of anyone else to tell.”
Emily took off her coat and hung it beside her desk. Then she sat down and looked up at them. “Why don’t you guys sit down?”
MacKenzie sat on the other side of the desk. Noah stood behind her and put his hands on her shoulders.
Emily felt impatience welling up inside her. “Well?”
“You might think I’m crazy, but Milton is”—her voice cracked and she suddenly looked scared. Noah squeezed her shoulders—“Milton is sleeping with Lexi.”
Emily was certain she had misunderstood. She knew Milton was something of a slimeball, but this?
“He’s having sex with her. Has been, for I don’t know how long.” MacKenzie paused. “You don’t believe me, do you?”
“Hang on.” Emily held up a hand. “Just give me a second to absorb this. I don’t not believe you. I just need a second to process. This is a serious accusation, and if it’s true, which I’m not saying it isn’t, but if it’s true, we need to respond wisely. First, how do you know this?”
MacKenzie looked over her shoulder at Noah. He nodded again. “She got drunk on Saturday night, after the Temple game, and she told me...” MacKenzie seemed to sense doubt from Emily. “Yes, I was at a party, but I wasn’t drinking! And yes, she was drunk, but it’s true—I know it is. I’ve had this feeling for a very long time that something wasn’t right. I just didn’t know for sure what it was. And it’s not just Lexi. I think it might be Victoria too.”
“Victoria?” Emily exclaimed. She was only a freshman. Lexi, a senior, was disturbing enough, but a freshman? Somehow that seemed way more horrific. And more than one girl? This was no inappropriate romance. This was something far darker. “Why do you think that about Victoria?”
“He treats her differently. Like he does Lexi. He touches her a lot. Rubs her shoulders. Whispers in her ear.” MacKenzie shuddered. “If he’s not sleeping with her yet, he wants to be.”
“OK,” Emily said.
“OK?”
“Yep. I’ll tell who needs to be told.”
“That’s it?” MacKenzie looked hopeful.
“I’m sure that’s not it. But that’s where it will start.”
“Will anyone know?”
Emily thought she might cry. “I’m afraid people will know. I hate for these girls to be embarrassed, but—”
“No, I mean, will people know that I’m the one who told?”
“Oh ... yes. I think people will probably know that too.” Emily leaned toward her students. “But, MacKenzie, you are not alone in this. You have done the right thing. Whether or not this is true, I need you to hear me on this. You have done the right thing.” Emily looked into her eyes, trying to convey her absolute certainty of this fact.
MacKenzie held her gaze, but she didn’t look convinced.
