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Taryn
OF COURSE, MR. ELDRIDGE is away, so I end up waiting outside Madame Cachelle’s office for her to return from whatever class she’s teaching.
“I know who’s sending the messages,” I say the moment she is here. “The ones that the police are investigating. Because it’s not just messages, and it’s not aimed at Jaidev. It’s aimed at me.”
She stares at me, her eyes wide.
“I’ve been targeted,” I say. “Had things stolen, things vandalized. And I’ve got proof. It’s Victoria. Possibly Marion, too. Maybe Harry? Those three seem to be good friends.”
Madame Cachelle holds her hands up and tells me to calm down. “Deep breaths, my gem. Now, come and take a seat and tell me everything, starting at the beginning.”
I do, and I tell her everything. Even about what happened in the common room, the outing of my sexuality, and Victoria’s too. Peter’s words. Freya’s. The muscles around Madame Cachelle’s mouth tighten but she says nothing, just waits for me to finish.
And when I do, this feels like a relief. Like all of this will be over now, because it has to be—well, the stuff with Victoria, anyway. And there’s going to be some sort of punishment for Peter’s and Freya’s words about asexuality and how so many of the others laughed. Not to mention Victoria and I were outed. But even if Freya and Peter are asked to leave immediately or something, not everyone who laughed will be. People will still know, still be whispering.
“Thank you, Taryn,” Madame Cachelle says. “We will sort this.”
###
I GO TO MY ROOM BECAUSE I can’t face going back to the common room—and that’s when I find Jaidev outside. Waiting for me.
“Are you okay?” His eyes hold concern. Make him look worried and tender.
I nod.
He’s massaging his hand.
“Did you get in trouble?” I ask. “For punching Peter?”
He shakes his head. “Well, not yet.”
“You should ice that though.” A hand injury is all we need. Especially when we’ve got our final assessment on August 26th, at the end of the eighth week of training. We’ll be dancing in a full performance of the ballet, a week before the tour starts that will decide if we’re in it. In the company. And this assessment is in exactly one month’s time.
Jaidev nods. “The canteen?”
I let out a small smile. “I was thinking more about the nurse’s office. Or Ross. He’s the physio.”
“Ah.”
We stand and turn around, heading to the exit of the dorms.
“Are they all talking about me?” I ask.
Jaidev’s eyes do a little darting motion as he looks at me and then past me. “They are talking,” he says. “But after you left, it really died down. Ivelisse had a big go at Peter, told everyone his secret too and that definitely took the attention off you.”
“His secret?”
“He has a stuffed toy that he still sleeps with.”
I don’t like the idea of anyone being shamed for that, but I also don’t like Peter. I smile a little. The thought of people laughing at him, focusing on him rather than me, does make me feel a lot better.
“That way,” I say, pointing to the right as we exit the building.
The night is dark now, cold—but there are people. Madame Cachelle and Mr. Aleks and two police officers.
And Victoria.
“I didn’t do anything!” Victoria screams. “This is ridiculous! You’re taking the word of her over...” She sees me.
I freeze. Jaidev steps closer to me.
“You better stop lying and tell them the truth,” she says. “Because this wasn’t me. And I haven’t done a single thing to you.”
“Everyone heard you being mean to me,” I say. “And you really expect me to believe someone else hates me too?”
“Well, they clearly do. And what I was saying was nothing. We always give new recruits a hard time. Ask anyone.”
“Victoria, it’s over,” Jaidev says.
She laughs. “Is it?” Her gaze is cold and steely, like she’s boring a hole into me.
I shudder, stepping back against Jaidev, and then Victoria lunges at me.
The officers and Madame Cachelle move to grab her, but she spits in my face.
I freeze, rooted to the spot, feeling the way her saliva clings to my face.
Something hot and angry rises up inside me.
“Now we can get you for assault, too,” an officer says, and he pulls her back.
“Let’s go,” Jaidev says, his voice all dark.
I let him lead me away, and I know it’s going to be better now. All of this bullying is over.