callan
Shit had hit the fucking fan after school yesterday. Blaise had been taken to the police station to be questioned by police who were trying to frame this on him. Redwood girls were gossiping nonstop about him. And I had barely been able to talk to Sakura for twenty-four hours, only a few words in class.
I ran my hand through my hair and hurried toward lunch period.
From what I had gathered last night from Lucas before I killed him, the police were trying to blame Blaise Harleen for this because his father had slept with the police chief’s wife. Too much fucking drama for me. But I wasn’t going to be a dick about it.
Whatever had happened, I needed to protect Blaise and his girl. Because this shit was getting messy, and now that I had become aware of what they were doing with girls at Redwood, I wouldn’t let Blaise take the blame for this or let his girl fall into their hands.
Without Blaise to protect her, Vera was in danger.
And Skylar’s friends were vicious creatures who’d do anything to hurt her too.
To my surprise, the first floor was eerily quiet. Then, I heard it—Vera defending Blaise.
“That’s because he’s been with me,” Vera said from the cafeteria, her voice drifting down the halls. “He was at the library with me on Saturday night and went out for milkshakes with me on Sunday. Blaise Harleen is innocent.”
“You’re lying,” someone said back to her, and I picked up my pace. I needed Vera to stay out of this mob business. “Blaise would never take you out on a date or hang out with someone like you. He was only around Skylar. They spent every night together.”
“I’m not lying. I have proof.”
“Then, where is it?” There was a pause. “So? Where is it?”
“I swear. I swear, we were together. You’ve seen us hanging out at lunch. Some of you have seen us in the hallways,” Vera stuttered, and I jogged a few feet to the cafeteria door to get her out of this complete mess.
I cleared my throat as I hurried in. “You’re right,” I announced to the students. I draped my arm around her shoulders in the nice, caring teacher kind of way. “Vera doesn’t know what she’s talking about. She’s been under a lot of stress in my class lately.”
“But—” Vera started.
Because we both knew that she wasn’t in my class.
“I know today has been hard on you all, so finish up your lunch,” I said, guiding her toward the exit of the cafeteria, my grip on her shoulder tightening, my fingers digging into her muscle. I spotted Sakura sitting alone at a table, eyes wide. “I’ll bring Vera to the nurse.”
“Wh-what are you doing?” Vera asked, furrowing her brow once we stepped out of the cafeteria. She tried to stop, but I continued to push her along toward my classroom. “I’m not in your class.”
When we reached my room, I guided her in and closed the door behind us. “You can’t say shit like that aloud to the entire school,” I said, clenching my jaw and staring over her shoulder at the door’s window. “Bad people are trying to pin this on Blaise, and I doubt that he would want you to get involved.”
“Bad people?” she whispered, eyes widening. “Like … like who?”
“I can’t tell you,” I said. “Let me figure this out. Stay under the radar.”
“No, I’m already part of this. I don’t want anything to happen to him.”
“Nothing will.”
“Nothing will?!” she asked, throwing her hands up into the air. “They’re trying to blame her death on him. The police want him in jail.”
“I’ll take care of it,” I repeated.
“How?”
She had so many questions, and I couldn’t answer any of them.
“That’s none of your business,” I said.
“But what are you—”
Before she could say another word, someone opened the door behind us. João Rocha stood at the door and stormed into the room.
After eyeing me, João snatched Vera’s elbow and tugged her to his side. “You’re coming with me,” he said through clenched teeth, dragging her out of the room.
“Wait, stop! What are you doing? I need to ask him questions. Mr. Avery—”
“No more questions,” João growled, harsher than usual. “None for him.”