Chapter 4
"Let me be clear: your guaranteed spot for graduate school has been officially revoked. Your parents need to come to the school as soon as possible to assist with the investigation," my advisor said.
"Regardless of the outcome, our school will never allow a student with such disgraceful behavior to remain enrolled here," he added.
I stared at him in shock, never thought he'd play favorites with Sunny, just throwing the rules out the window.
"This goes against school rules," I said.
The counselor scoffed. "I'm the rule around here. What I say goes. You don't have a choice, whether you like it or not."
"Ethan, you always act so high and mighty. Look at you now—still gotta bow your head, huh?"
Alex's face softened a bit. Cradling my shattered phone, he hesitantly held it out to me.
"Ethan, here's your phone," he said.
Just as I was about to take it, he suddenly looked up at me with a sly grin. On purpose, he ran his finger right along the crack in the screen, leaving a fresh scratch.
Alex yelped, "Ah!"
A bead of blood welled up on his fingertip. He jerked his hand back, his eyes immediately filling with tears.
Sunny's face changed in a flash. She shoved me hard into the doorframe and yelled, furious, "Ethan, you did that on purpose, didn't you?"
A few girls immediately closed in around me, glaring and shooting daggers my way.
"Apologize," one of them demanded.
"Yeah, apologize! You're already so cocky in front of the counselor—God knows how you bully people when no one's watching," another girl chimed in.
The counselor crossed his arms, smirking with satisfaction, loving every second of it.
Alex was sobbing, his voice shaky but every word clear. "Ethan, I just don't get why you're always against me."
"I just want everyone to see the full picture."
"If blaming me makes you feel better, then I'll accept it."
He sounded so wronged, like he was just swallowing his pride and taking it. Sunny yanked my arm, her usually calm face twisted with rage. "Apologize."
Smack!
Sunny's head whipped to the side, her cheek turning bright red. For a moment, she looked completely stunned, then her eyes widened in disbelief. "You hit me?!"
My hand was trembling from how hard I'd slapped her.
"Sunny, Alex, you really think I don't have proof?" I said.
"You think the library cameras are just decoration?"
"Your little tricks might fool these idiots, but you can't fool someone who's actually dug up the truth."
As soon as I said that, the color drained from both their faces. Alex even stumbled back a step, stunned.
The counselor scowled and barked, "Ethan, get your parents on the phone, right now. Pack your things, you're expelled. Get out of here."
I picked up my phone, shot the counselor a cold stare, then turned and walked away.
Behind me, the counselor's voice rang out, sharp and shrill. "This is outrageous! Call security and have him thrown out."
Sunny's furious voice rang out behind me.
"Ethan, you'll regret this. I'll be waiting for you to come crawling back to me."