slowburn | billie eilish

chapter eight

sage's pov:

"i really should have studied more while i was in la," i think while guessing an answer on my ap gov midterm.

biting my lip while holding my head up with my left hand, i tap my pencil on the top page of the thick test booklet in thought.

what in the world causes inflation? this seems like a basic enough question that i should know the answer to but i just don't. just print more money?

my pensive expression is wiped off my face as i hear my name on the loudspeaker. really? first day back and they already want me in the office? as if my name hasn't been spread around the school enough.

mrs. ketler tips her head up at me, signaling for me to leave, before saying, "make it quick. this doesn't excuse you from the exam."

i refrain from rolling my eyes and just start walking down there. could this be about missing the past four days? I'm pretty sure my mom cleared that with attendance. i don't know what they could possibly want me for.

my slow steps come to a cease as i approach the main office. i tap my knuckles against the door in three knocks, and not a minute later a secretary greets me at the door. she tells me to meet the principal in his office and that he's been expecting me.

as if i wasn't already nervous. expecting me? that sounds like I'm in trouble.

i walk into his room, and he signals to the chair directly in front of his desk. i sit down, and he looks at me for a brief moment before sighing. "ms. dawn, i thought you were above this."

my eyebrows furrow in confusion and i let out a "huh?"

he takes his small, dry lips between his teeth. "are you not aware of the rumors associated with your name right now?"

i inhale sharply before nodding, signaling for him to go on.

he tells me, "this is a very prestigious school, sage mclay. we can't have words like 'incest' associated with our students' names. we can't risk our reputation like that."

he used my middle name? yikes. and he surely doesn't believe that, right? a fifty-year-old man is falling for dumb high school rumors?

i don't say anything, just shaking my head in disbelief with my eyes wide.

he says, "are you hearing me? do you not understand the severity of this situation?"

i clear my throat before trying to redeem myself. "mr. lovoa, i mean this with full respect, but do you really believe those rumors? they are just rumors. i was on a trip with my mother to los angeles. she's cleared that with the office already... has she not?"

he sighs, "yes, sage, i am aware why you were gone. i just don't understand how these words got attached to your name. i'm going to have to ask you to either clear those rumors or... i don't know. i can't have my school attached to rumors like these. just- get rid of them."

i go to respond, but he interrupts me before i can do so. "just do it, alright? thanks. you can get back to your midterm now. good luck."

on my way back to the cafeteria filled with testing desks for the exam, i don't know how to feel. is he thinking about suspending me or something? because of rumors that i didn't start or have any truth in? how does he expect me to clear those on my own without assistance from superiors?

just a few minutes after i return to my desk, the bell rings and i'm forced to turn in my exam. not only was i not prepared for it, but my head has been swarming with thoughts regarding the meeting with mr. lovoa. i know i did not do well on that.

i walk to my physics classroom with music (by guess who) flowing through my ears. i'm trying to distract myself.

"hey!" is yelled into my ear before i'm roughly pushed into a locker. my nostrils flare and my eyes immediately widen in frightened surprise.

i find myself staring into jonas's angry eyes. he takes the hand he pushed me with and grabs the neckline of my tee shirt, bunching it in his grasp and keeping my body against the red locker unit.

his hand is too close to my neck. my breath hitches in my throat and i feel my heartbeat increase rapidly.

"you," he snarls, "you're the reason we lost the game on sunday. where have you been, got your tail between your legs?"

i gasp in shock, trying to push him off of me. he's in my personal space, and panic spreads across my body. with a shaky breath, i let out, "please get off of me."

he shakes his head slowly with a smirk across his lips. "no, no, i'm not letting you off this easily. you and your queer shit. you messed everything up for the whole. entire. team," he says, roughly pushing his index finger into my shoulder with each of the last three words.

i gulp.

i try to pry his hand off of my shirt and he takes my own and pins them above my head on the locker with one just one strong hand. my eyes well up with tears.

i cry, "jonas, i didn't even do anything. i didn't ask for you to get in trouble."

he laughs, "oh really? so who is the lesbian that got me in trouble if not you, hm?"

i take a deep breath, pleading once more, "please get off of me."

he leans in close to my face, his hot breath fanning across my lips. i shake my head slowly, feeling trapped.

he says, "leave westville high, dyke," before pushing me into the locker once again and finally walking away.

i wilt to the floor and place my head in my hands with my knees pulled to my chest. what the fuck just happened?

i hear giggling from above me, but ignore it until i hear the ending of a recording. i look up with teary eyes to see another boy from the team looking at his new video on his phone with pride. is this really something to be proud of? making a girl cry?

still having yet to catch my breath, i stand with wobbly legs.

what the fuck was that.

a/n:
hi guys!! billie's in the next chapter, and they'll be reunited soon dwdw. this and chap 9 were gonna be one part but i decided to make it two to make it flow a little better? idk? ANYWAYS i love you guys i hope you're having a great day.

also shoutout: i love you sm thank you for all the advice bff ashlovesbil 🥰🥰