𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚎 𝚋𝚎? {𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚕𝚒𝚎 𝙳𝚊𝚕𝚝𝚘𝚗}

'ᴘᴜɴɪsʜᴍᴇɴᴛ,

"What did he do?" Neil whispered, embracing me and shielding me from the curious throng. I heard whispers and guesses of what had happened. A few were normal, that I must be collecting my things after expulsion. Others, the ones often met with inane laughter, including the theory that I had sucked Mr Nolan off for a second chance. Lennox went as far as including the professors, mentioning how being passed around was the newest kink.

My eyes were dry, matching my throat. I didn't answer Neil, waiting to reach the safety of my dorm. Cameron covered me from the other side. They pushed open the door, letting me in before shutting the door behind them. Knox and Todd were already inside.

"Here," Todd sat me down on the bed, offering me two pieces of dark chocolate. "You're s— safe now."

The bitter delicacy overtook my senses, providing a distraction for a few peaceful seconds. Reality crashed down on me again when I heard the mutters from outside, they were all gathered near my door — probably listening in with their slimy ears pressed to the dull wooden door.

"Father's coming next week," I spoke in a hushed tone, staring directly at Neil. His eyes widened, "Mr Nolan wanted to expel me right this minute but father convinced him to wait until he is available for a reparation meeting."

"God." He breathed, bringing me into his arms and rubbing my back. I let out a soft sob, hiding inside my brother's embrace with a war about to be soldiered.

"Did you see Charlie?" Knox gently questioned after my hiccups subsided. He handed me a glass of water. "Nobody knows what happened to him."

I shook my head, no, my heartbeat picking up again. My consequences seemed trivial compared to the possibilities of what Charlie must have had to endure. Mr Nolan was known for his cruel, traditional means of instilling discipline. He couldn't lay a finger on me because I'm a woman, but nothing was stopping him from fleshing out the prankster poet from the bone.

"Don't worry about that right now," Cameron interrupted, "You get some rest, we'll come to see you soon."

He nodded to others with a heavy gaze, full of silent resolution. They had something planned but they were leaving me out of it. Not that I blamed them after the stunt I had just pulled. I'm surprised that I'm still here at Welton after I insulted Mr Nolan so publicly.

The dead poets filtered out of my room, and Todd argued for Meeks and Pitts's absence — reassuring me that they were just scared to go against Nolan, but they were on my side regardless. I thanked him again, and Neil kissed my forehead, the gesture felt like a goodbye in itself. As if he'd given up hope now that father was involved.

I took a long, scalding bath. Infusing all the leftover perfumes and bath oils left in my toiletries. It's not like I would use them again. At home, my mother usually prepared my bath and I had to follow her instructions with no sense of my own.

I was a cattle to them. Bred and groomed meticulously for the final trade-off. Someday, they would sell me off to a power-hungry man yearning for his trophy wife and that would be it. He'd beat me, use me, abuse me and my family would close all doors since I wouldn't be their responsibility anymore. I would die a slave. That was all my life was allowed to be. My entirety was limited to serving those around me, and now that I had pushed the rigid restrictions, I would pay for it dearly.

After my skin was pruned under the water, I got out of the steaming bathroom. I took out my boldest clothes as if my rebellion was dependent on my choice of attire.

Dark red laced corset and a tiny black skirt. Perfect. The corset was supposed to be worn under the enormous ball gowns to flatter the figure under the layers of sweaty material. Too bad Welton never had lavish balls.