𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗡𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗜𝗡 𝗖𝗥𝗜𝗠𝗘
❛ did we look like lovers
or partners in crime? ❜
in which sylvia henderson enlists the help of
calem lemark, the police captain's son and her
academic rival since 6th grade, as she attempts
to prove her fat...
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I WALK THROUGH the halls of West Falls High School, doing my best to ignore the stares I'm receiving from people as I pass them. I can't blame them, really. If I was in their positions, I would be staring, too. It wasn't every day someone's dad got arrested for murder on Thanksgiving.
The past week of my life has been hell, too much of a blur for me to be able to fully process. My mother insisted that my brother and I go back to school today, claiming she wants everything to be as normal as possible.
But nothing in our lives is ever going to be normal again.
"Get to class," Principal Antonio orders. Slowly, but surely, the teenagers crowding the hallway began to drizzle out and reluctantly head toward their class.
That doesn't stop the whispers. I hear glimpses as they pass.
"Didn't Mr. Henderson kill Lola?" one girl asks.
"Yeah," the other replies. "They were probably fucking or something. He always gave me a weird vibe."
I suck in a sharp breath and ball my fists, my nails digging into my palm and leaving crescent-shaped indents. I manage to let out the breath, though it takes a massive amount of self-control not to chase those girls down and scream at them until my voice gives out.
Principal Antonio turns to me, her face softening. Lia Antonio is in her mid-40s with dark brown hair reaching just a bit past her shoulders and kind, dark eyes.
"Are you okay, mija?" she asks me, her voice as soft as her eyes.
No. But while the familiarness of the question is almost enough to make me crack, I'm not 6-years-old and learning how to ride my bike.
"I'm fine."
I've always able to tell the difference from the Lia Antonio that was my principal and the Lia Antonio that had been in my life from the moment I left the womb.
Lia gives me a sad smile but Principal Antonio places her hand on my shoulder. "Let's get you to class."
She lightly pushes me forward, and I realize she's about to escort me to my first period.
"I can do it," I say, gently shrugging off her hand.
Lia gives me a concerned look. "Are you sure?"
"Yeah," I insist, nodding. "Mom said she wanted everything to be as normal as possible." Being escorted to class wasn't normal for me and would only make the staring worse. "I'll be fine."
"Okay," Principal Antonio gives in. "If you need anything, come to the office. I'll call your mom if you want to go home."
I nod. "Okay."
Lia squeezes my shoulder before she walks away to go be Principal Antonio for some kid skipping class.
I look down the hallway, which suddenly feels five times longer than usual. Dread settles in my stomach and I consider chasing after Lia and asking her to have my mom come pick me up. Never before have I dreaded or hated school.
But then again, my father hadn't been a murderer a week ago, either.
It's funny how much could change in just seven days.
𝒎𝒆𝒍 𝒎𝒆𝒍 !! the shortest first chapter ever in the history of first chapters
