𝐎𝐂𝐄𝐀𝐍 𝐄𝐘𝐄𝐒! ♆ 𝒋𝒂𝒄𝒌𝒔𝒐𝒏

𝟎𝟒, 𝐢'𝐦 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞

「 ✦ ᶠᶸᶜᵏᵧₒᵤ! ✦ 」

❝ тнє тяυтн ¢αη вє ѕσ very hard to determine...but in this case, the truth seems very hard to deny," the headmaster declared, his gaze narrowing at the three kids in front of him.

Kailani's leg bounced nervously as she bit at the inside of her lip. Her eyes darted around the office, occasionally meeting with Mr. Brunner's, who only stared back blankly.

She didn't want to get in trouble. She didn't want to have to leave her friends.

But Kailani was not going to plead guilty for something she didn't do. Sure, the main reason they were in the office was because of Percy, but if any of the students saw what she had done—what they think she could have done—then she would have been in big trouble.

It's not possible for someone to control water with their mind. Kailani knew that was a superpower she did not have.

Yet the water in the fountain seemed to move exactly where she wanted it to go. It didn't make any sense.

The headmaster sighed. "Mr. Jackson, a number of your classmates saw you, Mr. Underwood, and Miss Finch arguing with Miss Bobofit, yet you have offered no explanation for how she ended up in that fountain, other than, uh... 'I didn't touch Nancy'." He looked up at the blonde boy. "Now, isn't there anything else you'd like to say for yourself?"

Kailani glanced at Percy and saw the look in his eyes. He knew that he wasn't in the wrong and wouldn't back down.

"I didn't touch Nancy," Percy repeated, sticking to his statement.

"Okay," the headmaster sighed, looking at the other two kids. "Miss Finch, Mr. Underwood? Do you have anything to add?"

Percy took a quick glance at Kailani, and sent a silent plea for her to be on his side. All she was going to do was tell the truth.

"Yes," Grover said, sitting up taller in his chair. Percy and Kailani's heads snapped in his direction. "I do."

"Go on," the headmaster said.

Grover took a deep breath. "Percy had told me and Kailani earlier in the day that he wanted to get back at Nancy for all she'd done to us."

"Grover?" Percy asked, his brows furrowing. Was his best friend really going to rat him out? For something he didn't do?!

"And he isn't being truthful about what happened at the fountain."

"Grover!" Kailani hissed, tugging at his pants. She was wide eyed, wondering what her friend was doing. It was like he was trying to get them expelled.

"Excuse me," the headmaster snapped, forcing Kailani to look up. "Are you saying you saw Mr. Jackson assault Miss Bobofit?"

"Percy didn't touch Nancy," Kailani blurted, her heart beating out of her chest. Her foot was tapping louder against the wood flooring under them. "I was there, I can promise you, Percy did not—"

"Yes," Grover cut her off, his eyes trained on the man in front of them. He knew that if he looked at Percy or Kailani, he would break. "I did."

Kailani let out of breath of air she didn't know she was holding. She looked over at Percy, tears forming in her eyes at the thought of never seeing him again.

Kailani slumped down on the bench outside of Yancy Academy. Her bag was slammed on the ground beside her as she groaned in annoyance.

Her mother would show up soon with a very angry look on her face. She had almost made it. Almost an entire year without getting kicked out, but then one of her best friends had to go and rat her out.