Don't Blame Me: Genius

Fuck me.

~Tess Pov~
Lunch
I am so glad that we have aprons to cover up with during art class, I could not risk going around with paint on my clothes the rest of the day. I sat my piece of work on the drying rack. "Tess, are you going to lunch?," my teacher asks. "Yes, I just wanted to finish," I dusted off my hands and took off my apron. "For the first day you sure were focused. I can't wait to see what you painted," she smiled. I lowered my head, adding a grin, "yeah, me too". We splatter painted. You throw different colors of paints on a canvas from your brush, cover it, then continue with the pattern until you feel it's complete. Let it dry, then let the beauty reveal itself.

I walked to the cafeteria. I didn't officially make plans to meet with Hope but it was an original thing so I figured we would meet up. I got to the entrance, and let me just say that I did not miss the crowd of people falling over each other to eat food that was barely edible. The square walls painted a bright white with a golden star on every side. The absolute crushing sound of voices smushed together.

I train my eyes to search for Hope, and I instantly go to the middle of the lunchroom where we always sit, at the round table. I smiled at the sight of her sitting at the table by herself, she was on her phone. I thought she was waiting for me. Thought.

I took a half step forward, but stopped when Malia interrupted my field of vision.
She was sitting down with Hope. First of- fucking- all, when the hell did she become a student here. Secondly, this bitch is the last thing I want to deal with on top of everything else I got going on. I stood there in the doorway for a hot second trying to process what I'm seeing but in the midst of that Hope sees me. She stands up from the round table and sends me a big wave from across the lunchroom. I threw my hand up really quick, I guess I got to go.

I grab my chair to flip it around, I straddle it to make it seem like I'm not staying long. I try to be as pleasant as possible but my insides are already burning. It's not that I don't like this girl, it's just that she doesn't even know me and she thought she had the right to judge me and move in on Hope. "Hey Hope!" I stole a pickle out of the container she brought for lunch. Hope chuckled. "Hey Malia," I gave a soft smile. It basically said I'm willing to give it a shot.

"Hey Tess," Malia looked down at her lunch tray
I kept looking in her direction while she kept avoiding eye contact, "So, I didn't know you were starting today. How do you like it so far?" I asked.

Malia slid her tray to the side to look at me, "I'm not sure yet. I've only been here a few hours but I have Hope in a few classes and she's showing me around, so it can't be too bad right?," She's being a smartass, but that's fine.

"Yeah, she is pretty great. She's been showing me the ropes since middle school," We chuckled into a faded sigh. I can feel the side eye coming from Hope. Malia takes a breath to make her comment but Hope kindly interrupts. "So, Malia, what are your classes looking like?,".

Malia clears her throat from the interaction we just had. "Well I missed my first period but I have Critical Thinking. Then of course AP Chem with Hope. I have Leadership Skills then a free period," she explains to us. "Not bad! You don't have a fourth and we will be in the first period with you, so I think you'll be good," Hope assured Malia. Malia bounced her eyes between Hope and I. "You surely will," I smiled. Innocently, of course.
—
"She'll grow to love you," Hope elbows me as we walk in silence to our third period. We had just dropped Malia off to her class and now we were ready to have more fun with Mr Price. Human Life Skills.

Hope and I walked into the door but stopped at the epic stare that Mr Price was giving us. He was behind his desk on the phone, he had the most terrifying frown on his face that I have never seen before, but his stare held tight on us. I looked at Hope, she looked at me. My hands began to get clammy and my breathing increased. Mr Price hung up the phone and came from around the desk. "Girls. You're needed in the principal's office. Come on, I'll walk with you." He told us with a saddening expression. "Class, discuss the question on the board until I get back." I glance at the question up on the board.

"How do you survive the truth? How do you survive a lie?"

Mr Price walks us up to the Principal's office without a word. She met us at the office door. "Can you tell me what this is about?" He asks the principal. I saw my mom step out from behind the principal. "Mom? What is happening?" She answered me with a frown. About that time I see Sherriff Carter round the corner, behind him was his little sidekick of a son. I wanna throw up. My stomach has  dropped down to my knees. My eyes bulged out of my head as I saw them stand down behind the principal.

Fuck me.

"Ms Larou." Sheriff greeted me. I felt the bombastic side eye coming from Hope. The nervousness in my voice couldn't be masked. "Hi, Sheriff."

"Relax ladies, you can unclench your jaw and breathe a bit," the Sheriff allowed. "Due to significantly new information received, I need both of you at the station, parents present." Hope and I shared a look. Hope had a more angry look on her face.

"Hope, your mom is on her way. She said she'll meet us there." My mother spoke up. "Whatever," Hope retorted.

I looked over to Peyton. He locked his eyes on mine with an evil smirk. "Handcuffs, sheriff?,".  I narrowed my eyes at him in a look that said I dare you.

"No Deputy. Not for these two." Sheriff stated.
Like I said, I trusted him and I don't know why. I just couldn't figure out where this information was coming from.