That time I got rejected three times on the same day!

Chapter 17

I was shuffled into the principal's office by Mrs.Fredriks. Neris had left after my second failed confession. The first failed confession had been a pit of terror and despair, but the second had been easy, no pressure, no fear of failure. The first time had felt like all or nothing, like the world was going to end if I failed. The second time I realised that even if I failed, the world would go on and I always had a second chance... or a third. The second rejection had not fazed me at all. It was like it wasn't even important whether she said yes or no; it was all about the way she answered. I was enjoying this game.

The principle was a short stocky man. His head was shaved in the style of a buzz-cut and he never smiled – ever. His name was Mr.King. I thought it was funny that the principle of the school would be called King. He had made a joke about it last time, the king and his knight. He wasn't looking so accommodating now. His stern expression told me that we had to talk about some serious business.

"Thank you Mrs.Fredriks," he said.

His deep voice had a commanding tone. Mr.King would not have looked amiss in a military commander's uniform. He crossed his hands on the table as Mrs.Fredriks left the room.

"So Mr.Knight, would you care to explain to me what happened in morning break?"

I swallowed hard. This man could see through lies and dissect economy of the truth. The best strategy would be the honest truth.

"I cleared my throat. Well sir." tears started welling up in my eyes.

I had kept my emotions suppressed until this moment, but this calm quiet room in front of this imposing man had finally cracked me. He handed me a box of tissues and I took one gratefully. I had always been a cry-baby. In the heat of the moment I could keep my emotions under control, but reliving the memories later in a calm environment would always reduce me to tears.

I wiped away my tears and sniffled.

"Well sir. I walked out of the boy's toilet and these two boys grabbed me."

He shifted his weight.

"What happened then?"

I wasn't going to involve Neris. She wasn't there as far as I'm concerned.

"The big boy--"

"Derrick Smith," Mr.King interjected.

I didn't even know my attackers name.

"Derrick grabbed my shirt and punched me."

"And then?"

"I ran away, but they caught up to me. Derrick hit me again and elbowed me in the face. Then someone started kicking me."

Mr.King leaned back.

"Do you know why the boys attacked you?"

"Derrick is the older brother of the boy I threw on the ground a few months ago. He mentioned he wanted revenge for what I did to his little brother."

There was a silence. Mr.King's eyes bored into me.

"Is this the whole truth?" he said.

He's digging. What is he looking for?

"Yes sir."

"You aren't leaving anything out?"

I pressed my nail deep into the back of my hand. I watched a documentary about cheating lie detector tests. Apparently pain threw off polygraph test results. If it worked for lie detector machines then it should also work for human lie detectors.

"No sir," I said with complete confidence.

"Can you explain how Mr.Smith broke his wrist and fractured his fingers?"