My Ex From Hell (The Blooming Goddess Trilogy, #1)

What doesn't kill you makes you seriously doubt your sanity (Part 2)

"You wanted to see me, Principal," I said in my cheeriest voice. It was my attempt at "look at me, I've got nothing to hide."

Principal Doucette straightened. "Sit down, Sophie." Our principal was wearing grey trousers and a button down shirt, same as always. He may have dressed conservatively in his role of educating the fine minds of my generation but his short, neat dreads made me think he was a lot cooler than his professional appearance let on.

He motioned me to a chair. Happily, my favorite one was available. I'd been in that office so many times, I'd done a Three Bears rundown on the furniture; too hard, too soft, just right.

With the large window to my right and a massive bookcase behind Doucette's desk for perusing titles, there were lots of distractions for the inattentive at heart.

I sat down and did a double-take as I noticed a woman sitting off to the side. Maybe thirty, her hair was styled in a short pixie cut and dyed purple. She wore a funky dress with a ton of silver jewelry. Was she Bethany's cool aunt or something?

"Hi, Sophie." She gave me a friendly smile. "I'm Ms. Keeper. Great to meet you."

"It is?" I answered back.

"Ms. Keeper is our new guidance counselor," Principal Doucette explained.

"What? Why?"

He frowned at my bluntness.

I tried to backtrack. "I mean, sorry, but I just saw Mrs. Rivers last night at bed check."

"She had a family emergency she had to take care of," the principal replied. "We were lucky to get a replacement sent in so quickly."

Ms. Keeper grinned at me. "He means I'm low on the district totem pole and work Sundays."

I grinned back. I couldn't help but like her.

Bethany sniffed, loudly, wanting the attention placed firmly back on her. "My chakras are deeply damaged from my trauma."

"Bethany, yes, sorry," the principal soothed. He turned to me. "Do you know why I've called you in?"

So my chakras could be deeply damaged from listening to Bethany? "No."

"A very disturbing thing happened last night. Bethany was locked in the staff bathroom and not found for some time."

It took everything I had not to laugh at her patently fake expression of woe. The internal mantra of "you have a brain tumor and are either going crazy or dying" helped keep me looking suitably sober. "I'm sorry to hear that."

"No, you're not." Bethany turned to Principal Doucette. "She's so consumed with jealousy that she went dressed as me to the dance, then locked me in that bathroom. Buddha says that 'he who envies others does not obtain peace of mind.' She has no peace of mind. Her inner light is diminished. It unbalances her."

Bethany speak for "she's crazy." I couldn't really argue that point so I argued another. "Why?"

"Why what?" she retorted.

"Why did I supposedly lock you in?"

"Because."

"Because isn't an answer, kiddo." All of us turned to look at Ms. Keeper. I was especially shocked to hear someone defend me. Or, if not defend me, then not exactly support Bethany.

I smiled gratefully at Ms. Keeper.

Bethany looked confused. I'm sure she was. She was so used to adults believing her every word that her brain must have been short-circuiting. I hoped her head would explode.