Chapter 9: Chapter nine

Arielle

My whole life, I've always managed to blame someone for everything that has ever happened to me. When I got sick, I blamed it on my horrible behavior. I convinced myself that karma finally caught up to me because of all the bad things I've done to people. All the people I've hurt when I was the most popular girl.

Anytime I got into trouble for doing something, I blamed my Dad for my irrational behavior. If he had been there for me, if he had protected me, maybe I would have turned out differently. I blame other people because it was easier than accepting responsibilities for my action.

But this time, I had no one to blame for my stupidity except me. Why didn't I look around for new cameras? Why did I just assume that everything in school is still the same?

Blaming myself is a strenuous work. Or maybe I could find someone to blame. Drayton.

As I stood in the middle of the class, still reeling from the shock of being caught red-handed, I could only blame Drayton for whatever trouble I would probably get into. If he hadn't volunteered to help me, if he had just remained the same and not change like everyone else did, none of this would have happened. All of these was his fault.

“Ms Arielle McAlister and Mr Drayton King, please make your way to the principal's office now.” Principal Givens repeated, interrupting my trail of thoughts.

I dragged my gaze back to Drayton's face and glared at him. He simply smirked at me. My grip tightened on his phone and I contemplated smashing it on the ground.

As if reading my thoughts, he snatched his phone away from me.

“See you in the principal's office, Frozen,” he winked at me before strolling off casually.

I took a few deep breaths to calm myself down before I walked out of class. I could hear the murmurs of students in the hallway as I made my way to the principal's office. I managed to catch a few of them.

“Argh, I knew it. The two of them would definitely get in trouble before the week ends.” I heard a girl said.

“I don't know why they're were put in the same class.” Another said.

“I can't wait to see the punishment they'd be given.”

“I hope the principal asks them to clean the swimming pool. It's been so long since I saw Drayton shirtless.”

“Oh yeah, I miss seeing his well toned abs.” another said and the rest of the girls agreed, squealing happily.

I almost gagged at their words but I held myself back. There's absolutely nothing special in seeing Drayton shirtless. I don't get what the deal is or why people idolize him that much. Sure, he has a fine body, but so does 85% of the males in our class. But Drayton is exceptionally proud of his physique.

I shook my head and quickened my steps to the principal's office. Drayton was already inside by the time I got there but the principal was not inside. Our gazes collided and he smirked at me. I snarled at him in return.

I sunk into the seat beside him as we awaited the principal's presence. I wanted to ask Drayton if he had showed the principal the footage of me spray painting his car but I refrained myself. I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of seeing me helpless.

A part of me was certain he had already shown the principal the footage. It would land me in more trouble than been stuck with him for two hours everyday. Drayton wouldn't miss the chance to get me in trouble.

Principal Givens emerged from the bathroom door.

“I'm sorry to keep you waiting. I had to attend to some business.” he said as he settled in his seat.

“It's okay,”

“It's fine,”

Drayton and I said in unison.

“Ms McAlister, you must be wondering why I summoned you to my office.” Principal Givens started, settling his gaze on me.

I swallowed down, suddenly feeling nervous.

“I'll start with the matter at hand,” he adjusted his glasses. “Mr King had an issue with his car yesterday. A crude word was written on it by a student of ours.”

He looked up something on his laptop before turning it to face me. It was a video, quite similar to the one Drayton showed me earlier in class. I was holding a spray paint and vandalizing his car, but I had my back to the cameras.

I held my breath as I forced myself to continue watching. It was only going to take a few seconds before I turned around and my face is visible. I had just watched it.

I made a silent prayer that my inevitable punishment shouldn't be too serious, or involve telling my parents. My mum would definitely break if she hears about this. She's going to think I was acting out because of the news of the divorce. I wouldn't be able to convince her that this was a perty revenge against my nemesis.

Also, she made me promise to end my feud with Drayton during sophomore year when I locked him in the boys locker room after school hours. My mum is not a fan of violence.

I continued watching the video, but to my surprise, the video ends with me walking away, my back still at the camera.

I lifted an eyebrow. The cameras caught my face in the footage I watched on Drayton's phone. I let out a slight gasp as the realization hit me. The security footage was edited. How is that possible?

My gaze flew to Drayton, confusion swirling in me. He had a mischievous glint in his eyes. I was suddenly scared of whatever it is he had planned for me.

Gods, how much crueler did he get over the time I was absent in school?

“As you can see, this is a horrible behavior that we do not condone in this school. We want to catch the culprit and punish her accordingly. But we can't seem to recognize the girl as she had her back on the surveillance cameras,” he sighed and turned the laptop away from me.

He leaned back into his chair.

“I'm aware that you and Mr King had a previous engagement yesterday at the library, but you left early. Do you happen to see anyone at the parking lot when you were leaving?” Principal Givens asked.

I opened my mouth but no words came out. I didn't know what I was supposed to make of the situation. That was a video of me ruining someone's property. It was only a matter of time before my cover is blown. What use will it do me to deny it now? Might as well say the truth and hope I get a light sentence.

“I don't think she saw anything, sir,” Drayton interrupted before I even said anything. “She left the library about an hour after this incident. There is no possible way she'd see someone.”

Did he just…save me? What the hell is happening here? First, he didn't rat me out for the crime I so clearly committed, and now, he's trying to divert the principal's attention away so he wouldn't suspect me?

I could bet my two thousand dollars Louis Vuitton purse that he wants something in return. Maybe volunteering to be my study partner was just ‘out of the kindness of his heart’, but whatever he has in mind right now, is not going to be good. I was certain of that.

“You're right. I thought since you suggested I ask her, maybe you thought she saw something.” Principal Givens said.

The confusion in me deepened. Why would he suggest that to the principal and still turn around to save? He was surely playing another sick game of his.

“I just thought since she left before me she might have seen something. But thinking about the time frame now, it's not likely she did, right?” He locked eyes with me, a wicked glint in his eyes.

My mouth opened and closed on its own. I didn't know what I was supposed to say now. I averted my from him and saw Principal Givens staring at me expectantly.

“Right,” I forced myself to say.

The principal nodded and cleared his throat.

“Alright then. The both of you can return to class. Mr King, I'll make sure to keep you updated on the investigation.” He said dismissively.