Chapter 13: 13__Test results
The following morning came with even more drama than the previous day.
“What?!” demanded the Vice. “Baby powder?!”
The lab technician before him calmly dropped the envelope containing the test results on the desk. “All tests are negative, Sir,” he said dryly. “Drug usage test was negative too.”
“B-but…” stammered the Vice-Principal. He turned to the Sports Science teacher. “Mr. Hart! You said it was cocaine!”
The teacher flushed. “Well… it just really seemed like it. Baby powder, huh? Who woulda thought? Ha-ha-ha-ha! Ha… ha…” He cleared his throat awkwardly.
Coach stood stiffly, trying not to look too happy.
“Well, then.” The guy sent by the lab stood. “I’ll take my leave.”
He nodded and walked out before any of them could say anything further.
The news was all over the school in only half an hour. Jackson Pierce was clean and somebody had tried to frame him.
Nobody was paying attention in classes, notes were being passed around as speculations made the rounds. Even the hallways were filled with whispers and suspicion.
“Apologize!” demanded Phoebe, slamming a hand down on the Vice Principal’s desk.
“Okay, Pheeb,” said Erin, pulling her away with an awkward chuckle. “Calm down.”
“No, no,” said a crisp voice. The man in the sharp, grey suit stood and readjusted his spectacles. “An apology is the least he can do.”
Besides him stood four others in suits just as sharp and grey.
Phoebe hadn’t called her lawyer, she’d called an entire team. Erin had been flabbergasted, to say the least.
The head lawyer looked at Jackson and then looked at the Vice who seemed like he wanted to disappear under his desk. “My client has sustained unjust damage to his emotional and psychological wellbeing due to the baseless accusations leveled against him.”
The Vice stuttered breathlessly, glancing at Mr. Hart and Coach Sandler. Both avoided his gaze. “Th-this is ridiculous!”
Phoebe’s lawyer narrowed his eyes in mild irritation. He looked at Phoebe. “A lawsuit then, Ms. Lee?”
“Yes!” she agreed, smiling triumphantly at him.
“Wait!” The Vice-Principal quickly stood. He looked at Jackson who met his gaze with relieved but sad eyes. “Son—”
“Mr. Pierce,” corrected the lawyer.
The Vice pressed his lips into a thin line. “Of course. Mr. Pierce… it is with deep regret that I offer my apologies. The manner in which I dealt with the matter was unprofessional and unfair. I will reflect on my actions as I beg your forgiveness.”
A sigh of relief deflated Erin’s chest and she looked up at Jackson, waiting for his response.
Phoebe’s lawyer wasted no time. “You don’t have to forgive him if you don’t want to,” he offered. “We can proceed with the lawsuit.”
“No,” Jackson shook his head, looking at the lawyer. “No, it’s okay. I’m just glad it was proven false. Thank you, Sir.”
The lawyer looked at him and nodded curtly. “No thanks needed. I’ll be taking my leave.”
He marched to the door, his team following in a straight line behind him. He paused and looked back, meeting Phoebe’s gaze. “If anything more happens… do not hesitate to phone.”
She smirked, looking at the Vice in triumph. “Oh, don’t worry. I won’t hesitate.”
“Who do you guys think framed our Jackson?” a girl whispered, eyes narrowing with anger.
Jace Clinton scoffed uneasily, looking down the hallway to avoid her gaze. “What do you mean ‘framed’? If it wasn’t drugs in the packet, then it was probably just a prank. A harmless prank.”
The three girls looked at him closely.
“Do you know who did it?” the one next to him asked.
Jace scoffed heavily. “No! W-why would I know?!”
One of the girls waved a manicured finger. “I smell a lie, Jace. My parents are prosecutors, I know a lie when I smell one.”
He avoided her gaze and cleared his throat. “Ay, I don’t know. He’s the star of the football team, probably someone had it in for him.”
The girls murmured their agreement and Jace was about to breathe a sigh of relief, but then a hand gripped his shoulder.
When he looked, tension seized every muscle in his body. “Yo… Braden…”
“Hi, Braden!” greeted the girls, coming closer and twirling locks of hair around their fingers.
He ignored them, staring at Jace. “Let’s talk.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Braden questioned coldly, eyes narrowed. “Do I look like I’m joking?”
Jace ran both hands into his hair and clutched it in frustration. “I’m telling you! Like… dude, listen to me! Have I ever pulled shit like this before? I’m telling you it was the real stuff. I checked!”
“I asked you to do one thing, Jace. You couldn’t even do that? You’re useless to me.”
Frustrated, Jace looked around at the silent area, looking at the cafeteria that was empty as the next class had just started. “Braden, I’m telling you…” He sighed. “It was real.”
“Then how come it’s baby powder now? Next time… if you don’t want to do something, just say so. Don’t pretend you have the balls to get it done and then fuck it all up.”
Jace’s face went red with a mixture of anger, frustration and embarrassment. “Got it.”
Glaring in distaste, Braden turned to leave. He halted. “What are you doing here?”
Chris walked calmly towards them, hands in his pockets. “I was sent to find you two. Economics class has started.”
Braden paused, studying Chris’s face. Glancing at Jace, he tilted his head down the hallway. “Go to class, we’ll catch up.”
When Jace had walked away, Braden took a step closer to Chris. “You didn’t arrange the meeting with your father last night.”
Chris nodded, his face as expressionless as usual. “Yeah, I had tuitions last night. Also, I just didn’t see the need for that meeting to be held.”
Braden paused, his eyes narrowing. “Why not? Wasn’t me specifically asking for the meeting reason enough?”
“My father was busy,” said Chris. “I knew nothing would come out of Pierce’s little scandal, I didn’t want to waste his time.”
“How did you know that?” asked Braden. “That nothing would happen to Jackson Pierce?”
Chris sighed calmly. “Because I switched the coke with baby powder.”
A heavy moment of silence fell upon them and Braden’s eyes narrowed dangerously.
“What... did you just say?”
Chris didn’t even flinch. “I said I switched the bag with another of baby powder.”
“And why the fuck?”
“Because it was petty and unnecessary. Unlike you.”
“What do you know about me, Chris?”
“Most things. I know that you don’t pull big moves like that unless you’ve got something major to gain from it. You wouldn’t risk your Grandfather hearing about such a huge matter, not unless it benefitted you greatly despite the consequences. You were acting based on emotions, petty ones, so I did you a favour.”
Braden’s eyes darkened with anger. “I didn’t ask you for a favour.”
“I did you one anyway. I usually mind my business, but the matter of illegal drugs being even remotely connected to us is a huge risk for both me and you. I refuse to risk my future.”
“You’re a coward.”
Chris tilted his head, raising a brow. “What’s got you riled, Braden? Usually, it was harmless jests, then suddenly you decided to raise the bar way too high. Acting on emotion just isn’t your style.”
“What the fuck are you getting at?”
“Jackson Pierce. Why did you target him?” His eyes narrowed. “You heard he was dating Erin and suddenly you tried to ruin his life.”
“I did it because I can do what I please.”
Chris nodded slowly. “True. Or, alternatively… you did it out of jealousy?”
A bolt of shock struck Braden silent for a moment. “What the fuck are you talking about, Michaels?!”
“Erin,” continued Chris. “Do you have feelings for her?”