I wanted the ground to open and swallow me. No, it could not be. I was not a thief.
"There is some major mistake. I did not put that there."
But the whole class was staring at me. The boys looked at me. Zach's eyes held anger and disbelief. Lucas was looking lost and confused, there was the anger too. Trenton, his expression was accusing. I was scared of what I'd see in Aaron's eyes but I had to force myself to look at him. He was disappointed and angry and accusing.
"You!"
He walked closer to me.
"I did not do it. How could I have stolen something that is not mine?"
"I remember she once admired your phone, didn't she Lauren?"
One of Katelyn's friends asked the owner of the phone.
"Yes, it's true. She once admired the phone."
"Is this true?"
Aaron's voice was chilling.
"Yes. But it was a harmless admiration. I had no plans to steal. I saw her pressing the phone and her wall paper attracted me. I walked to her and told her I liked her phone. She even offered it to me for a proper look. After I was done, I gave it back to her and that was the last time I touched the phone or went anywhere near her. She's not even a friend. I swear."
"You're a Salvatore!"
"Stop yelling at me Aaron, please. I did not steal it."
I was crying profusely now. Tears were streaming in torrents.
"No body is attending class for the day again." He told the boys. "And you too." He told me. "We're going home from here."
He gave the phone back to the girl.
"I'm so sorry for her act. I promise you this won't repeat itself again. And also let it die here within these walls."
I wanted to die, hearing him apologize to the girl for a crime I did not commit. How? When? Who had done this? I scanned the faces in the room, my gazed landed on Katelyn. She waved a sympathetic sorry to me.
"Is it because she's your family now? You promised to make the thief pay, now you want to skip punishment. That's injustice."
A boy said.
"Who said that?"
Aaron asked. The anger within was building. Someone pointed to the guy.
"You said it?"
"Y-yes."
The guy replied fearfully.
"What would you have done if it was a family member?"
He could not say anything.
"No, I want to hear what you have to say if it was your relative."
He still kept mute.
"The next time you talk without a proper thought, I'd rip your head off your body."
Another time, I'd have been shocked to hear Aaron talk like that. But reading the signs in his eyes, he was beyond furious.
"Aaron?"
Katelyn tried to touch him.
"Not today, Katelyn."
He walked past her without looking in her direction. He stopped where I was.
"Take your bag and let's leave."
Then he left alongside his brothers. None of them agreed to look me in the eyes. They had probably gone to carry their own bags too. I walked like a zombie to where my bag was, I could hardly feel my feet trudging on the floor.
"So she is a thief?"
I heard someone whisper.
"And a Salvatore at that. The Alpha will be so disappointed to have such a step daughter."
Tears flowed as I remembered my mom. What would she say? I hope David would not make her pay for this? All the peace and joy I had been seeing on her face. The pure love that radiated when she talks of her mate. Somehow, I had caused my mother another shame. Maybe I had some bad luck that was determined to ruin my mother's happiness. Why couldn't the bad luck stop with me? Why did it have to affect my mom? She had endured years of shame and ridicule because of me in Moon Rock pack. Now, she was going to be labeled something she was not. Something I had not done.
A sob broke out of my lips.
I carried my bag and left the class. I did not know how I got to the Salvatore car park and stood. Soon, the boys came out and none of them talked to me or even looked my way. Even Lucas who was closest to me refused to look me in the eye.
I entered my car and started the engine. A lot of things ran though my mind. It was from one dilemma to the other with me. From one problem to the other. All my life I had never been allowed to have peace for long. I wiped tears from my eyes so I could pay proper attention to the road. Having an accident would kill my mom.
Soon we entered the compound, everyone parked and came out. The boys took their bags and went in. I followed suit. My heart beating wildly against my chest. What would become of me? What would they do to me? They were waiting for me.
"How could you?"
Aaron started, his gray eyes had grown darker. There was no need trying to defend myself. He would not believe me. None of them would.
Two maids entered. "Your Highnesses, good…"
"Get out!"
They scurried out in fear.
Zach had yelled at them. Lucas was looking at me. I could not miss the disappointment in his eyes. If there was a way I'd connect my mind with his so he'd know how innocent I was.
"Katherina May Salvatore, you disgraced us. You disgraced our legacy. Your legacy."
Lucas spat. His expression showed he wanted to cry.
"Now the school knows we have a sister who is a thief. Of what? A common fucking phone."
Zach brought out his phone, my legs were quivering. I let myself collapse to the ground. "This phone? A mere phone that you can afford!" He threw it against the wall. "Steal that too."
Trenton did not say anything but his glare had told me everything. I could only cry my eyes out.
Thankfully, David and mom were not home. The embarrassment would have been overwhelming.
"How could you do this? How could you?!!?"
Aaron's deep growl affected me and made me tremble in great fear. I bowed in shame.
Then someone walked.
"What is going on here?"
I raised my bowed head to see who had come in.
"Baron?"