Chapter 81 ...Culprit, Uriel Kennedy
Uriel's POV
I had two goals
Ace my final exams and burn Emma to the ground in every way possible.
That day, when I told her I had something on her...
I had nothing.
God, I wished I had something on her because hers was too much. She had hurt me too much.
And for Ryder?
I didn't even know how to punish him and so I had just laid him to rest and sworn myself off emotional activities.
Good thing after here I'd never see him again. And if I do, I'd fucking move city.
That was how much I hated him.
"Ready for your finals." My father asked, rolling his wheel to me. His eyes were empty.
"Are you okay?" My concern peaked up, my brows furrowed.
He sighed, looking at me, "I got it."
"You got it?"
"Yeah."
I was about to ask him what he got when my mother stormed in.
"Hey!" That was me. I was the 'hey'. With bored expression, I turned to her.
"What do you want?"
"Make sure you help Emma in today's exam." She frowned at me, folding her arms under her breast.
"Over my dead body. If anything, i would make sure I bring her down. She doesn't deserve my kindness." My voice was thick and laced with hatred..
Yes, hatred.
"Oh I've been holding up just fine without her stupid help, mother." Emma walked into the parlor, smiling brightly at us. "I'm pretty sure she'll be the disappointment this time."
Scoffing, I rolled my eyes.
"I better take my leave, Father. I'll make you proud and ...get you out of this toxic place soon."
My father held my hand, placing a soft kiss at the back of my palm. "Thank you."
Swallowing hard, I nodded.
Guilt gnawed at me as I remembered I hadn't told him about mother.
"I have something I'd like to discuss with you today when I get back okay?"
"Me too."
"Oh please!" My mother rolled her eyes, pulling Emma with her. "Leave these fools"
Rolling my eyes, I bolted out of the house. School was a long sweat walk but to buy me more time to review my book all over, I took it.
The closer I got to school, the faster my heart beat raced. My hands began to shake as I spotted students who were scattered everywhere, pacing back and forth as they fortified themselves for the exam.
At least, it wasn't only me.
But then, why did it feel like I wanted to just pass out.
My stomach churned, my guts threatening to come out from my mouth. I swallowed hard, pushing down the nausea.
You've been doing this for years, Uriel. I encouraged myself.
This wasn't going to be any different.
"Uriel." Chloe was the first to come meet me when I entered the hallway. "I want to apologize for what Peter -"
"Not today, Chloe. He was just concerned about you." Forcing a smile, I said.
"I know but still." Her eyes held sadness in them.
A soft sigh left my lips as I looked into her eyes, holding her gaze. "I'm not mad at you, Chloe. I just - I need some time. Maybe after this exam?"
"For real?" Her eyes lit up.
I nodded.
"Oh thank God. That's a relief." She placed her hand on her chest.
"But don't expect much. For a while, at least. It's not the same again."
She nodded, "as long as you don't hate me anymore."
I could never hate her. She didn't know.
I was just hurt. And hurt people, hurt people. So it was better I stayed away until I felt good.
"Goodluck on your exams, Chloe." I smiled again. This time it was genuine.
"You too!"
Lance and Kathie came to say hi and we all exchanged kind wishes to each other and parted ways.
This was the first time we were not together, questioning ourselves against the exams.
Indeed, a lot had changed.
As I opened my locker, a paper fell to the ground. Before I would crouch down to pick it up, a manicured nails were already on it. My frown deepened as I glared at her.
"What do you want now?" I tried to take the paper from Emma but she raised it up, shaking her head
"Looks important," Emma smirked, opening the paper. "I wish you goodluck on your exams, Red. Don't bob your legs too much. You got this."
My breath hitched. My body stilled as the name "Red" sent cold shivers down my spine
Red Riding Hood
My eyes scanned the building, landing on him. Ryder was surrounded by his friends. They were laughing and chatting but his eyes remained on mine.
"Oh." Emma scoffed, snapping her head back to me after following my gaze. "Your stuff must've been good."
Eyeing her up and down, I snatched the letter from her hand, marched up to the nearest bin and shredded the letter into pieces before trashing it.
My eyes connected with Ryders', a scowl plastered on my face. He pressed his lips into a thin line, diverting his eyes elsewhere.
"Wow." Emma chuckled. "That was intense."
"Don't you have exams to prepare for? Are you here to beg me to help you out?" I folded my arms.
"You wish." She eyed me up and down, her face straight. "I'm here to wish you goodluck. Because you'd be needing it."
"Why, because you think the questions would be difficult for me? Or because you know that your lover would help you with manipulating your grades. Again."
"Maybe. Maybe not." Her lips stretched into a wicked smile. She shrugged, turning away.
My face fell once she left. My heart began to drum fast again, panic setting in.
What did she mean by that?
No.
Stop, Uriel. She's just trying to get into your head.
She's trying to make you panic so you'd fail your exams. She got nothing on you.
I nodded at myself after I had taken my advice. The alarm sound for exams rang - the moment of danger, as we usually called it.
Everyone rushed to their designated classes. Today exam setting was different, everyone had their names tagged on their seats.
"Okay everyone. Sit tight. Get rid of any incriminating materials so we can commence. Malpractice equals failure. You all don't want that for your final exams." Mrs Bel said. She was the examination invigilator.
"I'll take over from here, Bel. Principal's order." Mr. Tom said, interrupting Mrs. Bel.
"Uhh...okay. I'll go to the other class." She shrugged, turning away. Her eyes landed on me, lingering long. Fear swept cross her eyes - too fast, I almost missed it.
I was about to check my drawer when Mr. Tom slammed his hand on my table, startling me.
"Hands on the table, Uriel. Don't implicate yourself." He frowned.
"I was just going to check if -"
"Did you keep something there? Is this not your first time entering this class. From what I know, here's always locked until exam periods." Mr. Tom raised his eyebrow.
"Fine."
"You start in 3 minutes," he yelled, checking his time. "Indicate if you've not gotten your sheets."
Seeing that no one raised their hands, he instructed us to start. My eyes constantly fell to the drawer under my desk, thereby distracting me.
Something told me to open it, to check.
But whenever I raised my head up, Mr. Tom's eyes were strangely on me, making my stomach knot.
Ignoring the feeling, I focused mainly on my exam. Someone sighed loud, making me turn to find my sister's face squeezed.
"Any problem, Emma?"
"Not at all. Just tired of waiting."
"Are you done?" Mr. Tom asked.
"No."
"Then focus," he scolded, turning his gaze back to me.
Here we go again.
The sound of the door being forcefully pushed, snapped everyone's attention to it.
"Can everyone place their hands where I'll see them? On your heads, now!" The principal roared, ushering in three hefty security men.
"What's wrong?"
"Someone stole the answer sheet." The principal hurriedly said. "Search everyone. Their desk, pockets, everywhere."
The thing in my stomach knotted tight. My legs bobbed up and down when one of the guards approached me.
I wanted to tell him to stop, wait... Anything that'd make him not open it.
Because there was this bad feeling I was having.
The principal walked up to me, narrowing his eyes. "You seem to be shaking too much, Uriel."
My legs stopped moving, my throat suddenly feeling dry
"Found it." The guard raised the paper up, showing everyone.
My eyes snapped open, my mouth parting.
"W...what?"
"We have our culprit, Uriel Kennedy." Principal announced, heading out. "Bring her out."
"No. I didn't do anything. I haven't - Mr. Tom, you've been staring at me, tell him I didn't do anything." I cried, shaking my head.
People had begun to whisper among themselves. My eyes watered instantly, my heart clenching.
"I'm sorry, Uriel," the principal started, frowning at me. "You'll have to face the consequences of your actions."