Chapter 16 Pressure

Chapter 16 Pressure
"You're really crazy and reckless—who knows if you'll get called to the principal's office again over this, and what happens then."

"I don't care. Why should I be afraid of them? They break the rules just as much as I do. So why am I the only one in the spotlight? Because I have a career? Does having a career mean I have to live like some rigid, programmed robot?"

I went quiet for a moment. What was that? A protest? Or a complaint?

"Why are you looking at me like that, fat girl? Don't look at me like I'm asking for emphaty—who do you think you are?"

I showed no particular reaction—just stayed quiet, folded my arms across my chest, and held his gaze with the most unbothered expression I could manage. This kid was carrying something. So why was it so impossibly hard for him to let any of it out?

"You think that's what I'm doing? That's all you." I turned around. "Fine—if you're that sure about it. But we'll see."

We headed to class. That day, Chris was on an in-person schedule—when it was feasible he came in, otherwise he attended remotely.

I'd never been able to figure out what Chris's friendships at school actually looked like. People admired him—that much was obvious—but I never saw anything that looked like actual closeness. Friends? I wasn't even sure he had anyone he could genuinely turn to when something was on his mind.

It was all in stark contrast to what I had imagined.
Rich, talented, handsome, and popular. Someone like him should have had friends everywhere—but it was all just surface, and not a very convincing one at that.

"Chris De Luca. Do you have time?"

My thoughts were cut short, our walk to class stopped by a teacher who had made a point of coming straight to Chris. I had a bad feeling. My gut already knew what it was about.

"Principal's office?" Chris asked. And true to form, his face gave absolutely nothing away.

"That's right. Spare a moment, it's important."

"I'm not going if it's just an excuse to pin this on me. I didn't do anything wrong, since when does standing up for what's right mean you can't push back against what's wrong?"

"Chris, please be cooperative. The principal is willing to take mitigating factors into account—it could work in your favour—"

"Mitigating factors?! I hit someone who was bullying a girl!"

"Then say exactly that in front of the principal and the counselling teacher, Chris."

"Wait!"

The teacher turned at my voice, just as she was about to usher Chris away—my hand on her arm stopping her. I caught the look on her face straight away. Condescending and uncertain at the same time. I was used to that look. The kind that never had any appreciation in it.

"What is it? Whatever is going on between you two has nothing to do with this. I know you're dating, but that doesn't give you any right to—"

"I'm Chris's chaperone. In case that somehow slipped through. Or has the De Luca family's request for chaperone support not been properly communicated to the staff here?"

The teacher went quiet. Her blue eyes moved over me for a moment before sliding away, as though she were looking for someone to confirm what she'd just heard. I heard a slow, heavy breath—followed by a small, reluctant nod.

"Alright, I apologise for overlooking that. We need to get to the principal's office. We shouldn't keep him waiting."



"Chris, this is the umpteenth time. This kind of behaviour cannot be tolerated—you're going to bring serious damage to this school's reputation."

My heart was going fast. There were a lot of things running through my head all at once. My biggest concern wasn't the punishment Chris was about to receive. It was the hot cup of coffee sitting on the table and whether it was about to end up on the headmaster's face.

Nobody ever knew for certain what Chris would do in the next half second.

"Why am I the only one in this room? Where are Jack and his friends?"

"They're receiving medical attention right now because of you."

"Good. People like them don't belong in school."

"That doesn't make it your place to say something like that. Do you really think you're in any position to say that, given that you're the one who put them there?"

"That's right. I was there—I saw the whole thing."

Armed with nothing but my own questionable nerve, I cut into the exchange between Chris and the principal. Immediately I felt the sharp gaze of the counselling teacher land on me—she had been watching us the whole time like a panther surveying its hunting ground.

"Miss Reizz, I'm aware of your role with Chris De Luca—but that doesn't mean you can walk in here and lie to cover for him."

"Lie? I have no intention of lying for anyone — that would go entirely against my code of ethics—"

"Yes. I knew you'd say something like that, because you're on De Luca's side. But my tolerance for this has run out."

"Why is everyone blowing this out of proportion? Didn't anyone check the CCTV? They bullied a girl—and this wasn't even the first time. They almost hurt Rachel too. Is there no justice here?" Chris's voice had risen, but a split second later, a smirk had already settled across his face.

"Oh, or..." Chris leaned forward, bringing his face closer to the principal's. "They have something on you that's making it impossible for you to be objective?"

"That's enough, Chris De Luca! Instead of showing any remorse whatsoever, you're making things considerably worse! You are suspended for three days. A formal letter will also be sent to Mrs De Luca—as both a reprimand and a reminder—so that your family can address this at home as well."

"Tsk—whatever. You really think you'll be sitting in that chair much longer? You're playing the wrong game with the wrong person, Mr Brown." Chris glanced at the counselling teacher in the corner of the room. "The only protection any student gets here is money and family status. Pathetic school."

Chris pushed back his chair and stood, grabbing my hand and walking out without another word. "Come on. No one will defend you here but me—those old fossils are too scared of the very system of nepotism they built themselves."

"Damn you, De Luca! mark my words, De Luca—your punishment will be doubled!

Before I could do anything to diffuse it, Chris had already pulled me out of there. I was worried about what this would mean for the pressure Mrs Carla would put on me later. Being Chris De Luca apparently came with pressure bearing down from every direction.

Annoying as he was, he was protecting me—that much was undeniable. I was going to stand by his side. I wasn't going to let him face all of it alone.