Underneath the Sycamore Tree(25)

Not able to meet Mr. Nichols eyes when he calls my name, I quickly walk to my next class and try thinking about how I can get out of English. I could pretend I’m sick, it shouldn’t be hard to pull off. Then again, the chances of me needing actual sick days means I need to reserve my absences.

Maybe I should have built a friendship with Ms. Gilly in the nurse’s office. She could have given me free passes out of pity. Too late now.

Silently cursing Kaiden’s name, I force myself to pretend it never happened. In two periods, I’ll go to English and just play it off.

But when last period comes around, sweat dots my brow. Keeping my head down as I walk into the room, I can feel a pair of eyes on me that I know belong to the teacher. I don’t look up, instead, I focus on preparing for class.

Notebook.

Pen.

Book.

He doesn’t call on me throughout the class, and I don’t offer any answers. It isn’t unusual for me to stay quiet, but never silent. Anyone could chalk it up to not having anything to say. Maybe they think I didn’t do the reading.

Kaiden smirks when he catches my eye.

I glare.

After class, Mr. Nichols does what I should have known he would. He asks me to stay behind. What does surprise me is him asking Kaiden the same thing.

We remain in our seats, Kaiden looking bored and me looking nervous. Mr. Nichols waits until the hallway is cleared enough before turning his attention on us.

“I don’t like when students say things that could cause problems for me,” he says directly to Kaiden. I’ve never heard him sound stern before, but it seems like the perfect moment to be. “I am aware that my age puts me in a difficult spot with teenagers, but that doesn’t mean anybody should speak to their teachers, or peers for that matter, in the way you did earlier.”

Kaiden doesn’t look the least bit guilty over being scolded. In fact, he smirks like he couldn’t care less. Me on the other hand? I gape. I’ve never heard a teacher talk to Kaiden like that, and I’m sure plenty have witnessed how he treats the other students. I assumed it had to do with his spot on the lacrosse team because every school seems to give free passes to the boys who fill the trophy cases.

Mr. Nichols leans back in his seat. “I want you to apologize to Emery.”

Kaiden laughs abruptly. “I don’t apologize to anyone.”

“Now’s a good time to start then.”

I squirm. “Um, Mr. Nichols, I don’t—”

Mr. Nichols puts his hand up. “Let me put it to you this way, Mr. Monroe. I was warned about you on my first day. While other teachers may be hesitant to say anything, I’m not. I want to see my students treat each other with respect. Given your circumstances with Ms. Matterson, one would think you’d want to treat her with more respect than anybody here.”

Sinking into my chair, I let my hair shield my face. The headache I was glad to be rid of is coming back, taunting me. It’s the slightest drum of pain, a dull pound of a bass beat where my spine meets my skull. Stress induced, for sure.

Part of me wants to cut in and tell them to forget about it. I don’t need this right now. I don’t think either would listen. Mr. Nichols seems intent on making a point, and Kaiden seems intent on ignoring it.

“Emery doesn’t mean anything to me just because we live under the same roof,” Kaiden states dryly, sparing me no look.

His words sting. I wish they didn’t because it isn’t a surprise to me. He’s shown me indifference ninety percent of the time. It isn’t like he’s put in an effort that proves otherwise.

Mr. Nichols reaches for something. “I suppose you’ll have time to consider how you treat people in detention tomorrow after school. If you miss that, you’ll go to in school suspension on Monday.”

My lips part in shock.

Kaiden’s jaw ticks. “Fine.”

Mr. Nichols jots something down on a pad of paper before ripping a piece off and setting it on the edge of the desk. “You may be excused, Mr. Monroe.”

Kaiden gets up and grabs the paper before heading out of the room. I toy with my notebook before finally meeting Mr. Nichols eyes.

“Like I said, Emery. You and I are similar. However, as I get older, I realize how important it is to stand up for myself. You can’t let people walk over you like that.”

How sad. My only true friend at Exeter High is my English teacher.

The headache starts to worsen, burning my eyes, and I don’t have any Motrin in my backpack.

“I’m not feeling well,” I tell him quietly. Standing up, I slip my belongings in my backpack before sliding the strap over my shoulder. “I think I’m going home.”

“Emery—”

“Thank you, Mr. Nichols.”

Noticing Kaiden’s car missing in the lot, I start the walk home. By the time I make it to the front door, everything hurts.

At least I can turn the knob this time.





Chapter Ten





On Saturday morning, I wake up to see a missed call from Mama. It jumpstarts my heart until I realize there’s no voicemail. She called at three in the morning.

She found Lo at three in the morning.

Today marks the official nine-year anniversary of Logan’s death. When realization hits, my heart plummets into the pit of my stomach like it’s made of cement. Mama reached out to me because of Lo.