Ace of Spades Sneak Peek(62)
I bury things. It’s how I cope. I don’t face them head-on like Chiamaka does. There’s always the risk you’ll get seriously hurt if you do that, dragging others down with you.
“Chiamaka even wants me to wear all black, like we’re gonna rob the school or something.” I force out a laugh, but it feels strained.
He raises an eyebrow. “Well, if you’re gonna do it, do it right.”
I squint at him. “Are you trying to quote Wham!?”
“Who’s Wham!?” Terrell asks.
“Old white band…”
Terrell ahhs. “I only concern myself with young, pretty brown boys, like myself.”
I laugh out loud at the statement. “You’re not pretty,” I tell him.
Dimples appear on both cheeks. “That’s your opinion. I think I’m very pretty; not as pretty as you, but I think I’m okay.”
“Whatever,” I say, staring down at the picture of the posters on my phone until the screen goes black.
“Do you guys have any theories as to who might be behind this yet?” Terrell asks, taking one of his textbooks from his desk and onto his lap.
I shrug. “Chiamaka just says it has to be someone in our classes, who’s watching us all the time.”
“What if it’s not?” Terrell says.
I scrunch my eyebrows up. What does he mean by that?
“What if it’s a teacher? Are there any teachers who might be out to get you?” Terrell continues.
My mind flashes back to Headmaster Ward in the hallway, how he saw the posters of Chiamaka and me but clearly didn’t give a shit. I think about how quick he was to blame us for the USBs.
“The new headmaster … He seems to have some issue with Chiamaka and me. And it makes sense. Before he came, things were fine. There was no Aces; it all started as soon as he arrived at Niveus.”
Terrell nods. “Maybe you guys have been looking for the wrong perpetrator. You should go to the school board, get him fired.”
I remember in elementary school, I had this white teacher. I couldn’t understand it back then, but she just felt evil. I always got this sense that she hated us—me and the other Black kids in my class. She’d be nice to Jack but would talk down to me like I did something wrong.
At the time I didn’t understand it, but maybe this is what’s really going on. Maybe Terrell is right.
It makes sense—Ward would have access to all our files, to the school on weekends. He’d be able to play with the CCTV, shut the lights off, create anonymous school accounts … But how do I even go about proving that type of thing?
“We probably need more concrete evidence, though. I’m hoping that on Sunday, we’ll get that. If all fingers point to Ward, we take him down,” I say.
I swear I’m starting to sound just like Chiamaka.
* * *
Friday
It’s Friday, and I’m at school a little earlier than usual because Chiamaka finally wants to speak to me.
As I walk through the hallway, I can feel the glares of people, the patronizing smiles, shaking their heads—like I give a fuck.
There are no more posters of Chiamaka up—the walls are blank, with the exception of the posters for that ball we’re all required to go to next week.
I’m assuming the janitor probably took care of it, but the way everything is so spotless, it’s like yesterday never happened.
I reach for my phone to check if Chiamaka’s messaged again. I was at Terrell’s place until really late, so I only remembered to charge my phone this morning, which is when Chiamaka texted.
As I walk into the music classroom we’re meeting in, my screen flashes.
Okay, guys, this one’s a biggie! Strap on your Gucci belts, and get your popcorn while I tell you a story about a girl who couldn’t wash the blood off her hands. Because if she could, maybe I wouldn’t know so much about it …
The fuck …
Our favorite mess … I mean, Head Prefect, would KILL for some attention from Aces. It must be hard going from Queen status to pauper overnight, so I thought I’d help her climb up the ladder again. So, the big question:
What’s the sentence for murder? Ten years … fifteen … life? Who can help a girl out? More to come soon on this KILLER story.—Aces
My mind flashes back to the file on the USB.
The door of the music room bursts open, and I jump back as Chiamaka storms in, tears running down her face.
“Devon, I think something bad is going to happen to me.”
24
CHIAMAKA
Friday
[A few minutes before]
Whispers are like snakes; they slither into your ears and threaten to poison your sanity with their venom.
I heard Jamie knew …
I can’t believe she hasn’t been expelled yet …
I hope Jamie doesn’t go down too, for being associated with her …
I spot Jamie with some of the football guys by his locker, laughing.
I approach him confidently, striding forward.
“Hi, Jamie,” I say, patting his shoulder, which stiffens immediately. I notice some of his friends look at me like they are scared of what I might do to them. The fear in their eyes makes me feel a little unnerved. Even when I was on top, no one looked at me with genuine fear, like they’re doing right now.