Read Jaded for Free Online Page B

to the seats. “You two, stay put and don’t move. I don’t care if you’re sick, if you have to vomit, or the school burns down.
    You stay put or face expulsion.”
    Bryce and I sat.
    The other students were still there and had mixed looks of fear, awe, and
    trepidation.
    I closed my eyes and leaned against the wall when Bryce started to chat with Chad.
    Each of the students had already gone inside the principal’s office until it was just me, Bryce, and Chad. It seemed to take forever and probably did.
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    Mrs. Walker received a phone call and repeated her instructions sternly before she left the office once more.
    “Seriously, guys. What’d you do? I haven’t seen Mrs. Walker that pissy since Corrigan got caught screwing the Spanish teacher’s daughter.”
    “Oh yeah,” Bryce laughed.
    Corrigan’s popularity had skyrocketed that week. He’d been suspended for three days, but his arrival to the Friday football game had been to a standing ovation. None of the parents had stood, but some had been amused. Corrigan had saluted the crowd.
    Mrs. Walker walked back inside with Miss Connors behind her.
    “Sheldon,” Miss Connors said softly. “Can you come with me?”
    I snapped to attention and shot up.
    “No,” I said firmly.
    Mrs. Walker looked taken aback, but Miss Connors wasn’t surprised.
    Chad avidly watched the encounter while Bryce stood slowly beside me.
    “Sheldon, please.” Miss Connors said again. She frowned at Bryce’s hand that had moved to cup my elbow.
    “You can’t make me talk to you,” I declared. It was the truth.
    “Miss Jeneve,” Mrs. Walker said promptly. “You will talk with our counselor or you will be expelled.”
    I narrowed my eyes at her and called her bluff.
    “Expel me then.”
    Mrs. Walker gasped.
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    “Sheldon, this is ridiculous.” Miss Connors stepped forward. “I just want to talk to you. That’s all. I just want to know how you’re doing.”
    “No, you don’t,” I spat out. “You want to try to figure me out. I’m not one of your subjects to understand and test.”
    “You have so much potential,” Miss Connors pressed earnestly. “I don’t
    understand why you’re wasting it all away. I want to help you.”
    “I’m fine with how my life is.” I stepped back. The chair pressed against the backs of my knees.
    Bryce was extremely still beside me. Just watching me.
    “No, you’re not. Sheldon, you spend your time with these boys...”
    Bryce whipped his head towards her.
    Miss Connors faltered, but resumed again, “You are so intelligent, Sheldon. You could already be in college. Your IQ tests were—”
    “You can’t say any of that!” I shouted. “That’s confidential.”
    “Sheldon, please…”
    More students had filed into the office, but they all stopped abruptly.
    I shook my head and clenched out, “You can’t do this. You can’t make me talk to you. Expel me then. I don’t care. Screw you.” I shoved past them. At the door, I stopped and met Bryce’s gaze, “Call me later.”
    He nodded, his jaw was clenched.
    Mena was at my locker when I swiftly kicked it and grabbed my bag.
    “Hey,” she called after me when I turned for the parking lot.
    When she caught up to me, she asked, “Are you okay?”
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    I ignored her and shoved through the kids who hadn’t seen me coming. Most of them darted out of my way, but a few weren’t as lucky. We met Corrigan on his way back into the school, whistling with a contented smirk on his face.
    He took one look at me and the smirk vanished.
    “What happened?” He turned and walked on my other side.
    “Nothing,” I said tightly.
    “Did they threaten you guys? Did that kid say anything?” he pressed.
    “It has nothing to do with you!” I cried out and unlocked the Chrysler.
    I threw my bag inside and turned to Corrigan, “Drive my car home, alright?”
    “I’ll just give you a ride tomorrow morning. Or Bryce will. You can drive it home