Ms. Rachna stepped back quickly, her eyes opening widely in shock.
“Mrs. Flynn, I don’t understand….”
“Don’t play innocent with me!” mom screamed, shutting her up.
Mom moved forward again but this time, dad quickly stepped in and grabbed her arm.
“Honey, calm down.”
“Calm down? This woman has been filling our daughter’s head with….”
“Mrs. Flynn!” Principal Elias stood up from his desk. His voice was firm and authoritative. “Please. Let’s all take a breath here.”
Mom’s chest was heaving with speed and her face was red.
“I need everyone to sit down,” Principal Elias continued. “We’re not going to solve anything by shouting.”
Dad pulled Mom back toward her chair. She sat down with a thud but her hands were clenched into fists.
Ms. Rachna stayed near the door, looking clueless, confused and worried.
“Ms. Rachna, please have a seat.” Principal Elias gestured to an empty chair.
She sat down slowly but constantly glanced at Mom like she might lunge again at any moment.
Principal Elias waited until everyone was settled before he sat back down too.
“Now. Let’s continue this conversation calmly. Like adults.”
The room was tense. Silent except for Mom’s heavy breathing.
Principal Elias turned to me.
“Avery, I’m going to ask you again. Who are the friends you’ve been spending time with? The ones you’ve been talking to online?”
I kept my eyes on the floor. My lips shut.
“Avery.”
I acted as though I didn’t hear.
“Avery, you need to answer me.”
I stayed silent again.
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Dad made an exasperated sound.
“This is ridiculous. She won’t say anything.”
“Give her time,” Principal Elias said, calming dad down.
But I wasn’t going to answer. Not now. Not ever.
Because the moment I gave them names, those poor kids who did nothing but accept my friendship would be dragged into this mess too.
Principal Elias waited another minute. Then he sighed..
“Alright. Let me try something else.”
He pressed the intercom button on his desk phone.
“Mrs. Miller, could you please call Ava Flynn down to the office?”
My heart sank.
No. Not Ava. My breath quickened in panic.
“Right away, Sir,” the secretary’s voice crackled through the speaker.
“What does Ava have to do with this?” Mom seethed.
“Your husband mentioned that Ava noticed Avery spending time with new people, did he not? I’d like to ask her a few questions,”
We waited in complete silence but I could feel Mom staring at me.
A few minutes passed before a knock came on the door followed by that insufferable sugary voice.
“You wanted to see me, Principal Elias?”
“Yes, Ava. Please, have a seat.”
She sat in the chair next to Ms. Rachna. Glanced at me with what looked like worry.
But I knew better. I knew exactly what she was doing.
“Ava, your parents mentioned that you noticed your sister spending time with some new friends recently. Is that correct?”
Ava bit her lip and looked at me. Then back at Principal Elias.
“I don’t want to get anyone in trouble.” She said with a tiny voice.
“You’re not getting anyone in trouble. We just need information.” Elias reassured her.
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Chapter 27
But Avery’s my sister. I don’t want her to think I’m telling on her.”
Classic Ava. Pretending to be a good sister. Holding back like the reluctant witness.
“Ava, this is important,” Dad said. “Just tell Principal Elias what you know,”
“I don’t know much, Just that Avery started sitting with different people at lunch sometimes”
“Do you know their names?”
Ava hesitated. Playing with her fingers.
“I don’t want Avery to be mad at me.”
“Ava,” Mom said sharply. “Honey answers the question.”
“Okay. Um. There was a girl named Lily. I think she’s in seventh grade. And two boys. Daniel and Arthur. They’re both in Avery’s grade.”
My stomach dropped through the floor.
She’d given them up. Just like that. Dirty snitch.
“Thank you, Ava,” Principal Elias said. He was already writing the names down.
“Are these the kids who’ve been influencing her?” Dad asked.
“We don’t know that yet, Mr. Flynn.”
“But they must be. Avery was fine until she started spending time with them.”
“I want them questioned,” Dad said. His voice was hard and final. “I want to know what they’ve been telling my daughter. What ideas they’ve been putting in her head.”
“Mr. Flynn, I understand your concern, but we can’t just pull students in for questioning based on….”
“Based on what? Based on the fact that my daughter suddenly started lying and hiding things after befriending them? That seems like enough reason to me.”
Principal Elias was quiet for a moment. He seemed to be thinking.
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“I’ll speak with them,” he finally said. “Separately. See if they know anything about what’s been going on with Avery.”
My heart took a leap. I’ll be dead meat if mom and dad finds out I was the one that encouraged my friends to
open an account.
“Good,” I heard dad say.
“But I want to be clear. We’re gathering information. Not accusing anyone of anything.”
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Chapter 27
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“Fine. Whatever you need to do.”
Principal Elias turned to Ms. Rachna and Ava.
“Ladies, I need to have a private conversation with Mr. and Mrs. Flynn. Would you mind stepping outside? You can wait in the main office.”
“Of course,” Ms. Rachna said. She stood up quickly.
Ava stood too. Gave me one last concerned look before following Ms. Rachna to the door.
“Avery, you go with them,” Principal Elias said.
I didn’t need to be told twice. I moved toward the door as fast as I could.
We filed out into the main office. The secretary looked up briefly then went back to her computer.
Ms. Rachna turned to face me while Ava stood a few feet away. Watching with keen eyes.
“Avery, can we talk for a minute?”
I didn’t answer. Just stood there.
“Avery. You can be honest with me….”
“About what?” I finally said.
“I read your piece Avery. It felt too authentic to be made up…”
I found myself looking directly into her eyes. Is this woman serious? With everything happening? Does she want me dead?
“Talk to me Avery…”
I heard her say. Perhaps it was the frustration of impending doom or her encouragement being annoying but before I could stop myself, I blurted out…
“Can you leave me the hell alone?”
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
