Angel in the Courtyard [Book 2]

Chapter 76 - Loyal

There it was, clear as day, the article exposing Findlay and Falcon for their affair on the school's administrative site. I couldn't help but smile. I couldn't help but wish that woman a lifetime of struggle and misfortune.

I stuffed my phone away and exited the dean's office. I wanted to attend the candidate speeches at Jackheights but I had to get permission to be on campus first. I emailed the school and requested a visitor's pass for the day, which turned out to be a surprisingly quick process. I didn't think it would be. I was ready to make a case for myself just in case my father got involved. It was something along the lines of, 'just because I don't go here anymore, doesn't mean I can't be around to support my little sister.'

After the scandal, I knew her chances of winning the election were slim to none but Tomasia wasn't the type to give up. Neither was Matilda it seemed. The former VP offered to give the speech on my sister's behalf, which I knew wouldn't reflect well on either of them today. The students weren't going to vote for someone who couldn't be bothered to address them publicly. Not to mention the fact that she was already in office last year. Running again was ambitious.

I moved through the nostalgic hallways and found myself loitering on the third floor in between first and second period. If I was still attending Jackheights, I would probably be sitting in the same calculus class as Hino and Tomasia. I wasn't any good with visual arts, but I would try it out as an elective for Arisa's sake. My last two classes would probably be French and English. I could drop French for a free credit but that wouldn't look good on my transcripts for university.

"So pathetic," I mumbled to myself.

Losing myself in what could have been wasn't the answer. I had to get a grip and face my reality. Just because all my friends were going to be able to graduate together, didn't mean I should delude myself into that picture. I had to accept the fact that my happy ending wasn't at Jackheights or with Arisa. My future was waiting for me at a different school, with more like minded individuals, and maybe with another girl.

"What are you doing here?"

I turned to find Matilda standing by the water fountain, filling up a canteen. "Hey," I greeted. "I came to watch the election."

Matilda eyed my visitor's pass. "I'm surprised you would show your face after what you posted on the admin site."

We stared at each other intently.

"Why?" I asked.

Matilda shrugged. "You weren't here to see the chaos this morning, the outrage or mess that article caused. All the teachers had to address it in their morning class, it was uncomfortable to say the least."

"Should I feel sorry for an institute that employed a predator?" I asked, crossing my arms.

"Empathy's never been your strong suit," she replied. "If it were, you wouldn't have posted such a dumb article."

My brows furrowed in confusion. "You would rather that cougar remain at this school?" I asked.

"This whole place is unstable, shaken up, and whose fault do you think that is?" Matilda asked, also crossing her arms. "And you're what? Wearing a visitor's pass? Pretending to be a supportive older brother? Don't make me laugh."

I took a step up to her. "Why don't you stop beating around the bush, Matilda? And tell me why you're being hostile again?"

She moved in closer too, so much so, that I could smell her strawberry fragrance. "One conversation with your dad could have put Findlay's career to an end, but as per usual, you had to take it upon yourself to fix everything. You have no regards for how your actions affect others. You never take anyone else's feelings into consideration."

"You keep crossing the line," I said, getting pissed. "You think you know my life? You think you understand my world? You? A privileged and spoiled girl riding on the coattails of my sister's success?"

Matilda grinned, fearlessly. "The same success you ended this morning? You should stop crossing the fucking line. You should do what you're good at and leave this school because there are no candidate speeches being made today!"

My heart sank. "What?"

"You heard me, you asshole!" she yelled. "Because of you, there's no presidential race. Your sister was brought in to be questioned about that article and Yoon won by default! So, thank you! Thanks a lot!"