Hailey's POV:
When the class was empty, and the door closed, I blurted out: "I didn't cheat! I swear I didn't!"
I know I said it many times - not said, but thought - but I hate this part about myself. Being a scared person. I wish I were a lot braver like Josh or Crystal.
It didn't make sense no matter how long I wrapped my brain around it. Josh, Crystal, and I grew up together. How did they become so brave while I became such a...coward.
Mr.Timberland's brows crunched, "I didn't say anything about cheating."
"Oh."
He folded his arms, "Hailey. How do you feel about Pandora Academy so far?"
"It's nice," I responded. "Very big."
"Academically."
I chew on my cheek, "A bit hard." I'm not sure if high school should be this hard or not since it's my first year.
"If you're wondering whether a high school should be this difficult. It isn't."
"Oh."
"The truth is at any other high school. You would be considered a model student."
I look up from my shoes, "I would?"
He nods, "Unfortunately, I can't say the same about here." Mr.Timberland exhaled, "I asked for this private meeting because of your grades. They're not the best."
I agree with him.
"But, you will pass until graduation."
"I'm sorry. I'm lost."
"Have you looked at your last three papers returned from me?"
I nodded. I got all D.
"And after you revise it?"
"You gave me two Cs and a B-." I didn't feel proud saying that.
"Hailey." He folded his arms, "I know you're trying your best. But, have you...reconsider?"
"Reconsider?"
Mr.Timberland ran his hand across his face and down his chin. There's a silence in the air that's so unbearable; it makes me want to vomit. "Your attendance at Pandora Academy."
"Are you telling me to...drop out?" I know my grades aren't good, but is it so bad that my favorite teacher is telling me to drop out? Mr.Timberland's class is difficult, but I like him as a person. Simply put, you can tell he's the type of person who cares.
Mr.Timberland exhaled sharply before he leaned against the table. "Do you know there is a shortcut in the back of the school where the old buildings are? A narrow hallway the students rarely take. Nice place."
My body began to sweat.
"Flowers in the Spring. Nice green vines."
I swallowed firmly.
"Clean bathroom."
My hands grip firmly onto the strap of my backpack.
"Quiet."
Mr.Timberland knows.
"So quiet, you can hear whatever it is that's happening from the bathroom."
I grab my wrist and hold it firmly, "It's not what you think. I wasn't feeling well that day...that's all." Lies.
"Hailey. I won't tell anyone," he said. "But, if something is bothering you or if you're stressed about something."
"It's not! It's definitely not!"
"Look-" He straightens his back, "You're not the only one."
"Pardon?"
"Pandora Academy is an honorable institution, but it does place an incredible amount of stress on students."
He thinks I'm stressed out because of school.
"And to stay because of your peers isn't worth your health."
I chewed on my lower lip so hard I thought it might tear.
"Unless I'm wrong and your actions stem from elsewhere."
I looked up and shook my head, "N-No. It's stress. I'll get help."
"Hailey."
"I promise. I promise." More lies.
I know I need help, but something inside me won't allow me to get help.
Mr.Timberland looks at me for what seems to be forever. He nods, "Alright. But, tell me if something does-"
"I will. I will." More lies.
"On your way out. Please tell Taniyah to come in."
Taniyah is outside?
When I open the door, Taniyah is outside. "He's waiting for you."
"Thanks." She went into the room.
When the door moved to close, I turned around. My escape was so quick, the stuffed animal hanging on my backpack fell and somehow squeezed in between the door and corner of the wall. I bend down to grab it. My action paused, and my jaw dropped when I saw Taniyah slap Mr.Timberland.
"Fuck you!" Taniyah shouted.
"Tani-"
"Don't call me that," Taniyah responded. "I gave you my blessing to be with my mother, and this is how you treat her?"
What?!
"What you saw. It's not what it looks like."
"Oh. I think I saw enough to know what it looks like. You hump, pump, and dump my mother."
I admit that was witty.
"You know she cried. My mother isn't a crier."
Mr.Timberland exhaled sharply, "Last night-"
"Who was the whore? Who?!"
"She-"
"She what! She what!" I didn't know Taniyah was capable of expressing such intense emotions.
"She's my...older sister."
Taniyah snorted, "Yeah. If I had a brother, I would hold her until he makes it into the hotel room too. Please, come up with a better excuse. You two look nothing alike."
"We're half-siblings." Mr.Timberland looks like he's about to lose it. "Can you please tell your mom to pick up the phone? I'll explain everything."
"I knew it." Taniyah folded her arms, "I told her that her taste in men is trash."
"Taniyah. Please."
She exhaled dramatically before she grabbed her phone and dialed the number. It's on speaker.
"What's wrong, baby?"
"Honey. It's me."
"Oh. Clark. Are you going to Superman that ho again tonight?"
"Ailee."
"Everyone told me it was a mistake to date a younger man. They're right! You're nothing but trash Clark Timberland!"
"She's my older sister."
"What?"
Mr.Timberland exhaled, "The woman Tani saw at the hotel was my older sister Angelica, and if you check your messages, you will see a photo of us together at that hotel."
Silence. Unbearable silence.
"And how would I know you're telling the truth?"
"Come to the hotel address I sent you, and you will see my sister."
Mr.Timberland's eyes caught mine. Busted. Quickly, I grabbed the stuffed animal and ran away.
With that dramatic episode earlier, I figure out why Mr.Timberland always picks on Taniyah.
Hands covered my eyes, "Guess who?" Josh sang.
"Mr.Timberland and Taniyah's mom are dating!" I blurt out.
"I was hoping more on the line of - my boyfriend - but that is an interesting response." Josh removed his hands, "How would you know that?"
"I may or may not have accidentally stumbled on a conversation meant to be private."
"You eavesdrop."
"Maybe," I said quickly.
"That doesn't sound right."
"What doesn't?"
"Shouldn't Taniyah's mom be in her thirties?"
"So?"
"Mr.Timberland is in his early twenties." There was a stretch of silence between us before I said: "Oh."
"Hm." He nods, "Seems like he has older taste. At least that will keep him out of prison."
"What were you thinking?"
He made his way towards the exit, "I thought Taniyah and Mr.Timberland were in some sort of illegal relationship since they always had this weird vibe whenever they interacted."
"Me too," I said. I thought I was the only one who thought they were weird whenever they were together.
"I can see it much clearer now, though. Her mom is dating someone who's probably a decade younger and closer to her age can feel weird."
I nod, "Yeah."
The moment we stepped out of the building, I gasped.
"What's wrong?"
"I shouldn't have told you that." I think their relationship was meant to be a secret.
Josh chuckled, "It's not illegal for a teacher to date a parent. Plus, who am I going to tell? I barely know Taniyah, and Mr.Timberland is cool."
"You think it's okay for us to know?" And Mr.Timberland won't hunt me down for eavesdropping.
"Yeah. I'm pretty sure they kept it on the DL because they want to separate work and personal life. He probably won't deny it if you ask him about it."
Once we left the closed part of the campus, the noises arrived. I made a mental note to apologize to Mr.Timberland for eavesdropping. I'm still debating whether or not I should apologize to Taniyah.
Lost in thoughts, I bumped into someone.
"I'm sorry," we both said at the same time.
My eyes met with dulled light brown eyes. Someone intervened when she bent down to gather the items on the ground with me.
"Mrs.Winston. We will do it." Two men bend down to gather the items. Josh and I hand the rest to the men beside her.
Mrs.Winston?
"You're Ricardo's mom."
Mrs.Winston smiled. It was the type of smile that made me feel warm but somehow very sad. "You know my son?" Her voice was soft. The kind you couldn't hear unless you're close.
Ricardo came out of her?!
"Y-Yeah."
"You two are Ricardo's friends?"
Josh and I exchanged looks. Before he could respond, I said: "Yes! We're his roommates."
Mrs.Winston's smiles only widen. She covered her mouth. For some reason, she looks like she is about to cry. "Oh, where's my manners? I'm Angelica Winston. And you two are?"
"I'm Hailey Vaughn."
"Hello. I'm Joshua Greyson."
Mr. Winston's brows crunched, "Greyson. Are you perhaps-"
"Yes. I am from the Greyson's family. Eldest son."
"You look just like your father when he was younger."
"You know my dad?" Josh probably wondered if they used to date.
"Not quite. My husband does some business with your father before, and I happen to come across him during a few parties in Am-"
"Mamma!" Not too far off, Ricardo arrived with two churros. He halted in front of us.
"Cucciolo. Why didn't you introduce me to your friends?"
"Friends?"
"Yes. Joshua and Hailey."
Ricardo looked at us before his sight went back to his mom then towards us again. "Yeah. Friends."
"What's the grumpy look?"
Ricardo forced himself to smile. "Nothing, mamma. I'm happy you ran into my friends. Now, we don't have to go search for them."
His face and tone were so scary I almost peed myself. It's unusual to see Ricardo smile because he doesn't smile.
Who is this guy?
Josh held back a snicker.
Mrs. Winston's smile only widens, "Oh! You should go with your friends. We've been together since this morning. Go. Have fun."
This morning? Does this mean he left early to be with his mom?
"Mamma. I see them seven days a week for three seasons a year."
"Mrs.Winston," Josh intervened. "That's sweet of you." He turned on his gentleman switch. "But we wouldn't want to take away a lovely mother-son moment. We'll see Ricardo later. Would that be okay with you?"
Mrs.Winston places a hand on her chest, "Of course."
Before anyone could respond, Mrs.Winston coughed roughly. The type of cough made you want to curl your toes. Ricardo hands the churros to the man beside them. He took out a handkerchief and placed it near her mouth. She coughed more.
"Mamma. Let's go sit down. You must be tired." He took off his jacket and covered her body.
Mrs.Winston lowered the handkerchief, "I'm alright, cucciolo. I would love it if I could talk to your friends a little longer."
"Mamma-" Ricardo's voice was so low. It was almost unrecognizable.
"Mrs.Winston," Josh said. "Hailey and I have a booth we're working in later in the week. We will love it if you drop by."
"That would be lovely."
"I'll send Ricardo the booth number later." He leaned inward and grinned, "You can tell me all of Ricardo's embarrassing childhood story."
Mrs.Winston's pale lips spread into a beautiful smile. "I have so many stories."
"It's a date." He winked.
Mrs.Winston giggled.
"Mamma. Let's go."
"I'll see you both later then."
"Goodbye, Mrs.Winston," Josh said.
"Bye," I said.
We watched as Ricardo supported his mom towards an empty part of the field. The man would take off their jackets and lay them on the ground for her to sit on. I didn't notice it earlier, but Mrs.Winston is small, and she looks tiny in the middle of all those giant bodies.
I noticed Josh was staring at them.
"Josh?" I called for him.
Josh exhaled softly before he turned his body. I'm sure he is thinking the same way as me. That cough earlier wasn't normal - I have a cold - cough.
"Do you think Ricardo's mom is okay?"
Josh's lips thinned, but he didn't respond.
When I looked back, I saw how Ricardo's mom broke a small piece of churro and fed it to him. He opens his mouth, eats it, then smiles widely as she fixes his hair.
"She looks happy." Josh looks at me, "That's all that matters."
She...looks happy.