Earth Angel (Falling Angels Saga) (20 page)

“Don’t worry, I’m not going to let you.”

And just like that, she lightened my load. I could feel the weight of last night draining from my shoulders like heavy blocks of ice melting under a heat lamp. Friendship can do that. Even though I hadn’t told her what was bothering me, it felt better knowing she was on my side.

I had my mother and Maudrina, both in my corner. How lucky am I?

#

The letter came on Friday.

Even though Principal Lockhart told me I had until Friday to turn in the list, the letter announcing my expulsion hearing was already in the mail. It had to have been mailed Wednesday or Thursday. My mother and I were to report to Principal Lockhart’s office eight a.m. Monday morning.

I thought I could figure my way out of it. But after my ordeal with
The Book of Calls, 
I was too drained to think. I didn’t want to admit it, but unless a miracle happened, by the end of the day, Monday, I would be looking for a new school.

When we arrived at school Monday morning, Mr. Abernathy, the vice principal, was waiting outside on the steps in front of the main entrance. He told us to proceed to the auditorium.

“Why is this taking place in the auditorium?” Suze asked as we walked. The old concern she’d tried to hide all weekend was back.

“I have no idea.”

As we continued down the corridor, I was surprised to see what appeared to be the entire student body headed in the same direction.

“What’s going on?” Suze asked. Now she was more than concerned. She was getting nervous.

“I have no idea,” I repeated, a hatch of beetles crawling around in my belly. I was getting nervous, too. I wished I could have put her mind at ease, but I really didn’t know why it seemed everyone was headed to the auditorium.

One thing I did notice, however, was that no one greeted me. No one I knew would even look at me. It was exactly like when Matt died. I’d glance at someone walking nearby, and they would quickly look away.

Ashley Scott and Heather McNamara walked past us as if we weren’t even there.

What happened to that shoulder to lean on?
I started to call. But that wouldn’t have accomplished anything. They knew I hadn’t ratted them out, that’s why I was about to be expelled, and yet they still wouldn’t look at me. I guess they believed I’d find a way rat them out in the end. Probably because that’s what they would do.

We turned into the next corridor. Students were streaming into the auditorium. I realized then the circus had come to town, and we were its main attraction.

Out of nowhere, Maudrina pushed through the crowd, arriving at my side.

“I didn’t know anything about this until just now. It’s posted on all the lockers to meet for an assembly in the auditorium. ”

“Wow! I didn’t know I rated an assembly. I should be proud, huh?”

She squinted at me. “You okay?”

“Terrific,” I said. “Right, mom?”

She put on a gallant smile. “We’ll be fine, dear,” her voice was an octave too high.

“Get a good seat,” I said to Maudrina. “You won’t want to miss any part of me being expelled,” I added sarcastically.

When we entered, I spotted a podium on stage at the front of the auditorium. The podium sat stage left. Center stage was a table with a few chairs facing out. Mrs. Lockhart was standing by the podium signaling us to come down to the front. She was wearing a dark business suit and an equally dark expression.

“She’s trying to make an example out of you,” Suze whispered as we headed for the front.

“So far she’s doing a darn good job.”

She stopped. “Are you okay?”

“Mom, I’m about to be embarrassed in front of the entire student body. No, I’m not okay. But I’m also not going to write that list. So let’s get this over with.”

We continued to the front.

“Megan, Ms. Barnett, come up on stage,” Principal Lockhart said in a syrupy sweet voice, as if she was inviting us to tea. We mounted the short steps. It felt as though we were mounting the steps to the gallows.

“What’s going on?” asked Suze, her voice rampant with concern.

“This?” Principal Lockhart replied, gesturing at the arriving students. She was getting a kick out of my mother’s concern. “This is the expulsion hearing.”

“Why is it in the auditorium?” An edge crept into her voice.

“I realized this could be a valuable learning experience. I didn’t want any of our students to miss it.”

To my amazement my mother barked out a single laugh. It sounded like
ha!
“Learning experience? Let’s call it what it really is. You’re having them witness you slaughter a lamb so you can keep them in line.”

A sour expression darkened Principal Lockhart’s face. Her eyes moved to me, totally ignoring my mother. She lowered her voice. “I haven’t heard from you.”

Before I could say anything Suze spoke up. “No list!” she said with finality.

Principal Lockhart recoiled slightly. “You do understand that after the evidence against your daughter is presented, she will be expelled? No more AP classes. No more getting into a good college.”

“I understand,” Suze replied. A clipped response. “She’ll get into a good school.”

The condescending look Principal Lockhart shot my mother said she didn’t think so. She let out an exasperated breath. “I can’t believe that parents like you have the nerve to ask what
we
, the schools, are doing to your children. We all know who has let this current generation down.”

I think my mother was actually about to hit her.

“You want us to sit over there?” I asked quickly. I pointed to the table center stage. Expelled I could handle, mom being arrested for beating up the principal, I couldn’t handle.

“Yes,” she said in a breathy reply. “We will be starting soon.”

We moved to the table, Suze walking stiffly, as if she was still itching for a fight. A pad and pen were ominously placed on the table in front of one of the chairs. I sat and looked out onto the quickly filling house.

The front rows held the honor students and faculty, who made up what served as an expulsion committee. Everyone else was seated somewhere behind them. Tran and Geoffrey were on the committee.

Maybe I have a chance
, I thought.
If she takes a vote, maybe I can win
. Those hopes were dashed when I attempted to make eye contact with Tran and he looked away.

Danny Tambor sat front row, dead center. He was wearing a bad fitting brown suit, his ridiculous round shades covering his eyes. The leg cast was gone. He didn’t look at me. When I saw him, all I could think was that this creep had somehow gotten influence over one of my best friends. When this was over, I was going to put an end to that.

Vice Principal Abernathy closed the large double doors. They slammed shut with a loud boom, and I felt as though all of my hope had been shut out of the room. I squeezed my mother’s hand, not for her sake, but for my own.

Principal Lockhart flipped the switch on the podium mic and shushed the crowd. After a brief introduction, she got down to business. “There is a plague sweeping across America,” she said in a booming, regal voice. “This plague is occurring among America’s youth. It is the plague of entitlement. You come by it honestly. Your parents are from the Me Generation and the Me, Too Generation.” She shot an accusatory glance at Suze and smirked. “But here at Glendale Union, we… as you kids like to say… don’t play that.”

This got a laugh from many of the students. She was playing to the crowd, and they were drinking it up like Kool Aid.

“At Glendale Union we pride ourselves on honor versus entitlement, responsibility to our fellow man versus selfishness.” This time her accusatory gaze found me.

Just then, the rear auditorium doors were flung open, making an echoing thud as they banged into the walls. In strode Harrison, wearing a blue blazer with a crisp white shirt open at the collar. The pony tail was gone. His golden hair was shining as it dropped to his shoulders. He looked like a God from Mount Olympus. He had on brand spanking new black cowboy boots, along with his trademark red jeans.

He walked down the center aisle towards the front with a sense of purpose.

“Excuse me, sir! May I help you?” Lockhart called in her most imposing voice.

“No, ma’am. But I’m here ta help you,” he said, shaping his words through his Australian accent. He continued down the aisle and arrived at the front.

“Who
are
you?” she asked looking down on him.

“The voice of reason,” he replied. “I’ve been listening to ya from outside those doors back there, and it seems I’ve arrived just in time.” With this he climbed the steps to the stage, brushing past her as he moved to the table where he stood by my side.

“What are you doing here?” I said in a loud, annoyed whisper.

“Megan, do you know this man?” Principal Lockhart interrupted.

I nodded meekly. “Yes, ma’am,” I mumbled. Suze was as surprised by my answer as Principal Lockhart.

“Who is he?” she asked, clearly thrown. “Is this your…
brother?
”

“I am her counsel,” Harrison replied in a bold voice.

Lockhart shot him a steely gaze. “This is not a trial, sir. Miss Barnett doesn’t need counsel.”

“Is there a witness against her?”

Her voice faltered. “Y… yes, but—”

“Then, I think she does.” He plopped down in the seat next to me, shooting her his infernal arrogant grin. I’d never been happy to see that grin in my entire life. I don’t know why he showed up to defend me, but I was glad he was there, since I was in no frame of mind to defend myself.

Principal Lockhart was not to be denied. “Why don’t we let Miss Barnett decide whether or not she needs counsel?” Her challenging gaze moved to me.

I slumped in my seat. “I do,” I said softly.

“Excuse me?” she asked, raising her voice in disdain.

“I do need counsel!” I replied loud and clear. I sat up straight in my chair.

She looked at me with great disappointment. “As you wish.” She looked back into the crowd. “Where was I before I was so rudely interrupted? Although, with some students, rudeness is to be expected,” she added throwing in a final dig. “Oh yes, I believe we were talking about responsibility. Most students at Glendale Union would do the responsible thing, the honorable thing, and come forward, rather than waste your precious learning time.”

A titter rose from the audience. None of them thought learning time was
precious.
This was unintended. Principal Lockhart glared into the crowd.

“Do not stoop to her level!” she said, her words coming in a low growl. “Miss Barnett had the opportunity to do the right thing and turn over the names of her accomplices. She had a full week, and she hasn’t done it. I’m afraid there’s nothing left to be said.” Her eyes moved the Poplarati. She glared at them for several seconds. Then she faced me, her expression ice. “Either write down the names of your accomplices, or you can clean out your locker.”

“Or… she can do the noble thing,” Harrison said loudly. He stood, commanding his space like a great attorney. “Ya talked about honor. Ya talked about responsibility. I can’t tell ya if Megan’s desire to protect classmates who are ready ta throw her under the bus is the right thing. But I can tell ya Megan Barnett is the most honorable person in the room.”

“Oh really?” Lockhart said with a sneer.

“Absolutely. They know,” he said gesturing towards the crowd. A few of the Poplarati slumped in their seats. “While you’ve been busy
administratin’
, the young people in those seats have been getting’ ta know Megan. They know the stuff she’s made of.”

He had moved away from the table and was facing the audience. “They know,” he said lowering his voice so you had to strain to hear him. “They also know that punishing someone for standing up for her principals is wrong. I know something about this girl. I know what she is willing ta risk ta do what’s right.” He looked at me, his hazel eyes softening. It was a quality I hadn’t seen before. “You can’t destroy her. I know ya want to because she won’t do yerbiddin’ for ya, but ya can’t. Better demons than you have tried.”

A wave of laughter erupted. In that moment, I knew he had been sent by Guy. My spirits lifted.

“Silence!”Principal Lockhart shrieked.

“I apologize for the off-color remark,” Harrison said with a bow and flourish. “But let me ask ya something. What kind of message are yasendin’ to these young,
impressionable
minds?” He winked at the crowd and they chuckled. He was playing them better than she had. “Is the message
save yer own skin at all costs?
Because if
that’s
the message, no wonder America’s in the state it’s in. Thank God I’m Australian.”

This elicited a huge laugh from the crowd. Harrison shushed them without any prompting from Lockhart.

“That’s a lovely speech Mr… what did you say your name was again?”

“I didn’t,” was Harrison’s steely-eyed reply.

“Okay…” Principal Lockhart was seething, yet somehow managed to keep her composure. “But now we need to get on with the proceedings.

"These young
impressionable
minds still have school today. Thank you for your heartfelt comments,” she said in the most condescending tone possible. She turned away from him to address the crowd.

“What do ya mean ya need ta get on with it?” Harrison snapped, all puffed up with outrage. “This isn’t yer call. This is
their
call,” he said jabbing a finger towards the students. “Administrators don’t make the school; teachers don’t make the school.
Students
make the school.” He again faced the crowd. “Are you going to let them take this from ya?”

The audience stared back in silence. Several of the Poplarati squirmed in their seats. I locked eyes with Jeremy Bowen, who slunk even lower.

“Ya get very few chances to be a hero in life. Most of us don’t get any. And some of us that do, mess it up,” Harrison said lowering his voice, and I knew he was talking about himself. “Those of you who attended The Explosion have the opportunity ta be heroes today. Tell this administrator,
I don’t care what ya say. This is our school. And we’ve got pride in it, even though yer trying to destroy our pride, along with our self-worth.”